Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1911-03-31
Report OF The Grand Jury.

TT
The Grand Jury respectfully presents the
following report
The gravity and Importance of some OF
the cases explains the length of time we
have been in session.
We have examined one hundred and
fifty witnesses, including the Deputy Sher-
ltfs and Constables. These officers uni
formly testified that they knew of no vio-
latlon of the Law except in the cases to be
brought before us in regular course.
We decided in number of cases after
hearing the testimony that there was not
sufficient evidence to convict, and we found
tWenty-0ne preSentments and indictments.
We take pleasure in reporting that very
few violations of the local option law were
brought to our notice, and in this cOnnec-
ton we beg leave to recommend that here
after when such violations are reported to
the Grand Jury the complainant must ap-
pear himself or furnish competent evidence
to sustain the charge; otherwise no notice
should be taken of the complaint and no
summons be issued We devoted valuable
time and considerable expense to the
county incurred in barren investigations.
Evidence showed that many persons in
different parts of the county are in the
habit of selling goods on Sunday We
recommend that these parties be warned
that such action is violation of law and
should be stopped altogether
Some of the witnesses who had been duly
summoned in a certain case failed to ap-
pear, and we have evidence to believe that
one of them stated that he would not tes-
tify and nobody could make him testify.
Such fragrant defiance of the county au-
thorities constitutes a contempt of Court
and should be severely punished. To avoid
further delay we decided to act in the case
without his evidence.
The Legislature of Maryland at its last
session passed law establishing Police
Court in Rockville and taking away from
the other Magistrates the power to try
petty cases. After giving this law fair
trial for nearly year, we strongly condemn
it and unanimously demand its repeal for
the following reasons:
Ii causes serious inconvenience. expense
and loss of time by witnesses being COM
PEELED to travel perhaps, long distances to
the County Seat. when there is Magis-
trate nearby. 1t tends to defeat justice
because parties will not enter complaint
against an offender when it involves such
sacrifice on their part. Delicate women
are liable to be dragged before the Police
Court as witnesses and exposed to the
crowds of undesirable associates there as
sembled to the detriment of their health
and comfort. A just decision is more
likely to be rendered in such cases by a local
Magistrate who knows the character of the
accused and the witnesses than compar-
alive stranger. and the decision may not
be final in either case, as in both the
offender has the right of appeal to the
Circuit Court. Finally. il will surely result
in the county having low class of Maeis-
trates, as those that are worthy and well
qualified by experience will refuse TO serve
when the most profitable part of their bu-
siness is taken away from them without
hope of having the error corrected in the
near future.
One case was brought to our attention
where complaint was made by residents
of the county that health, comfort and
and values were being injured by the dis
charge of sewage. In reference to the
pollution of a stream known as Falls Branch
by sewage and other filth coming from
parts of the towns of Somerset. Friendship
Heights, Chevy Chase Drummond and The
Hills. we recommend that the county au
thorities. as soon as practicable make n
thorough investigation and Obtain the
names of all those causing such pollution,
and if criminal or other action can be taken
such action should be taken without I'M
necessary DELAY after reasonable notice to
discontinue such pollution.
Without reaectins in any vav on the
,larLs t~a racommand Tho, in fn,nra The
,erv;ces of a stenoaranher he sacnrad fnr
,ho ,,Se Nv The CranJ I,rv nrov;dad tha
,ame can he done at reasonable cost "a II
e inonossibIe in any otbar ,~ov to ;nSnre
,ccnrpcv and tho,onSbness in taLins do,yn
;nnnortort test;monv No""
We Visited the iau Court House and
County Horne and made careful eXon,;no-
ion Tho iaiI contains four,ean nr;snnars
,hrao ,.,h;,o males and eleven co,nra5 nnoIas
Snna ha;nd a nn;nor1 No fonna,os W. TounS
tbe b";ld;1a nicaIv ~ h;tayashed and IL an
rno ciaa1 ord son;tarw avoant 70, = ,,ash
boh;nd The onts;da ,,;ndo,y screanS IT,
r,,rraoo - hadi',N o',, o. aoa;s "a ~
tha r,rcSaoo Of a nn,. ono o ,hot
Iii annbIa .ha III ,o , ~ nc" ,bn o hat
he,,er aDd nrevent the on5rass;vo a,rnoa
O6ara o.. n" pnt;cad IN ,be b,';id;na " IT,