Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1911-03-24
Circuit Court.

charged that body in the following words
Gentlemen of the Grand Jury:
The oath which you have taken fully in
forms you of the nature and scope Of the
delicate and important duties you have
been assembled to perform.
In speaking of grand juries, it was said
by Judge Addison
ITO them is committed the preservation
of the peace of the county. the care of
bringing to light for examination, trial and
punishment. all violence, outrage, indie
cency and terror; everything that may
occasion danger, disturbance or dismay to
the citizen. They are the watchmen sta
toned by the laws to survey the conduct
of their fellow-citizens and inquire when
and by whom public authority has been
violated or the laws infringed."
cannot too strongly impress upon you
the Importance of strict observance of
that part of your oath which imposes upon
you the obligation to keep secret the cOun-
sci of the State of Maryland, your fellows
and your own, which obligation, you will
understand, not only continues during your
session, but must remain inviolate ever
thereafter.
| advise you to confine the discussion of
all matters brought before youto the grand
jury room, for if you do not you can never
be sure that what you say will not reach
ears it was not intended for.
You must not talk to any one, or suffer
OF permit any one to talk to you, about any
matter that may be pending or is likely to
be brought before you. and if any one does
so you will promptly report the fact to the
court.
The States Attorney is your legal advi-
sor and you can safely follow his advice
upon any question of law that you may
request his opinion about. AS the repre-
sentative of the State. he is entitled to be
present and hear the testimony Of all wit
nesses that may appear before you, and it
will frequently be of advantage to have
him assist you in the examination Of wit
nesses. Upon all questions of fact. however,
your are to act without the advice Of any
one. and whenever you take a vote on any
question, not even the States Attorney
should be present.
You will understand that it is not your
province to try cases. If you have before
you evidence which, if uncontradicted,
would sustain conviction of the person
accused, it will be your duty to return an
indictment, otherwise you should not do so.
You not only possess the power to inau
eurate any investigation you may have
good reason to believe would lead to the
discovery of crime, but it is your duty to
do so and in doing so. you have at your
command the processes Of this court to
bring the necessary witnesses before you.
You, of course, understand that in order
for you to find either presentment or re-
turn an indictment at least twelve Of you
must vote in favor thereof. and upon every
such question ii is as much the duty Of
your foreman as it is Of any other member
of your body to vote.
OF late years it has become the practice
of grand juries in this county not to bring
into court any presentments or indictments
until about the close of their sessions. This
regard bad practice. When you have
sufficient evidence before you to warrant a
presentment. you ought then to find one
and bring il into court, and when the
States Attorney presents to you an indict-
ment you ought to act promptly thereon
By pursuing this course you will act while
the evidence remains fresh in your memo
ries, and those indicted will have less rea-
son to appeal for delays and continuances
because of lack of time within which to
prepare their defense.
You, no doubt. have frequently heard
former grand juries criticised for bringing
indictments upon insufficient evidence and
for offenses too trivial to occupy the time of
the court II you would avoid such criticisms
of your work. you must exercise caution
in reaching your conclusions. and be salts
fled the evidence warrants an indictment
before you return one
There are several matters of grave i'm
pOrtance TO be presented TO you. to which
you will give your careful consideration.
refrain from a more specific reference to
these matters lest what might say should
be construed into a prejudgment Of them.
The court is required to call your atten-
Z Al a. lou rala ind IN nd
defaulting public officers. No violation of
either has come TO my attention. II any
is brought to yours, the States Attorney
will advise you as to the law or. If re-
quested. the court will more fully charge
you upon the subject.
You may now retire to your room and
perfect your organization.
The following compose the grand and
petit juries
Grand Jury -Robert II. Miller. foreman;
Jas L. Morrison. Samuel Riggs, Benjamin
A. Bean. VIM. E. Ward, John A. Burriss,
VIM. A. Moore, Lee 0ffutt, Allan Farquhar.
Eugene II. O'Neae Chas. F. Higgins, Rch'd
C. Windham, Edmund C. Davis G. Rusk
Candy, John T. Strider, Samuel d. Byrd,
Walter W. Thompson, Robert L. Young,
James A. Broome. Clifton L. Nicholson.
Harry b. White, William B. Moxley and
Francis E. Davis
/ Petit Jury -Thos. d. Darby, Clifford L.
Howard, Geo. E. Gather. Harry Riggs, Jas.
I N. Suddath, Allen II. Burdette. Richard II.
Bowman. Joseph T. Chiswell, VIM. 7. Crit
fifth, Of d. p. Leonard L. Nicholson. Philip
Reed. George H. Trail, Jacob v. Van Horn,
Clyde Griffith, Alfred F. Fairall, Edward c.
| Henderson. George L. Crawford, Willard C.
Fisher Richard T. White. Jr.. Robert G.
Davis. John B. King, Nathan L. Easton,
Frank L. Hewitt and Chas. C. Cunningham
The following cases have been disposed