The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1916-01-07
SLACK and smith
ASSUME Duties
CRIMINAL COURT OPENS AT Ow-
ENsBORO AND NEW OFF,
GALS TAKE CHARGE.
SMITH TO LIVE HERE
Hundreds Welcome New Team and
Many Flowers Adorn
Bench.

When Judge r. w. Slack, the new
Republican circuit Judge for the
Sixth judicial district walked into the
courtroom shortly before o'clock
this morning he was greeted by per-
haps one of the largest audiences of
Republicans that has assembled in
the courtroom for years. Many Of
the leading Republicans of the city
by their presence showed the great
interest they had In watching the
organization Of the court. The min
utes of the last special term Of GRIM
nal court were read In the presence
OF retiring Judge Birkhead. who
then placed his official signature on
the order book, possibly for the last
time.
Judge Birkhead then said: Gen
tlemen. l am sitting up here. The
duly elected Judge. took the oath OF
Office last Saturday afternoon. but
thought would sit here and hear
these orders read. am. out Of Of
fee now. but want to thank every
one of you gentlemen who have been
so kind to me since have been III
Office. will never forget the kind
ness you have shown me while
have been sitting up here. Now ]
vacate for the regularly elected
Judge"
AS Judge Slack came forward. he
was surrounded with many members
of the bar. who extended their con.
gratuiations. Several beautiful bou-
quets of carnations and red roses
adorned the bench. Judge Slack said:
Gentlemen. l think some Of you are
anticipating that am going to make
a speech this morning. I have a
speech, but l do not believe ! will
make II. I want to offer an apology
or explanation to you why am
wearing this red rose. l am not in
the habit of It, l have two reasons.
One is, I want to Offset Mr.. Clements
red necktie. and the other is that my
sister sent 1t to me from a distance.
She is very proud OF the fact that
am circuit Judge. ! am wearing 1t
for her sake. Now, with these few
brief remarks proceed to business.
The grand Jury was then empanel-
ed as follows: C. H. Brady. Jeff Ray.
William Lyons. Mack Estes, B. o.
Kirk. l.. M. Riddle. c. s. Hayden. w.
8. Neel. william Riddle, ]. F. Nc
Cormick and B. F. Brown.
Judge Slack then consumed more
than an hour instructing the jury.
covering the various crimes as enum-
Grated in the statutes. He dwelt at
some length on gaming and the child
labor law. or the later he called
the body's attention to the fact that
no firm. individual or corporation
had a. right to employ a child under
IA years of age during the school
period, unless they had first procur-
ed from the local school authorities
an employment certificate permitting
the child to work. Judge Slack al
so stated that II the grand jury
should have any evidence brought be-
fore them pertaining to any election
frauds committed in the recent cleo
ton, that he or the commonwealth's
attorney would instruct them on this
subject later on during the term.
The court appointed l.. M. Norris
foreman of the grand jury.
Takes Oath Of Office.
c. e. Smith, the newly elected
commemorative attorney, presented
his commission, issued by the secre-
tary Of state. and he was then sworn
In by Deputy Clerk Haynes for a
period of six years. Mr.. Smith stat
ed that for the present he would
make his home in Hartford.
Court win Instruct Jury.
In the future there will be only
one set of instructions given to the
grand jury and that by Judge Slack.
During Judge Birkhead's term, he
and Commonwealth Attorney Ringo
delivered separate instructions to
the grand jury. but Judge Slack stat
ed that he could not find any law
authorizing this procedure. So In
the future Judge slsck alone will