The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-06
u. S. COURT
TN SESSION
Organization Perfected
Yesterday.
CHARGE TO GRAND JURY
Judge Jones TALKS to Jurymen in
Patriotic Vein.
Three Case. are Heard the First Day,
= W: Allen, W. a. skipper and
John !. RieAara.oa Being
Charged WIN In,cit
Distiilins.

Judge Thomas G. Jones, sitting in
the United states Court for the Middle
District of Alabama, yesterday at 9
o'clock organised the grand Jury and
the two petit juries. for the May term
OF the court, now In session. The orr
sanization should have been accom-
plished on last Monday, but on account
Of the absence OF Judge Jones in Bir-
mingham and on account OF the lack
OF jurors ON Tuesday. the full organi-
cation was not completed until yester-
/ day morning
Judge Jones' in charging the grand
jury, laid especial stress upon the fact
that United States Court was not a
foreign court. He stated that to con-
slider the United States Court "for-
eign" was either to confess ignorance
or to imply a motive. He stated that
the United States courts and the
State courts dove tailed In perfect har-
| mony in the administration of justice.
There were times when the United
States court administered the laws Of
the State rather than the State court,
and there were other times when the
State courts administered the statutes
OF the State In place of the Federal
court. Both were looking to the one
aim--the general welfare and happiness
OF the citizens of the United States.
r. The charge was most patriotic, and
highly instructive to those who had
.Nttle Idea of the workings OF the court,
OF who had erroneous Impressions as
to Its workings.
The HIST of grand Jurors sworn in
yesterday follows:
w. B. Jones, foreman; Dennis Cross,
1. e. McI.endonr. r. G.. Hammond.
Walter Drane, C. p. Anderson. r. NJ.
Groce, J.. p. Faulk. r. M, West.
Thomas p. Green, Charles T. Pollard,
c. M. Westcott A. sternfeld, Robert
Halls, w. NJ Browder, M. H. Stuart,
r. G. Browder, w. II. Coleman. b. c..
Roberts, f.. E.. Freeman, Hugo Noah.
D. H. Lewis. H. H. McLemors. and
M. L. Woods.
Petit Jury No. Thomas Penning-
G. w. Henderson. Ben Strassberger,
l.. P. Perkins, G.. C. clisby, w. C..
jackson, w. J.. Sayers. G. e. Burk-
halter, J. L. Alexander. and w. H.
Spelgner.
Petit Jury No. Pr. Rothenhofer.
T. n. Parker, Sherb Smith, ]. B. G..
Heating, William Crusius. r. NJ. Nc
Queen, J. r. Willis. G.. w. Norman,
Walter s. Stokes, Thomas Sharp. Ma
than Nesbitt and @. Wolff
The following talesmen: =. B. Ellis.
viii T. speigner. ]. e. McLendon.
John A. oliver, Hal Brown, and L. d.
smith.
Three Convictions Made.
After the swearing in of the 1uries
had been accomplished, the docket for
the day was called. Ali of the cases
were those of Illicit distilling, as will
be the cases for the remainder of the
week. The first case to be called was
that of y. w. Allen, charged with de-
80
In the running Of his distillery at
Opelika.
1t was alleged that Allen was in con-
spiracy with the master of his stock
room, whereby his books would show
q smaller amount of material used than
the actual consumption. Two indict-
ments were returned, and In the first
case a sentence of six months in the
Montgomery County jail together with
fine of $1,000 was imposed. while in
the second, sentence Of four months
in the Jail. with fine OF $3.50 was i'm
posed.
In the next case, that against w. A.
Skipper OF Houston County. charged
with Illicit distilling. fine of 500 was
imposed, together with sentence or
imprisonment for thirty days in the
Houston County jail entered. On &C.
count OF the physical condition Of the
| prisoner at bar, together with the fact
that his wife and four small children
were dependent upon him for liveli-
hood, the mercy of the court was ex-
tended, Judge Jones suspending sen.
tence, and giving the prisoner another
chance.
In the matter of John I. Richardson
of Houston County, charged with Illicit
distilIing. the court entered sentence
of six months in the Houston County
Jail. together with fine of 800.
In several other cases orders were
entered, while several were mol pressed
by the district solicitor. Today Illicit
distilling cases will again be the order
of the docket.