The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-02

the grand jury for the January term in the first division of the criminal court yesterday morning and gave them a strong and exhaustive charge.
 The grand jurors were selected from the venire of the criminal court for the week, the names of all those quail flied being placed in a hat and the names drawn by Judge Greene until the cured.
 Rigdon E. Orr, Foreman
 Rigdon E. Orr was selected as fore man and was specially sworn by Dep uty Clerk Dave Williams, after which the entire jury took the oath
 The grand jury is constituted as fol- lows:
 Irwin " Sudduth, beat 24, 116 North Sixtieth street, salesman; Allen A. Summerhill 46, SOP Fiftieth street, north, Avondale carpenter; Porter Meharg, beat 33, East Bessemer, molder; John B. Bethea, beat S7, 14l6 Twelfth avenue, north, real estate; Larkin c. Browning, beat 10, 7417 Hill- man avenue, East Lake, carpenter; JOfn w. olDlty, Dtdb Ait AfoA AiiSAA land avenue, president Sibley- -Minge Pressed Brick company; Thomas B. Graham, beat 30. Mt. Olive, Morris, farmer; Albert T. Reeves, beat 20, Pratt City. clerk; Rigdon D. Orr, beat 21, 1904 North Thirty first street, me- ehanic; Sol Edwards beat 30, Oak Grove, farmer; Sturgeon L. Robinette, beat 34, 364 Fiftyfourth street, post man; Palmer Keith, beat S3, 152o Fourth avenue, Bessemer, collector; Houston w. Given, beat 21, 2S30 Fourth avenue. north, assistant civil engineer; Archie W. Teate, beat 9, Crews sta tion, wireman; Claud Ellard, beat 20, Irondale, clerk; John Buckalew, beat 90. Adamsville, farmer; Harry c. Lee, beat 34, 5301 Third avenue, north, Woodlawn, engraver; Wiley T. Bridges, beat ', Chatham Town, farmer.
 The official bailiff. Walter Smith, and Stenographer Lambert were also sworn in.
 In his opening remarks, Judge Greene called the attention of the jury to the importance of the oath they had taken and admonished them to perform their duty without fear or favor but with jus tice to all
 Charge to Jury
 The charge delivered by Judge Greene was devoid of sensational features. He clearly and forcefully pointed out the many duties they were called upon to perform. In commenting on the crime of carrying concealed weapons, the judge urged the importance of strict investiga- ton, stating that many homicides were the result of this prevalent practice.
 The most striking part of Judge Greene's charge was the comparison he drew between the code of procedure in the state of Alabama as compared with that of the commonwealth of Virginia.
 Public opinion is aroused over the lawlessness that has prevailed in Jeffer- son county said Judge Greene. and many remedies have been suggested.
 "While I realize that you gentlemen are not sitting in the capacity of legis- lators, I desire to call your attention to the code of procedure in this state as compared with that of Virginia
 Judge Greene stated that on the merest technicalities cases were carried to the supreme court of the state. and after
  case might be. He said he had no fault to find with the attorneys for taking up the cases, as that was not only theif privilege but a duty they owed to their clients. In contrast he pointed to the swift justice meted out in the McCue and Beattie cases in Virginia, and sug- gested that the time had come for change in the practice of criminal law in this state.
 Examine County Jail
 Judge Greene charged the grand jury to examine the county jail, the sheriff s account with the state for the feeding of prisoners. the condition of the county treasury, the books Of the probate judge and the official bonds. and said that they were entitled to free access to the county jail and all county offices.
 He enumerated the various crimes they were to investigate, dividing them un- der special heads, and gave the legal def milton of the same, follows:
 First-Offenses against persons: Murder different degrees), assaults with intent to murder: rape; assaults with intent to commit murder; assaults, and assaults and batteries.
 Second-Offenses against the admnis- tration of justice Perjury; subordlna- tion of perjury: disclosure of indictment by officer of grand juror; disclosure of testimony before grand jury by witness; bribery.
 Third-Offenses against property: Lar ceny; burglary; arson (against habita- tion) selling mortgaged property: dis posing of property upon which another has a lien; unlawful, wanton ana mali cious mischief forgery; embezzIement: buying. receiving or conceallng stolen property.
 Fourth -offenses against public decency and morality: Adultery or fornication; bigamy; abusive language; seduction miscegenation; gaming.
 Fifth-Offenses against health and safety. Shooting along or across a public road violating the laws regulating the running and operating of automobiles and other motor vehicles; horse racing alon, public road failure to observe the law regulating the public roads by driver of | carriages and other vehicles; changing or obstructing public roads
 Suffrage Offenses Sixth-Ofenses against suffrage: yot- l ing without registration; bribery, or at tempting to corrupt or influence voter;