The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-05-04
Strong Charge is Delivered to
the Grand Jury at the
May Term.
AGAINST ALL MoLAToRs
Saloonists, Gamblers and Be-
trayers of Ycung Girls Are
the Main Features.

The gapblers must leave Clarks-
burg and Judge Charles w. Lynch In
his charge to the grand jury declar-
fed sthat he trusted the atmosphere
would be made so warm for them
that they would delay their return
indefinitely, Judge Lynch says Sum
day selling must also cease and that
the Sabbath day must be observed.
He further says that places associat-
ed with saloons where young and in
npcent but foolish girls are betrayed
must cease their nefarious business.
The Judges charge in these. respects
10 the grand jury was the strongest
delivered by him since he donned the
judicial ermine and has created ais
may among violators Of and offenders
against the law.
The Grand Jury.
The grand jury, which was organ
lied shortly after court convened at
10 O'clock Monday morning, is as
follows:
Edgar 3. Fighter, H. @. Hedges,
+. 3. Dagisson, II. M. Sullivan, sam
uel Rittenhouse, Charles D. Elliott.
Henry swiger, r. r. Barnett, w. s.
Law, "A. ]. Fletcher, George w Will
liams, Samuel @. CarrsJ. w. Fort
ney, Thomas Mckinley w. j, s, Har.
fiier and Jackson Arnold, with W.. u
$. Harmer as foreman.
Judge Lynch in his charge stated
that "a mistaken notion prevails las
to- what the court Is. The populas
and comofnh notion Is that the Judge
Is the court, but the court, said he,
Is cosmopolitan. 1t is constituted of
several different parts and there is
no more important part OF It than
the grand jury. An unfavorable
opinion Is sometimes expressed OF the
court, but such was about the grand
jury, too, not only the grand jury
but the petit jury, another important
element of the court.
Public Is a Part.
There can be no court without a
isheriff, his deputies, a clerk and
prosecuting Attorney and none with
out the public. Yet the public does
not see itself part of the court,
and, therefore, itthinks 1t can clamor
against whatever is done or failed to
be done in the administration Of JUS
tice.. No man can ever be punished
until after the grand jury has indict-
cd him. The Judge can not punish
a man until after that and the petit
jury has passed on the case. The Of
fender may be apnrehended and com
mitted to the custody OF the sheriff
as jailer, but not until after the grand
jury has indicted him and trial be-
fore petit jury had can the judge day
hands on him, and, then only, II
found guilty. Then is the FIRST time
the, judge can interpose and simply
pronounce the penalty OF the law.
There are some who say the court
is derelict in the discharge of its
duty to the government, Some of
the public sometimes say that men
with wealth and influence go nnwhip-
ned, OF justice, while men without
wealth or influence lare punished.
There may be a grain Of truth in
this: Attention is called to this only
to impress upon the grand and petit
jurors that they are to a very large
degree responsible for this. but,
knowing you as II do" said Judge
Lynch, II do not lay the charge at
your door," The popular notion is
that all these failures are attribut-
able to one person and one alone.
The very first criticism is that the
court is largely responsible for any
failure in the administration Of JUS
tiee. Public officials are only SER
wants and agents OF the public. Not
IN ones private business would all OF
that business be entrusted to a clerk,
and when one fails in business no
one saws 1t was the fault OF the clerk.
But the owner gives the business his
imemdlate oversight and directs the
business. II the clerk is remlss in
the discharge Of his duties, the en-
ployer reminds him. The business
man observes what his clerk does and
.akes an interest IN the business.
And, so. is the public interested in
what the grand Jury does. The
public is also responsible and has no
right to shirlS It's duty. as the grand
jury. can not act successfully unless
informed. Information must be
gotten from Witnesses. It is the
duty Of every private citizen to help