The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1911-11-01

tow, Oct. 3l.-The fall term OF the
Circuit Court of the Tenth Judicial
Circuit OF Florida met at the court
house on Monday. Oct. %. The
court was called to order by Sheriff
John Logan. Our new and able
Judge. Hon. f. A. Whitney. was on
the bench and present assisting him
was the new and efficient State At
torney Hon. John B. Singletary
Circuit Court Clerk A. B. Ferguson
was at his usual post OF duty.
Our New Judge and Prosecuting
Attorney.
Judge Whitney by his clear and
impartial charges to the juries and
by his fair decisions on points Of
law and his evident desire to dis.
patch business as rapidly as posi-
blee, soon showed that he is the
right man in the right place. He
will not be able to catch up with
the business OF the Court in Polk
county at This term. but it is easy
to be seen that he will soon, by
having special terms and by utiliz-
ing all of the time In the regular
terms, soon have the business or
the court in this county in good
condition. Mr. Singletary, while
not a brilliant lawyer. is an able
one a hard worker. and his I'M
compromising attitude toward law
breakers will be greatly appreciat-
ed by all good citizens. We predict
that these two officers of the law
will give entire satisfaction to the
entire circuit.
The Judge in his talk 10 the jur-
Urs, both before the drawing OF the
grand jurors and in his charge to
the grand jury gave it to be under
stood that when man is selected
to serve on a jury in his court he
must serve unless he can show UNI
der oath that he or some one de-
pending on his is seriously sick or
that his business will be jeOpardized
thereby, lie said that no one would
be excused as Juror on account OF
his business il to serve merely in
convemienced him and inconveni-
enced his business. 1t is the firm
belief of Judge Whitney that the
jury system is the greatest institu-
ton ever invented for the admin
istratiOn of justice, and that ii it is
properly administered there will not
be any complaints on account of the
OF justice. In other
words, he believes that its abuses |
and not its use is the cause of the
frequent miscarriage Of justice. He
wants it understood In Polk county
and in the other counties of his
circuit that when man is sub
poened to serve on a jury in his
court he is expected to serve.
The Grand Jurors.
The grand jury. composed of the
following men: II. W. Hines. c.
&. Fletcher, John d. Moore. James
D. Dossey. Harley B. Moore. w. X.
Hutchinson. Phillip Hicks, G. W.
Anderson, {. c. Gresham, W. J.
Davis, b. l.. Heap. J. +. McGraw,
VIM. II. Chestnut. l.. Glover. -. {.
Terrell, W. X. Claxton. W. T. Dem
lam, K. f. Grandy. met and Or
sanized by electing Mr.. W. T. Dem
lam of Homeland as chairman, and
Mr.. Harry Helm, of Barlow. as clerk.
Mr.. J. II. Griffin was sworn in as
,ailiff.
The grand jury has been grinding
steadily ever since its organization,
,ut despite the amount of work done
~ that body. at this writing Mon
lay, there are great many cases
yet to be investigated. The Jail is
,ull of prisoners. some of whom have
been indicted. while others are
waiting investigation at the hands
II the grand jury. and there are a
number of persons out on bond who
are yet awaiting their turn at the
hands of the grand jury.
Indictments Returned.
At this writing. the following in-i
dictments have been returned: /,
State vs.. Frank McHenry. color
ed, assault with intent to murder.
Frank was too free with a gun while |
on a spree at Swift's mine few
weeks ago. He plead guilty and the
judge gave him five years in the |
State prison.