The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-12-30

the commission o9 any crime III tha
Parish of Gaddo Aas the right, Nlth<
out being summone6, 60 g" before
the Grand gu1g ana disclose ais
knowledge OF Che eommlsslon OF
said crime
Ct is Ahe .9u9y o9 esere member of
your body 60 inform his fellows af
any crime or misdemeanor commit
ted within Che parish since Che sit
ting Of she last Grand yury0 which
may nave come 60 his 2ersonal
knowledge, or o9 which he may have
been Informed, and a violation OF
thie duty as q criminal offense. Gt,
therefore. follows shat aoran2
guss may geeur0 aD dndlctlHene iNeo
court based ON 6now!edse OF dsla
facts Sy cts anem6ereo and without
having any @itnessse summoned 1e.
Gore that body.
There 10 no Ssw glsicYs GSes sYSe
uaeure or @usn.itg OF esideacee on
whieh che Grand Su1S lauss qess dts
conclusions. The finding of eorand
JURY is noe q verdict or judgment; !;
10 amounts. az moss, 90 an ace1sa-
ton. AZ Che same eime, indictments
found upon insufficient evidence
usually result On mistriale and &C.
quittals, Dlacken Che reputation of
an sccu.ed person who maso aftsr
all, be tnnocent, and consume toe
yaluable time OF the coul9, already
congeste9 with large aumbee '3f
untried cases. Repeated mistrials
and acquittals bring the administrs-
ton Of criminal justice anto 9opu-
lar contempt, arouses tNe spirit OF
the mob to cake the laW into its own
hands ,and, last but not least, it on
tails q heavy burden os criminal eN-
penses upon the taxpayers oQ shls
parish, without accomplishing any
thing ~hatever towards enforce
n.ent OF the lsw and the Drotee ton
of society.
2 therefore, charge go9 shae eou
ought noe to find On indictment in
any case, unless 10 your judgment
the evidence before you, glneN-
planned anG uncontradictea would
warrant . conviction by aDetit jury.
while Q defendant, or accused
2arty, mag not, ss nattee ds right,
have lie Uitnesses heard by che
Grand Jury, gee, i,s eeasola. Che su-
roro dc not discharge tlseir osuSS 6f
they refuse any ssstilncny leading to
the zeal eruth of . ease. therefore,
if, in the course of .eUq inquiries,
YOU have reason 20 believe chat
there is other evidence not present.
ed to you, within your reach, which
would qualify or explain away the
charge under investigation, it will
be YOUR duty to order such evidence
ITO be produced.
An accused person can not be re-
uiqred by the Grand Jury to testify
before that body against his protest
and in opposition to his expressed
desire to avail himself of his lawful
and constitutional privilege to de-
cline to make answers as a witness
to any question that may tend to in
criminate him.
If a defendant appears before the
Grand Jury he should be informed
that the Grand Jury is engaged in
the investigation Of the charge
against him, and, consequently, that
he his the right to decline to make
answ s as witness to any ques-
ton at might tend to criminate
him; lt, if he undertakes to make
a statement as to any part of he
he must tell all that oc
CURED during the progress of said
transaction that came within his
personal knowledge. Otherwise, an
indictment founded upon such evil
Gence would be undoubtedly vicious.
The duty devolving upon the pros
ecuting officer requires that he shall
examine witnesses, when called
upon by the Grand Jury, and may
also attend, in the performance OF
this service, when he judges proper.
He may be called upon for instruc-
tions, and he may also be present
to advise that body as to the law ap-
plicable to any case; but neither the
district attorney, sheriff, nor any
other person, except members OF
the Grand Jury, should be present
during your deliberations, or when
you determine whether or not to re-
turn a true bill.
Nine of the members constitute
quorum and must concur to find al
indictment. or report on other mat
ters.