The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-03
ONLY 54 OUT OF 85 JURYMEN RESPOND IN CRIMINAL COURT Judge Greene Orders Att ments Issued for Ab-
 sentees of Yesterday CHARGE DELIVERED TO NEW GRAND JURY B. F. Crabbe Is Foreman and Body Contains Number of Other
 Men Prominent in Busi-
 ness Circles

ness Circles
 and impaneled the grand Jury for the September term and the petit juries for the week yesterday morning in the first division of the criminal court Much difficulty was experienced in se- securing the juries and while the grand Jury was completed the petit juries lacked 20 jurors to complete their number.
 A special venire of s5 jurymen had been drawn for this week. Of this num- Der only 54 responded to the summons. Nineteen of the 54 faithful ones were excused on account of sickness. phys ical inffrmfty or legal excuse, leaving only 34 men from which to draw the IS grand jurors and the 36 petit jurors required by law for the week.
 Judge Greene stated that he would not tolerate wilful disobedience to legal summons and ordered the clerk of the court to issue attachments for the absent jurors and intimated that lnFS udd d iSbai oAShSh iiN would impose on them the full penalty of the law
 After all the jurors had been quail filed the 84 names were placed In hat, the first IS names drawn consti- tuting the grand jury.
 Crabbe Is Foreman
 Ben F. Crabbe of precinct S7, seo- retary and treasurer of the Wood & Crabbe Grain Co. was designated and sworn in as foreman of the grand jury, John w. Lambert as official stenog- rapher and Walter smith as special bailiff. The grand jury is as followsi
 Ben F. Crabbe, foreman; Isham Eas- tis. precinct 20. coke burner; John Kemp Parson, B. farmer, Algenon l.. Smith. 21. sales manager; Milton K. Russell, 1. farmer. Sam Carmichael, 39, carpenter; Ben NJ Harper. 21 salesman; Bolden Robinson, 16. farmer; John A. Matthews, 37, loan manager; w. Tom Sims, 20, merchant; Cary B. Butler. Il, motorman: John H. Lett. 20, mer- chant. Thomas T. chappell, 9, farmer; James Brown. 21. manager; Addison r. MtNruets Jiss Sit hhoitaHoi pSNiN Harrell, 25, miner; Albert Davis, Il, farmer.
 The personnel of the grand jury Is unusually strong and contains in its membership citizens prominent In bus mess and industrial circles.
 Charges Grand Jury
 Immediately after the grand Jury was sworn in Judge Greene gave them the charge.
 It was devoid of any special features. the we'll known jurist confined himself to the duties of the grand jury. the law relating to their Investigations and the extent of their authority.
 In clear, concise language, without a superfuous word, Judge Greene called the grand jury's attention to matters they were called upon by law to look into and defined the different degrees of crime as laid down by the statutes
 Judge Greene opened his charge by the attention of the grand Jury to the oath they had taken and admon- ished them to keep secret all the trans actions taking place In the grand jury room.
 He charged them to examine the county jail, the treasurer's books, sher- iff's accounts for keepinsprisoners. the fee books of the probate judge, and several other matters connected with the affairs of the county.
 Judge Greene laid stress on the fact that only legal testimony should gov ern the finding of true bills and they should vigorously investigate all cases brought before them. and admonished them to make their presentments with out fear or favor.
 Two Classes of Crimes
 Crimes he said were divided in two classes, felonious and misdemeanors. In the nature of these offenses Judge Greene said it was highly im- portant for the jury to remember the and to indiot for the lesser offense if the evidence was insufficient to convict for the higher, rather than put the county to the expense of q long trial that might result in an ac quittal.
 He urged them to be vigilent in their Of the homieides that might be brought to their notice and defined the several degrees of murder.
 The judge explained the various crimes. such as arson, robbery, burg lary, assault with the intent to mur- der embezzlement, perjury, bribery and violations of the elections law, viola tion of the revenue law, gaming. auto mobile stealing, offenses against tho Ash and game laws, the pooling of food products, and adulteration of candies. and many other crimes
 At the conclusion of Judge Greenes charge the grand jury adjourned to meet this morning at the usual hour when they will take up the grand jury docket which contains nearly 300 cases.
 Solicitor II. r. Hefin and his assist ants were present in the courtroom when the grand jury was impaneled and charged. MT. Hehin will personally attend It's sessions.
 Judge Greene concluded his charge by referring to needed reform in the code of procedure in the practice in crimi- nal court and stated he was glad to see that the matter had been taken up. and. that he hoped such measures would be adopted as would be for the good of the county and state at large.
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 McQuire Is Held
 Tom. alias r. A. Mcclure. was placed in the city jail yesterday morning by Officer Brent charged with a violation of the revenue laws. Following the settle ment of the case docketed against him yesterday it was stated at headquarters that Mcclure would be held to answer a