Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1913-01-18
JUDGE ]. N. WOODS
TELLS GRAND Jury
WHAT ITS DUTY IS
New Judge Minutely Explains
Many Statutes.
COVERS WIDE RANGE
TALKING TO JURY

venes With All Members of New
Court and Large Crowd Present
Charge to Grand Jury Not Lengthy
But Able.
The regular January term Of circuit
court convened Tuesday. 1t was
the first term for the new officials,
namely, Judge j. NJ. Woods. Sheriff
Edward II. Tabler, Prosecuting Tttor-
ney w w. Downey and his assistant
r. L.. Luttrell.
The first action OF the new court
was the calling Of the grand jury,
which is as follows: f. ID. Staley, fore.
man; G. j. Slack, G. N. Porterfield,
b. B. Minghini. ]. w. Weiss, Decatur
Pearl. William Lowry, John d. Kelk-
er, b. s.. Speck, G. f. Newkirk, Rus
sci S%perrow, II. c. Burkhart, A. f.
Bentz, Z. c. Lemen, J w. Holiday and
G. l.. Stuckey.
In his chareg to the grand jury,
Judge Woods said in part: Gentlemen
of the grand jury: I do not think it
necessary for me to enter into great
detail as to the duties that rest upon
you 1t depends upon o and on your
honor as to whether any guilty man
escapes, or hat any man can feel
that he can violate the law with i'm
punity. 1t is that kind of people who
ought to know what grand and petit
juries are to do, and no honest man
need fear them.
The range of matters you are requir-
ed to deal with begin with the highest
and run down, but do not include the
small minor offenses which can be
handled by the magistrates so as to
save useless expense; but murders,
robberies. and all of those offenses
against the criminal law you are to
make diligent inquiries into, and, if
in your judgment certain parties
should be indicted. it is your duty to
return indictments against them.
The idea of the law is that no
man can be deprived of his freedom
by the action of any irresponsible
grined, and also that no man may go
unpublished if he has committed al
offense against the law. There are
several statutes which / desire to call
your attention to.
| am required to call the attention
of the first grand jury afteran election
to the election law and it is a very
important law. 1t is a law that deals
with the question of corruptness and
debauchery in our elections.
know a large number of citizens
who regard it rather a small offense
to violate the election law, and con
/ slider it of not much Importance and
ought to be passed by. Corruptness
in elections is spreading. 1t is more
rampant no wthan it was some years
ago. 1t is growing worse every year.
If it continues as it is nov it won't
be long before good, respectable cit
liens may look forward to the cleo
tons with fear.
Another matter that | am required
to call to your attention and to ev-
cry grand jury is the violation of the
revenue laws. Another very impor-
tant matter touching the government
is this thing of property owners, peo-
pie especially who own personal prop
erty, making false returns to the as
sesors. 1t is your duty to investigate
all of the violations reported 10 you,
and to inquire into them diligently
without fear or favor.
Likewise | will call your attention
to the matter of the sale of liquor by
druggists. | do not know that it is
necessary to do this, but | am requir-
ed to. Another statute that | have to
direct your attention to, is the n
which makes it q misdemeanor for
any person, firm or corporation,
which employs laborers, TO issue to
any laborer employed by it any
script or check unless that script or
check is negotiable in good money.
That same statute in another sec
ton states that no firm or corpora
ton shall compel or coerce any Of its
employees to deal at any store, com
pany store, or other store, so as to
prevent that man from exercising his
own free win. Judge Woods also
touched upon many other subjects of
equal Importance, and in conclusion
urged the grand jury to be faithful
in the performance of its duty. The
grand jury Their retired, and enter
ed upon its labors.
This being the first term of the
new court, the court room was crowd
ed, all being anxious to hear the
charge TO the grand jury. AS a large
number of persons have been sum