The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-07
HOWzE CHARGES NEW GRAND JURY Says Crime In County Has
 Shown Becrease CONNECTS ARE MISTREATED Court Calls Attention to subterfuees Employed to Evade Prohibition
 Laws and Calls for
 Investigation.
CONNECTS ARE MlSTREATED

ouuSe A. Ns 11OWZe or the criminal court, in his charge to the grand jury yesterday morning, laid particular stress upon the indicting of vlolatcrs of the pro- hibition laws, referring to those persons guilty of this crime as parties who will fully combine with the deliberate purpose of violating any law cannot be said to be desirabe''
 That part of his charge referring to prohibition violators reads:
 Since the first of January, 1908, your county has adopted a new plan with re- gard to the sale of intoxicating liquors. by prohibiting their sale. This was brought about by the act of a majority of the people themselves, and in that re- spect the law is a very unique one, as 1t Is the expressed will of majority of the people themselves. This law may be un- popular with some, and we are told that various plans have been adopted to vio- late it, and engage in the traffic of such liquors regardless of the law against the same. It is charged that various tricks, devices and subterfuges which are intend- ed to evade the operation or defeat the purpose of the law prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors in the county have been used. The court will not countenance any such methods and it will be your duty to investigate charges of this char acter and see that the violators of the law are brought to justice. Parties who wilfully combine with the deliberate pur- pose of violating any law cannot be said to be desirable as such conduct would surely lead to other and more serious violations of the law and a state of an- archy would naturally result should of lenses be permitted to exist and go un- punished. It is useless for the court to comment further upon this important subject, and rigid enforcement of the law will bring about a righteous and just public sentiment and violators of the law will be brought to a speedy punish ment."
 Judge Howze also spoke plainly on the treatment of convicts and also the prose- cution of violators of the forestry laws. Persons trespassing upon public or other ishment
 That part of his charge treating upon the handling of convicts and other things was as follows:
 I feel it particularly incumbent upon me to direct you to investigate the man. ner of the treatment of the convicts This class of unfortunates while they may merit the punishment due to the of lenses for which they have been com mitted should have humane treatment anu the law strictly enforced regarding their management and treatment. While 1t is said that they are sometimes vicious, unruly, and often deserve corporal punish ment, and while the law allows this to be inflicted to a certain extent, often times the party entrusted with this duty is almost as vicious and cruel, and the law should closely scrutinize their acts and all lsinfringements of the law by them be severely punished.
 Tt is also important to the welfare of the people of the county that the speed of automobiles should be confined within your people, who are endangered by the reckless management of these machines properly protected. This can only be done by strict enforcement of the law regu- lating the speed and the manner of con ducting said machines in the public high ways.
 'sIt is a remarkable and gratifying fact that there have been but few homicides in the county since the first day of January last. I am informed that you will probably not have a large docket owing to the fact that the former grand jury has but recently adjourned, and the further fact that crime of serious nature has greatly decreased within the past few months. It is to be hoped that this condition is to be continued, and that our county will>not long be reproached with the. charge that human life is the cheapest commodity in it, as often has been brought before us.
 J. B. Aird, assistant solicitor; "Gip' Montgomery, court stenographer, and A. P. Golden, bailiff, were appointed as special officers to assist the grand jury in it's deliberations
 F. w. Dixon was appointed foreman, while the other 16 members are Robert Hillhouse John M. Horan, U. D. Maske, J. A. o. Riddle, Sid Norwood, J. M. Crockett, Walter L. Metcalf, w. A Brit ton, c. R. OBarr, Thomas G. Maxkey, J. B. Sandifer. Henry Simpson, J. H. Guthrie, Adam Stewart, Hugh Frank lin and w. J, Williams.