The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1909-01-04
Strong Charge.
Judge Lynch Goes After Vic.
lators of Law in a Severe
Alraignmentof Their
Conduct

Circuit court consened in January
term Monday morning with Judge
Charles w. Lynch sitting. The feat.
-ures of the opening were the charge
to the grand jury and the presence
of new sheriff. N. j. Francis. ana 4
new clerk, l. Wade Conman.
The grand jury was organized us
follows;
David L. Hall, foreman; Lee D.
Holden, William H. oottrill, R. r.
Hardesty, Lloyd washburn, Hugh
Lyon, Lloyd Barnett, G. L. Hess,
John Nv. Fortney, F. NJ. Ashcraft,
Lee Z. Blake, ]. w. Miner, Peter /.
Lynch, George N. Ross, c. h. War
ner and Henry iBassell.
Vigilance the Price.
Judge Lynch said in opening his
charge that It is said and truly that
eternal vigilance is the price OF llber-
ty. He stated that it is also the price
of good order. deccncy. good behavior
IL, every community. One might go
even farther and say 1t Is the price
of self-respect on the part OF every
individual Human nature he said is
weak and TO be upright and honest
all must be constantly on guard.
The jury was. informed that 1t was
especially to deal with Harrison
county and the good order thereof
1t was expected to spend a reason
able length OF time in investigating
the conduct sof the citizens OF the
county.
Judge Lynch stated that it was the
hope OF the more sangulne that in
the future. but possibly very remote.
It would not be necessary to convene
the grand jury three times year.
Present conditions tended TO make
such period far remote. but 1t is
wished.
Diligence Urged.
AT this time. said Judge Lynch,
there are at least twenty, ne WIS In
formed. confined In the jail. whose
conduct viii be Investigated By tho
grand jury and as many moro per-
haps outside OF the jail. 1t is tho
desire Of all good. citizens, he said, in
the county that the grand jury be
faithful and willing and to remain a
sufficient length OF time to make a
careful, painstaking. deliberate ex-
into the conduct of all per-
sonE. which may come before it. He
expressed his confidence that the jury
would spend the time and discharge
Its duty in such manner as to have
a clear conscience OF the fact that 1t
had done its duty. He declared that
they were all good citizens and that
good citizens make good grand ju-
rors.
The Witnesses.
Attention was called to the fact
that there are to be great many
witnesses before the grand jury and
that the prosecuting attorney could
and would materially help the jury
IN It's investigations. as he was more
familiar with the cases than they. He
stated that some OF the witnesses
would cvade o1cstlCus. while Others
would use every possible and concelv-
able method to avoid giving informa-
tion, with CERTAIN mental and phys
cal condition TO htl, them in the
evasion. and to smother their cou-
science and telling falsehoods. He
stated that these things have gradu-
ally disappeared as he had repeatedly
instructed grand jurles and he In
structcd this one that in case Of In
toXicated or partly intoxicated per-
sons appearing before the grand
jury. should be brought into court.
so that the judge could place them
where they would he kept until they
were in condition TO appear before
the grand jury. He hoped that the
jury would take notice OF such con.
tempt of it. .
CONTINUED on page 81