Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1912-10-07
JUDGE FARER's CHARGE

Judge Taber in his charge to
the grand jury this morning read
the Act to prevent drunkenness in
office and called the attention of
the jury to it. He then said:
Il have a word to say, gentle.
men. in regard to this law. AT
this term of court l hardly think
l shall mention any namc, but l
may tell you. that not only at other
times. but within the last month,
and much less even than the last
month, my attention has been
called to the fact that at least two
officers, living right here in his
town, have been found in a condi-
ton Of helpless drunkenness at the
very moment when their services
were needed. Now whether you
care to investigate this matter or
not, ! don't know. l have been
wrestling with my conscience
whether ! would speak of the mat
ter to you or not but at this time
want to give .notice-public
notice that if in the future / hear
of any public officer, county or
township. elective or appointive,
violating the provisions of this
statute, l shall certainly take the
matter before the grand jury,
mentioning the names of the
offending officers, and the names of
the witnesses. might say that
while it is preferable to have in
office men who occasionally become
intoxicated, rather than those who
would have anything to do with
anything in the way of corrupt
practices, and those VINO would do
anything against a person from
personal prejudice, still that is no
excuse for drunkenness. This is an
age in which we are entitled to
have clean men in office, not only
those who are both competent and
honest. but thuse who have enough
respect for. the suffrage which put
them there to keep themselves
straight. and not let drink put
them down and out. l want this to
serve as a public warning that in
the future if this thing comes to
my notice there will be no action
on my part that can be taken as
meaning that will not see that the
grand jury is fully advised on the
subject; not only in regard to the
names of the offending parties
but the names of the witnesses as
we'll. Right at this time this is a
very delicate subject. 1t would at
easy to accuse the District Judge
of trying to play politics and to
try to make a person trouble for
political reasons. and part of the
reason why | do not, at this time,
mention particular names is that
may avoid the accusation Of trying
to create prejudice or use political
methods"
He also called the attention of
the grand jury to complaint
made by George Clayton that a
party from town were shooting
ducks on Ten Mile before the open
season begun. Mr.. Clayton
telephoned to Mr.. Steninger that
the law was be ing violated and
asked that complaint be filed and
the parties arrested. The matter
was laid before the various officers,
but nothing was done and the
parties escaped punishment. He
asked the jury to investigate the
matter as Mr.. Clayton had a right
to know why nothing was done;
whether It was through some fault
of his own or that of some officer
or officers. He wanted the public
to understand that complaints
made to him in the future would
go to the grand jury whether or
not those making the complaints
had the nerve to back them up.
md r.,;aIad lha s,nrn... L.. ..:... 49,