Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-10-23
GRAND JURY IN
SESSION TODAY
Judge Barley Presents
Charge in Reference to
Tax Evasions.
ASKS INVESTIGATION.
Eight Criminal Indictments are Con-
sidered BY Special Grand Jury
Which Convened Today. =.
ASKS INVESTIGATION.

poration Court IS today making III
quiries into the question Of whether
or not any citizen or firm Of Alexan
dria has failed to make correct re.
turn of their property or income tc
the Commissioner Of the Revenue fol
purposes of taxation.
The grand jury was summoned this
morning at 10 O'Clock, and is compos-
ed of the following well known bust
ness men: VIM H. Sweeney, J. B
Fitzgerald, w. E. Balm, Louis Bend
helm, Emanuel Goldsmith, Charles B
Marshall, B. Baer, and ]. NJ. Petit,
Jr. w. H. Sweeny was named as
foreman.
Judge Barley read the following
charge to the grand jury:
81 have summoned you as speci-
al grand jury at the request OF the
Attorney for the Commonwealth to
investigate certain matters which he
desires to bring to your attention.
These are cases which have been sent
on to the grand jury by the commit.
ting justice for your action.
Il have also been requested by the
Auditor Of the States of Virginia to
lay certain matters before your body
with reference to the revenue laws Of
this state. So, when you are through
with the cases which will be sent to
ycu by Commonwealths attttsr;::?:.s<, = !,
chars ge 10 20 Investigate and ascer-
tain whether there have been any vio-
lations of the revenue laws with spe-
cial reference to the assessment Of
taxes within the jurisdiction Of this
Court. | will send before your body
the Commissioner Of the Revenue
and have him present his books to
you for examination, and give you
such further information as ne may
have. The City of Alexandria has
always been law abiding community
and has been especially fortunate in
the selection of her oaicers to carry
out the laws. In making her selec-
ton of the Commissioner Of the Reve-
nue. for this city, there was no ex-
ception. Her citizens have ever been
ready to meet their just and lawful
proportion of the burdens of taxation,
but in the assessment Of taxation for
the City of Alexandria for this year,
in common with the other cities and
counties of this State, the Auditor OF
Virginia has thrown doubt around
the correctness Of the assessment OF
the Commissioner of Revenue. After
YOU have made full investigation Of
the subject, if you lind that any false
returns have been made through ig-
norance or mistake, and with no Wilful
and fraudulent intent, the tax payer
should be allowed to correct his re-
turn, but if your body believe that
any false returns have been made
with a wilful and fraudulent purpose
TO evade the revenue laws, a present
ment or Indictment should be found
against him. While, on the other
hand, if you find that the assessment,
which the Commissioner of the reve-
nue. has made is correct, you should so
state to the Court.
AT least five of your number must
concur in finding or making an indlct-
ment or presentment; you may, how
ever. make a presentment or tlnd al
Indictment upon the information OF
two or more of your body. When a
presentment or Indictment is so made
or found on the testimony of witness
es called on by the grand jury, OF
sent to it by the court, the names OF
the grand jurors giving the lnforma-
ton, or of the witnesses, shall be
written at the foot Of the present,
ment or indictment.
THE Court will be glad to facili.
tate your investigation of all matters
which may be before you in any way
nOrcihlo opd u,jj S,1D1n,on oDv witness
es you may desire to have brought
before your body and require them tt
testify
The grand jury returned true bills