The Columbus weekly dispatch., 1909-01-14
VIGOROUS CHARGE
BY JUDGE BUCKLEY
DILLIGENT INQUIRY INTO CRIME
URGED UPON GRANDsJURY
By JUDGE BUCKLEY IN
CHARGE MONDAY.
Urges Speedy Indictment of All Vio-
Iators Of the Law, and Declares
Those Seeking to Prevent
Same Will Be Fined.

from the yirile charge which his hon
or delivered to the grand jury it is
very evident that he expects and viii
require them to diligently inquire
into all violations of the law, and
speedily indict the guilty parties.
The first work to be done was to
empanel the grand jury, and unusual
care was exercised both in drawing
the names from the hats and in quail
flying the jurors for duty after they
had entered the box This is the
jury that was to inquire into the
Smith-Laurent tragedy, and attorneys
representing both sides were present
while the body was being empaneled.
cution, made objection to the man
ner in which the jury was being
drawn, declaring that the law ex-
pressly that the slips containing the
names of prospective jurymen be
drawn out one at time, while Cir
cult Clerk Gunter was picking out
two slips at time, and after calling
the gentleman whose name appeared
on one of them, dropping the other
back into the box. Mr.. Gunter stated
that this was done unintentionally,
the slips being so small that it was
almost impossible to pick them up
one at a time. The selection of the
jury was then proceeded with, and
following gentlemen were in the box:
G. F. Sherrod, Jr., foreman; r. A.
Morris, w C. Gunter, A. L. Leech,
]. E. Dougherty, T. J. Waters, An
thony Bell, w. T. Cole, L. S. Ledbet-
ter, T. E. Dismukes, j. J. Andrews,
Hunter Golding, J c. Fancher, c. A.
Pilkington, w. o. Peck, J. E. Acker,
w. S. Hinkle,, w? S: Fleming, J. E.
Cox, J. N. Freeman, Jr.
While Judge Buckley did not spe-
officially mention the Smith-Laurent
tragedy in his charge to the grand
jury, he gave them distinctly to un-
derstand that it was their duty to in
vestigate all crimes and indict the
perpetrators thereof, declaring that
the grand jury was an inquisitorial
and not a trial body, and that it
should be left for court trial to de-
termine the guilt or innocence of all
men who violate the statutes. 1T is
your duty" said Judge Buckley, ITO
speedily indict each and every party
who has violated the statutes. If you
find that the law has been violated
it is your duty to indict the violator,
be he white or black, rich or poor.
The Judge declared that it had
past efforts had been made in the
grand jury room to suppress indict-
ments, and that if any such effort
was made during the time the pres
ent grand jury was in session he
wanted the party or parties making
such effort reported TO the court, in
order that he or they might be pun
ished as the law directs. Judge Buck
ley said that many times recently he
had been chagrinned and disgusted |
grand jury room. He said that it was !
his intention to make every effort to
stop this leakage. The law makes it |
a felony, punishable by both fine and |
Imprisonment, to make public any
thing that transpires before a grand |
jury within six months after the body |
has adjourned, and the judge de-
clared it to be his intention to rigidly |
enforce this law.
Mr.. C. F. Sherrod, Jr., was select
ed as foreman of the grand Jury, and |
Judge Buckley admonished him to
impress upon each and every member
of the grand jury and every witness
examined the necessity for keeping
secret everything that .transpires
while the inquisitorial body is in ses-
sion. He also admonished- the fore
man to keep down any effort that
might be made to suppress indict-
ments against violators OF. the law.
Judge Buckley's language while on
this subject was unequivoca1 and ex-
plicit. In admonishing Mr.. Sherrod
as to his duties as foreman, the Judge
said: When a homicide is commit
ted, scheming and juggling COM
mence on the outside in order to Gre
ate public sympathy and keep down
Judge Buckley again
declared that it was the duty of the
grand jury to speedily indict the per-
petrators of all crimes, and told the
members Of the body that he expected
them to do their full duty in the
matter.
Continuing his charge Judge Buck
ley mentioned in detail the various