The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1910-07-07
SUPERIOR COURT.

Court Will Probably Ad-
iourn Tomorrow Cases of
Special Importance - Judge
Aliens Charge.
A criminal term of Robeson
Superior Court convened Tues
day morning, Judge Oliver H. AL
len, of Kinston, presiding and So
licitorN. A. Sinclair being present
to represent the State. The
grand jury was duly chosen and
impaneled with Mr.. Jno. A. Nc
Phaul as foreman. Mr.A.S. Wish
art was sworn as officer. None
of the capital cases and no 9TH
ers of special Importance will be
tried and court will probably
adjourn for the term tomorrow
afternoon.
Judge Allen began his charge
to the grand jury by saying that
he is inclined to believe that |
courts should not be held during
; July, and possibly August, as it is
| particularly busy time with
r farmers, and lawyers and judges
5 are tired out and not at their
2 best, and that he would endeavor
to be brief; but his charge was
: an exceptionally able one, some
r what out of the beaten path, and
e gave all who heard it something
f to think about.
Il He said that he fears we are
e not paying as much attention to
n the government as we should.
IS When he was a boy it was the
# custom for people to meet upon
i, the Fourth Of July and read the
10 Declaration of Independence and
to the Mecklenburg Declaration,
and have patriotic speeches,
D. while on the Fourth just passed
n interest throughout the coun.
IN try centered upon a prize fight
Id between a white man and ne
Id gro. The people as a whole were
al interested in that more than il
in anything else, and it raises tn
P. question whether we are not de
e. generating, that seeming to fur
sr- nish striking proof.
Judge Allen emphasized espee
ST. tally the Importance of jury dut
,ly and the Importance Of the seies
mt ton of names to go into the jur
it. box. The judicial department c
to- the government is distinctly tn
lg- department Of the people, becaus
on it is the only department
eat which the people directly partic
ire pate in the affairs of the law
est Juries are drawn from the bod
tee Of the people and this is the 81
zen verest test of their capacity
ect participate in the affairs of tt
ing government. If the jury syste
re. is a failure popular governmel
md is failure, but if juries demon
the strate that they are capable
ers performing their duties it der
to onstrates that the people are C;
ese pabIe of self go, ernment. It h;
the been his observation that tt
Who people have stood this test we
ese and he has no patience with u
the just criticism so often heard
be the system, yet the people ther
to selves often hear with approx
tee suggestions that this power oug
tee to be taken from them and tn
Dill Judges ought to decide all ms
low. ters. This, he declared, would
SIS equal to surrender of their Ii
ent critics and rights.
ag- Of course juries often f
Is, short of the proper standar
low but that is no reflection;the sar
les, may be said of all classes a
ing systems. In considering VIII
kec- grand juries can do to impro
dis the system, he called attenti
ded to the fact that the law exclu0
and from jury service men who 4
AXE not considered of sufficient
I'm telligence and not of good MOI
for character. The selection of m
of for jury service is done too cal
and iessly; two hours is spent in t
the work when it ought to take t
) to weeks. The most careful exa
ural ina,ion ought to be made and
tion name of no man should be plac
first in the box unless his fitness
known. 1t is the duty of t
for grand jury to carefully inqu
held into the selection of jurymen a
!, the see that they are prope
an selected. County commission
The have no right to reject nan
pic once drawn because they are |
vile from the right section of
unc- county.