The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-04-27
NO INDICTMENTS
Such Was the Verdict OF the
Grand Jury
AFTER A SESSION or FOUR DAYS

The grand jury which has been 10 sas-
sion four days filed in the courtroom
saturday At l:l0 y IN. This Jury was
composed OF Messrs. w. s. Chesiey' fore
man; Nelson Decker, J. Fred Brown. w
l. brannan. Mac l.. Lathram. H. X.
Lane, + J. Smith. p. V. Daniel and A
billingsley. They are all men OF the
highest character and representative cit
liens They have conducted one OF the
most Rigid Investigations ever made bv
grand jury of this city. They made no
Indictments, Notwithstanding that ft
was publicly charged that the local op-
ton law was being openly violated.
Their verdict will be gratifying to all
good citizens, both wet" aud dry" In
that the verdict rendered that the city
be- dry" should be kept "dry" 80 long
a. the law IL In force. The finding Of the
lrry was unanimous
it Il generally believed that % the Jury
five members were "d.y" and four wet
In the election held ia May, 1908.
The inllowlng papers we're handed To
Judge Goodrich by Foreman W =. Ches-
ley and read by the court. Judge Cool
rick then complimented the Jury on it,
rigid Investigation and said they had *
bausted every means To find a result
Fredericksburg, April -, 1909
To The Honorable Judge OF the Corpo-
ration Court Of Fredericksburg, Va.
The undersigned special grand
jury now 10 attendance on your honor's
court would respectfully report unto
your honor that IL has examined a mum.
Der OF illnesses touching the conduct OF
club maintained over the DO wing a ley
on Commerce street, and the grand Jury
II OF the opinion that the said Climb IL so
conducted as to render Il a nuisance 70
the citizens living IN that community
aud we recommend that Il h.. abolished
We do not indict those who compose the
club believing that this recommendation
that the club be abolished will meet the
present necessities.
We would also recommend that your
honor request the proprietOrs Of the
buildings formerly used as saloons To re-
move all screens which obstruct a full
view OF the interior 81 such buildings
from the street. We recommend this
In order that the o " ners 81 stores former
y used as saloons may protect them
selves against any suspicion.
Respectfully submitted.
W. Chesley, Foreman.
We. the grand jury. having carefully
examined a large number 81 witnesses
are OF the opinion that the local option
laws have been violated on several oc-
casions and by several parties. yet the
evidence has not been sufficient to secure
conviction should We bring indictments
against these parties; therefore. we re-
queet the court to make public notice
that anyone ordering intoxicAnts for
Others IL Violating the law and should be
punished accordingly.
We do tind from several witnesses that
parties have been made drunk from
drinking cider; we therefore recommend
that lite sale be discontinued We fur
Their find that there are several disrepu-
table houses. viz. Mr.. Ben Patterson
aud Nellie Davis, In the lower end OF the
city, where certain characters congre-
gate and by proiane language and other
disorderly conduct cause annoyance TO
the citizens OF this section. We. there
lore. recommend that the attention OF
the officers be called TO this fact.
W. 3. Chesley, Foreman.