The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1910-10-04
BROWNS CHARGE
IS VERY SWEEPING
Judge Declares Society Gamblers as
Bad as Green Cloth Variety
Hotly nenouhees slandets

With the exception of the hearing
of few motions and demurrers of
minor Importance, the work of the
district court at the second days ses-,
sion has been taken up with the work
of empanelling the grand and petit
juries and in the deliverance of Judge
charge to the grand jury.
The charge to the grand jury was
the most sweeping ever given to a
grand jury in this district Judge
Brown in making the charge recalled
the method Of selecting jurymen, the
character of men necessary to make
the work of the grand jury what the
law intended that it should be. He
told them of the power and duties of
the grand jury. He said it was the
duty of the grand jury to investigate
all crimes, both felonies and misde-
'meanors that occur in the county from
which the venire was drawn. Judge
Brown dwelt at considerable length
upon the character of men who should
compose a grand jury, saying that
they were only representative citizens
of the community from which they
were drawn
The chief object Of society, said
Judge Brown, is to reach a higher
plane Of citizenship, morally, socially,
intellectually and spiritually. The
grand jury is the guardian Of the peo-
pies rights and of the peoples liber-
ties. The jury was especially charg-
ed to investigate those crimes which
affect the rights Of the people and
strike at the very root and foundation
Of society, and the homes and happi
ness of the people.
The charge stated that there were
some crimes so revolving as to cause
the people of the community to rise up
and see that the criminals we're
brought to justice, but said that there
were numerous other crimes against
the common law that it was the duty
of the grand jury to investigate and
bring indictments against the perpe-
traitors. Perjury, as crime that most
vitally affected society and its fire.
quency was discussed at much length
in the charge and the jury was es-
pecially warned to investigate thor
oughly all cases where there was
possibility of perjury having been
practiced.
Numerous misdemeanors, such as
gambling, selling liquor in violation of
the law. selling cigarettes and the
sale Of impure foods.
In regard to gambling Judge Brown
created quite sensation in the court
when he said that the man who
gambled over the green cloth for
living was no worse than the society
woman who sat in her home and play
ed cards for a prize or the church
member who raised funds for the
church BY means Of a ratfle la fact
the jury was instructed that # leniency
were used it should be in favor of the
green cloth gambler. who possibly
does not know better while The mem-
Der of the church and the society wo-
man know that it is violation Of the
law to gamble in any form,
The all to common practice. Oh the
part Of many otherwise good citizens,
of slandering the various officers Of
the state from the governor down to
constable was decried by theh judge
and the jury was especially instructed
to investigate the official conduct of
the various officers under their iuris-
diction. He told of the oft repeated
charges of direliction on the part Of
the county officers and said that If the
charges could be substantiated to
bring indictments against the offend
/ ing officers, but he said that IN case
the charges could not be substantlated
that the officers be vindicated and the
slanderers brought to justice
Judge Brown told the grand jury
/ that the sGate would have A special
officer who would appear before them
for the purpose Of investigating the
alleged violations of the state liquor
laws and the conduct of the various
officers, pertaining to the enforcement
of the prohibition laws only. and that
| it was the duty of the jury to care
fully weigh the evidence presented BY
this special attorney and Y Justified
bring true bills against the law vio-
lators, whether they be officers Or
bootleggers
The following are the members Of
the grand jury selected this morning
e. Houx. foreman, Sam Z. Cobb
George Dotts, Nat Dickerson. n Il.
Harrison, John Chouteau, j r. Scout,
Ii. ii. Gin, L. M Phillips Hiram
| fTroooa Iamne M Martin ann p