The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1917-02-20
FEBRUARY TERM
OF, CIRCUIT COURT
Began Here Monday-Judge Hardin
Charges Grand Jury Strongly
On Law Enforcement


after Deputy Sheriff Francis Wealth
erford had called the court to order
and stated all was in readiness for
business. A grand jury was impan-
elled at once and Judge Charles A.
Hardin delivered a charge which was
as full of interesting matter as it was
of instruction to the IL men who sat
before him. The Judge went thro'
the category of crimes and admonish-
ed the jurors to keep inviolate their
oath to investigate ali the infractions
of law that could be brought before
the body. He told Of the law being
the foundation of good government
and that the infraction of any law,
however small, was stroke at the
very foundation, hurtful to society,
and if not called to halt in it's incip-
iency, might lead to greater and
worse things. He hoped that the
time would come in this grand state
of ours that when law was trampled
under foot, it mattered not how in
significant the offense, the people
would rise en- masse and stand for
the enforcement of that law as it had
been placed on the statute books.
Judge Hardin painted beautiful
word picture of Gov. Stanley going
to southwestern Kentucky county
and quellng mob which was bent
on the hanging of negro. "The gov
ernor was willing to give his life to
protect that of the negro but his
main object was to save the state the
disgrace of mob violence" said the
Judge. Continuing, he said: "There
is not a man in my hearing who
would not give his life to protect his
country. Then why should we not
give of our time and talents to en-
force the laws so that they will be
respected by all classes? Had laws
been enforced as they should have in
Galloway county it might not have
been necessary to have gone to the
extremity of the governor of the
state placing himself between danger
and the negro"
Judge Hardin discussed at length
the evils of gambling, sootlegging,
bawdy houses, etc, and read a por-
ton of the report of the vice COM
mission of Illinois, which recently
made it's findings on conditions in
Chicago. 1t showed that liquor, lust
and gambling were the greatest fac
tors for evil. He insisted that the
members of the grand jury do all in
their power to eliminate this trium-
virate of troubles. He was told by
gentleman as he entered the court
house that liquor was openly sold in
Stanford, but that the county is rea-
sonably clear of it.
"Do your best, gentlemen, to bring
to justice these violators of the law
and your efforts will be rewarded.
Clean Stanford of the whisky vendor
and you will do your neighbor and
yourself the greatest benefit posi-
ble," said he.
The judge told of the miserable
practice of false-swearing and in
structed the jury to try and indict
those whom they knew to be swear
ing to untruths. "Do it if you have
to lose sight of the case you are
working on" said Judge Hardin.
81 had hoped that the carrying OF
concealed weapons would be discon-
tinued when such a heavy penalty
was placed on that violation, but it
seems not to have had the salutary
effect desired. Use your best efforts
on this class of law-breakers," Judge
Hardin said.
The laws against the destroying of
fish and game were fully covered,
after which the jurors went to their
room and got down to business.
The following gentlemen compose
the grand jury: Ed Jones, Theo No
land, George Rankin, Frank p. Bob
bitt, Henry Hester, j. c. Florence,
j. T. Livingston, w. II. Singleton,
James Jones, G. w. Edwards, j. b.
Adams, James G. Carpentry, Jr. Mr..
Bobbitt was made foreman and Mr..
Carpenter clerk.
The petit jurors are: Joe Chancel-
Tor, X. ii. Cooper, w. T. White, w.
S. Embry, Ed Poynter, j. w. Holtz-
claw, 7. j. Estes, R. l.. Albright, T.
A. Brent, Eph Manuel, Bud Sims,
Samuel Bishop, w. r. Dillon, Paul
Finch, j. N. Carter, f. T. Pence, Jr.,
A. c. Sine, Nathan Hall, M. F. Eu.
banks, John Mckinney, w. d. New
land, Sam Mckinney, John L. Beck,
b. M. Cowan.