The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-10-11
GRAND JURY HEARS CHIEF.
CANTWELL TELLS OF EFFORTS
TO CURB LAWLESSNESS.
Judge Bowman Charges Grand Jury
to Perform It's Duty, Presenting
Any Person who Ought to be
Brought into COurt-Clubs Report
ed to be Among Places Accused of
Violating the Dispensary Law In
Charleston.
News and Courier, Oct. z.

News and Courier, Oct. z.
Chief of Police James r. Cantwell
appeared before the grand jury yes
terday morning and described what
the police department was doing to-
ward keeping down lawlessness in the
city. with especial reference to work
In the TenderlOin. Besides him, no
one appeared before the jury at it's
meeting yesterday and the meeting
was very much In the nature Of Satur-
days. when the situation was merely
discussed by the jurors among them
selves. The grand jury adjourned af-
ter this session to meet again Wednes-
day morning.
Over four hundred cases have been
placed In the hands Of the grand
jury. practically all of which, it is un-
derstood. concern violations of the
dispensary law. Clubs are included In
the number.
Before the grand jury went to its
room to deliberate Presiding Judge 1.
w. Bowman charged the jury in no
uncertain terms as to it's duty. He
invited any juror who did not feel
able to do his duty in these cases to
step aside. but none accepted the in
vitation. A copy of Judge Bowman's
charge Is printed below through the
courtesy of Court Stenographer Henry
d. Elliott:
"Mr. Foreman and gentlemen Of
the grand jury:
LAS / endeavored to tell you when
1 first addressed you. you are the
guardians of the law In your ccm-
munity. There Is an old saying that
everybody's business is nobody's bust
ness therefore our lawmakers In their
wisdom have seen flt to appoint q
grand jury to keep their eyes open
and see what 10 going on and bring
to Justice the lawbreakerS and YOU
Have never done your fun duty until
you have brought the lawbreakcrs to
justice. Wherever there is a wrong
there Is remedy. and IL there arc any
lawbreakers In your community 1t is
your duty to bring them to justice.
III you cannot do 1t by one means you
can by another; our law Is not help
less. we have the machinery to put in
motion to bring any one to justice.
IF the magistrates. on account Of
some influence have not the moral
courage to bring to trial the violators
Of the law the grand jury have, or
should have. and when you are
brought here before the public as
good and lawful men you must prove
to the public that you are good and
lawful men, and IL you find that the
law Is being violated and lawbreak-
ers have not been arrested and bound
over and brought before you 1t Is
your duty to present these lawbreak-
ers and hand to the solicitor the
names of the witnesses by whom you
can prove the violations of the law,
and then the solicitor will frame a
bill and you can pass on 1t and bring
In a true bill.
Remember, 1t Is not your duty to
convict any one. You are to investi-
gate and see If prima facie case has
been made out, and II it has it is your
duty as fearless, honorable men to
present them. and you will never do
your duty II you do anything less.
You are not to say If any one Is guilty,
but you say that from information
which you have received the laws of
your city have been violated and so
and so has violated them and by
whom you can prove It, and hand that
to the solicitor.
IF there is any one on the grand
jury who does not care to do his duty
let him stand aside. Twelve men are
sufficient, but i trust there Is not q
man on that grand jury who will not
stand up and do his duty and see that
the laws of our State are enforced.
You want your laws enforced. and the
enforcement of your laws must be as
certain as you can make 1t.
Retire and look over the field and
bring I'm any one who you think ought
to be presc nted."