The Sentinel=record., 1913-01-26
GOTHAM NAMES
 COMMISSIONERS
DR. V. H. MAILMAN, F. M. SlGLER AND JOHN F. DISHERooN TO
 DRAW COURT JURlES.
Circuit Judge Points out That the Question of Law or Lawlessness is in the Balance and to be
 Answered Positively.

Naming Dr. V. H. Hallman, F. M. Sigler and John F. Disheroon as the commissioners to draw the next grand jury and the various petit juries to serve in the March term of circuit court, Judge Gotham yesterday took an advanced step in tne matter of proving to the people of this dis trict the truth of former announce ment from him that the law is suf ficient to the occasion.'
 Not alone did Circuit Judge Gotham select these men of unquestioned in- tegrity to name the juries, but he admonished them as to their duty as no set of jury commissioners were ever admonished in Garland county before-not harshly, not critically, but emphatically pointing to them that the question as to whether law lessness shall reign is before them and it must be met and answered. "A crisis has arisen in the affairs of our country" pointed out Judge Gotham, lon the result of which will depend whether the forces of law and order shall have supremacy in our | city and county, or whether lawless- ness shall be permitted to go un- checked"
 And that question. submitted to Dr. V. H. Hallman, F. M. Sigler, and | John Disheroon, has probably been answered already in their first work done in the matter of selecting jur- ors for grand jury service and for | the petit juries.
 We must do our whole duty under | the law, let the chips fall where they may" said Judgs Gotham, and there is no doubt but that law enforcement will follow without regard to what | individual might stand in the way.
 The complete charge, except that which directed the jury commission CTS as to the procedure. as given by Judge Gotham, is as follows:
 Pursuant to law 1 am now about to exercise one of the most Tesponsi- ble duties with which circuit court Is charged-the appointment of jury commissioners to select the grand and petit juries for the next term of Gar land county circuit court.
 | This has always been regarded by me as probably the most responsible duty with which the circuit court is charged, and more particularly so just at this time, when it appears to me that a crisis has arisen in the af- fairs of our county on the result of | which will depend whether the forces | of law and order shall have supre l macy in our city anu county or whe- | uner lawlessness shall be permitted to go unchecked and the fair name of our beautiful city shall continue to be brought into disrepute and good citizens be made to blush for shame at the revelations of the press her aided from one end of the country to the other.
 Time like this demands of the court and all the ofucers and instru- mentality through which the law op crates or must be enforced wisdom, judgment, discretion, but, above all, an answering devotion to public duty and public welfare. It is no time for dilydallying or expedients. We must all do our whole duty under the law, let the chips fall where they may.
 Tn the discharge of this duty parti- zanship and prejudice shall be laid aside Let us be firm, but let us also be just.
 While it will require at your hands exercise of more than ordinary judg- ment and wisdom in the selection of all the juries you will be called upon to choose, l charge upon you the inn portance of selecting for the next grand jury the best men to be found in the community, men Of good character, of approved integrity, l cntn1 Ind hlo n nation, as required by the statute,
 So far as you are able to do so, select men of a judicial turn of mind, who can weigh and appreciate evi- dence. but above all other considera- tions, men who can be counted upon to do their duty and who cannot be ; influenced by any other considera- tion than their sworn duty under the law Inasmuch as this body may be called upon to deliberate for a consid, erable length of time, it might be well to secure men not too far away from their families and home"
 In this connection it is observed that Judge Gotham instructed the commissioners to name men on the grand jury who resided in or near the city in the event it would not be any hardship on them to be called in at any time. This indicates plainly that Judge Gotham is going to prove the law sufficient" by keeping his grand jury within the call of the court indefinitely, just as he will keep court open indefinitely, until all con- | ditions have been so materially cleaned up that there will be no fur 1 ther need for such action.