Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1914-08-06
BRIEF SESSION
CIRCUIT COURT
Vigorous Doses Admins
tered Offenders
Substance of Judges S
Charge to Jury

Circuit court convened at Jasper
Monday morning with Judge Mercy
nolds on the bench There was a very
large attendance at court
Grand jury was drawn as follows:
No. IA. C. Chaudoin.
No. 2.-Wash Long.
No. 81. G. Bible.
No. IN. F. Thomas.
No. 81. N. Brown.
No. 6.-B. Holloway.
No. IL. P. Daniel.
No. st. S. Turner
No Gu. G.. B. Ferguson.
No. 10.-L4 N. Duncan.
No t1.-Lot Warren.
No. 12.-C. c. Shirley.
No. t3. IT. L. Foster.
The Judge appointed T. s. Turner,
foreman.
The judge then delivered his charge
to the jury which was substantially as
follows
The grand jury, he said, was an i'm
portant body because on it depended
the prosecution of all cases outside Of
petty offences settled in magistrate s
court. The duty of the grand jury
was inquisitorial in character, as it
had right to inquire into the condi-
tion of county buildings, county treas
ury and bonds of public Officials, also
to inquire regarding misconduct of
county officials and condition of pub
lie highways. Grand juries should be
composed of good, honest. reliable
men. Wien a member of grand ju-
ry knows or suspects of violation of
the law, it is his duty to ask for wit
nesses, aud if necessary, present in
dictment.
Referring to whiskey selling in this
county he said; "It is unlawful to sell
liquor in this county. 1t is the duty
of the assistant district attorney to
present to you certified copy of the
names of those holding federal licen-
ces in this county for sale of liquor.
The proprietors of near beer stands
should be arrested by the officers and
their places closed, and if the officers
do not arrest those dealers, arrest
them"
1t is unlawful to sell or give away
cigarettes or cigarette papers. The
Judge said it was difficult to under
stand why people persisted in this
abominable practice of cigarette smok-
ing, which ruined health.
People had no right to get drunk
and inflict themselves upon the public
highways. Drunkenness in a public
official while in the performance Of
duty was liable to indictment. If the
grand jury stopped public drunken
ness, it would have solved the preven
tion of the more serious offences.
As to fish law he said; People have
no right in this county to fish except
with hook and line, or trot line They
have no right to seine, dynamite, poi
son or trap fish or use any device to
catch fish, except in the waters of
Tennessee river. If fishing with trot
line for sale of catch, owner must pay
license of not less than So 90 per year
for each device. Four trot lines con-
stitute device. A tax is also laid of
one dollar on each net Can seine for
minnows strictly for bait.
He reviewed the game laws and al
so those relative to trapping, calling
attention particularly to the new law
which requires the written permission
of land owner before trapping on his
lands.
The Judge in his charge defined the
powers and duties of the grand jury
pretty clearly and reference is made to
Section 5902 and following sections for
the list Of misdemeanors under the ju-
risdiction of grand juries.
Lewis Shepherd. of Chattanooag, as
sistant district attorney, was i'll charge
of grand jury. which then retired to
lower room for session.
Traverse jurors we're then drawn as
No. John Presnell, Edgar Hoge,
John Floyd, r. G. Powell, Albert
Lancaster, J. W. Jones, W. J. Jones,
Jerry Walker. Sam Thompson, Joe
Childers, Marion Collins, Frank Dun
can.
No. a.-W. H. Tate, Jas, Raulston,
John Station. Fl. NJ. Deakins, W. p.
Hincb, Frank Tate, Curry Kelly, viii
Long. g. W. Byrd, d. F. Morrison,
John Higgins, Jas. Green.
Court adjourned Tuesday morning
Tue session was short. but some of the
sentences were pretty severe. Boot
eggers got it hot aud heavy, aud sev