The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1910-10-06
And Not Impose Upon the
People at Large, Enunci-
ates Judge Dayton.
GRAND JURY CHARGED
October Term of the
Federal Court is Opened
in This City.

Judge Aston C. Dayton opened
the regular October term of United
States district court Tuesday morning
in tile federal court room here and
delivered his charge to the grand
jury after that body had been sworn
in with Cohen Arnold, of BraxtonI
county, as foreman.
The charge referred to the various
violations of federal laws and consid-
cradle attention was devoted to legal.
wrong-doing by big corporations,
trusts and monopolies, the curse OF
the liquor traffic and unlawful com
blnatlons of labor.
Members of Jury.
The members of the grand jury are
Walter Holly, George A. Wyatt, AL
len Forman, silas P. Smith, Henry
Raymond, Philander X. Teter, Law
renee Cole, Clarence Stone, Robert
L. Cunningham, Wallace P. Gribble,
Stephen G. Jackson, James Cicero
Smith, G. NJ. Martin, Albert NJ.
Greathouse, Cloyd H. Duncan, John
L. Henning, David L. Hall and Cohen
Arnold. foreman.
Will f. Morris was admitted to
practice in the court.
In charging the grand jury, Judge
Dayton said, in part.
The Charge.
The function of a grand Jury is
that of an investigating body but IL
is governed by limitation that does
not characterize many of the investI-
eating bodies that especially in this
day and this age have become SO
common. Your Investigations are to
ascertain whether there is reason
able cause to believe that some one
charged with crime is guilty OF such
crime. Unless there is such reason
able ground to believe that there
should be a final investigation by
petit jury, it is the background OF
the court that the accused shall have
the benefit of all the safeguards and
protection that are thrown around
him by the law.
We have been having a good many
investigations, and 1T is good thing.
1t is good thing that the national
conscience has awakened to the evils
of political corruption. 1t is a good
thing to inquire into certain prac-
tees that have crept into our town
and municipal governments. 1t is a
good thing thar a municipal govern
ment of people, such as the city OF
Clarksburg, should be shaken up and
investigated once in while for the
purpose Of seeing that honesty and
integrity shall prevail, 1t is a good
thing to require that all persons
holding positions OF public trust
should be honest men. All these
are good things. The investigation
by a gand jury is not only good
thing, but Absolutely necessity.
Never forget the fact, gentlemen,
that the character. dignity and up
rightness of the positions you now
occupy, as an investigating body
form part of the framework and
machinery of our government.
Would Create Anarchy.
You may have Investigations by Con-
crosses, by legislatures and by town
councils, but If you stop the investi-
cations by the grand juries in the
courts of justice in the land, you will
ultimately create absolute anarchy
and absolute disorder.
1t is an anomalous position which a
grand jury occupies In our scheme Of
government. 1t has no parallel IN
any other institution or body in our
government. We can impeach the
judge upon the bench; so, too, the
president OF the United States; we
can turn out our cabinet officers and
by so doing make others feel respon-
sible for the trust within their care,
but we cannot penalize the members
of a grand jury that shall fall to
discharge its duty and If they refuse,
throughout the country, to indict
men who violate the laws, the law
will be powerless to punish any man
for the commission OF serious or
felonious crimes.
No position in government affairs
carries with 1T the responsibilities Of
the positions you have taken today.
Your positions carry with them GER
tain obligations and duties and these
duties and obligations are to the
people of the country at large and
are assumed on behalf OF every man
woman and child.
The happiness of all our people,
of yours and mine, comes more from
the deterrent Influence ~ Tho low