The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1913-04-28
GOES AFTER vIoLAToRs, EsPE.
cIALLY BLIND TIGERS, IN A
VIGOROUS MANNER.
SAYS CONDITIONS IN
HATTlESBURG IMPROVED
Less Violations of the Laws Than in
Many Years-Says Express Agents
Who Deliver Liquor After Business
Hours Should be Inditced.

The April term of the Forrest coun-
ty circuit court convened at 10 o'clock
this morning with Judge Paul B. John
son on the bench and District Attor
ney R. s. Hall and County Prosecut-
ing Attorney Claude E. Hill present
All the other court officials were on
hand prepared for the work before
them.
A grand jury of twenty men was
.impaneled as follows: w. T. Cubley,
foreman; S. F. McNair, T. o. Batson,
N. l.. Hogan, Jas. Martin, M. N. Vine
yard, A. Carnes, ]. G. McCaa, A. M.
Lee, ]. w Estes, ]. j. Steinwinder,
T ]. Brogan, S. Entreken, G. R. Max
well, G. B. fairfield, w. L. McNair,
j. P. Burbon, w. L. Odom and ]. R.
Wilkes. W. T. Haney was appointed
as bailiff.
Judge Johnson said his charge would
be brief, and then proceeded to make
it in two hours and half, speaking
at times with intense emphasis.
Admonishing the Jurors of the hon
or, gravity and responsibility of the
positions they are now called to fill
the court said: -....-
~ want you not to go into the grand
Jury room with the idea of seeing how
many indictments can be found, but let
your investigation and returns be with
the idea of determining who is violat-
ing the laws of the land and indict
without fear or favor"
The Judge said that in his expert
rence as a Judge he had seen grand
.juries with men on them who were
narrow, prejudiced and vicious, whose
chief purpose was to vent their spite
without any regard to justice or truth.
The jury was urged particularly to
guard against injustice by avoiding
every semblance of prejudice.
The sigma of an indictment and its
far-reaching effect on the life and
character of men was strongly urged
upon the jury and care was suggested
Most of the jury being from the coun
try, the Court called their attention tc
the fact that not in fifteen years has
there been as healthy moral tone
prevailing in Hattiesburg as exists il
this city today.
Particularizing as to the laws
against crimes, the Court took up il
their order those things the jury wal
urged to investigate, he mentioned il
their order the following:
Polite Gambling.
Gambling, including slot machines
punch boards, high dice and variou
subterfuges. A man who uses sucl
things, he said, is laying himself liabl
to go to the penitentiary. In addition
to men gamblers and gambling places
the Judge said that women in this cit
who play games of chance, whethe
for cut glass or other prizes, are gan
blers. and under the law just as liabl
to indictment as if they were mel
The Court was quite vehement in ii
charge about the use of the dice bo
in places of business and said he ha
warned friends of his that if they col
tinued to use such gambling device
as he knew were being used, they al
certain to be indicted by grand jul
sooner or later The evils of gamblin
we're long dwelt upon and sad case
of lost character and blighted home
and broken hearts were charged
this vice, which was condemned
every form, whether polite or othe
wise.
Drunkenness was characterized
once a practice, without odium, b
that condition has changed becau
society looks upon the drunkard
odious, hence the legislature has e.
denced this changed sentiment
making law which puts maximu
fine of $1O0 upon man who com
into public place in state OF into
ication. Society has stood for thin
in the past it VIII no longer tolera
lContinueh on Page Two.)