The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-09-11

NOuI uuutISbduuluk.
! "By the policy of the law the
Investigations aud deliberations,
of the grand jury are conducted
in secret and your oath binds to
you to secrecy in this regard.
The strict observance of this
part of you, oath is important for
several reasons: First, secrecy
tends to secure the utmost free
dom of disclosure on,the part of
the witnesses concerning alleged
crimes and offences; second, il
tends e, prevent efforts on the
part of the accused TO circumvent
your accusations by means of per
Jury and subornation of perjury;
third, it prevents the accused
from learning prematurely uf the
charges against iflnI aud thus
avoids the danger that he may es
cape and Glade arrest. Tue oath
of secrecy also iorbidS YOU apd
each of you TO disclose how you or
your fellows voted on any cas- be-
tore yon. or to what effect YOU or
they expressed Yourselves III re
gard thereto. A erygOod reason
for this is TO avoid the danger OF
your incnrrIng the enmity and Ill
will of persons whose conduct is
under investigation.
"One of the most important OBJ.
jects sought to be accomplished
through the grand jury system, is
to secure the individual citizen
from open and public accusation
of crime. and from the trouble.
expense and anxiety of . public
trial before probable cause is es-
; tablished against him by the pre-
sentiment of grand jury after a
secret investigation of the alleged
: offence. The good name of repu-
, table citizens is thus protected
from the unfounded accusations
of malicious or vindictive persons.
. This object furnishes another
reason for binding you by solemn
oath to keep your proceedings
secret. e't -A 1--WE
"While the larger part of the
grand jury's functions are per,
formed By it as an independent
body acting separately from the
court, nevertheless when in SEES
slon it is constituent part of the
court and under its general super
! intendence and control. Wit
nesses before you who refuse to
0 answer proper questions put to
: them in the course of your inves
LEGATIONS, may be reported to the
: court and committed as for con
tempt. The States Attorney is
{ your proper legal adviser but you
may also seek the advice of the
= court in regard to any matters oil
law or procedure. Before pro
I ceeding with the business of the
session, you should adopt reason
: able rules for your yovernm. nj
which will enable you to expedite
: the business that will come before
you. The States Attorney will
) assist you in framing these rules.
1.-The law requires the court to
: give you specially in charge al
0 each session the statuets against
9 abortion, defaultering public off
GERS, and against the opening oil
: the oater doors to public halls
: and buildings in Frederick city,
0 inwardly. Doors to such build
v ings are required to open outward
!; Is. Information concerning any
such offences should be carefully
} Investigated.
8 The States Attorney will nc
doubt have a number of cases tG
submit to your investigation, and
u it is the duty to bring TO the at
. tention of that each member oil
= the grand jury body any violation
7 of the law in his neighborhood
J. and to hand in the names of the
witnesses to the fact whom he de-
sires to have summoned, thereby
d aiding 10 the punishment and
> suppression of crime and in main.
: tanning the peace, government
and dignity OF the State. You
will thus preceive that upon the
faithful, impartial and intelligent
I performance of your duties de-
Z Ponds in no small degree the
peace, order and quiet of the CON
:, munity, the security of the indi-
y vidual and the well being OF So
T ciety. You may now retire to the
:. room set apart for your use, com
I plete your organization and with
!. the business of the session which
I it 10 hoped you will dispose OF
with such dispatch as the proper
performance of your legitimate
functions will permit"