Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1917-03-22
Iudse camaIIsr,. ch.ree . the Iury.
Gentlemen Of the Grand jury

/
Gus reported oifenses that have been
committed in the county since the as
| sembling of the last Grand Jury, so
that the offenders may be brought TO
| speedy trial and punishment, whereby
the laws of your State and county may
be upheld and indicated.
1t should be especially impressed
upon you at this time when we are all
standing aghast at the horrors OF war
which is devastating almost every
civilized country and seriously threat
ening our own; and viewing with alarm
the fanaticisms and tendencies throraa.
out this country TO throw aside the
laws under which we have lived so
long in peace, prosperity and happi-
ness, that you should take warning
and exert yourselves earnestly and
enor getically TO the strict enforcement
and observance of every law pertain
| ing 10 the peace, welfare and well-be-
ing of your State and county; to Mi
violence, outrage, indeceney and ter
ror and 10 everything that may oceas-
ion danger, disturbance or dismay TO
the citizen or to the public
| There are influences and evils. as
you gentlemen we'll know, that win
even denationalize a people unless
| they are checked and controlled al the
| proper time and in their incipiency,
and IL is upon the Grand Juries OF
this country more than upon any other
| institution OF our government 30 stamp
out aud control these dangerous Grim
! inai tendencies.
! The paramount theory OF our gov.
ernment has always been based upon
! the idea that It's laws sanction the
! largest liberty Of the individual con
siStant always with the safety OF the
| State, and without the enforcement OF
its laws there surely caa be no liberty
| That which many misguided and
sometimes designing people call libor-
4 ty outside the law means license, which
20 the mind of the Court Is simply
anarchy With all its dangerous and
| disturbing elements and attendant re-.
suits.
Therefore you should he alert aud
| diligently inquire and true preseutmrnt
make in every case where the law has
been openly violated, the good order
aud security Of the community jeopAr.
died, and the evidence fully justifrs
and sustains II.
From the State Att rney's report ~
| the Court, the following cases will he
brought 10 your attention, viz. One
case Of an assault With intent to kill;
three cases of bastardy and ioruicar
| tipn and five cases OF wiltn!lg taking
o. removing oysters from leased oys-
( Ter grounds,
! An assault with intent 10 murder
only differs from the crime Of murder,
lin this, that had the assailant consum-
mated his purpose pr Intent, IL would
! haye been murder.
| The otlcbse Of bastardy H. sell known
to you ain, and needs no further drA-
Inition from the Court. but you must
Iueag Ia mind that before finding a pro
sentiment You should be satisfied that
some proceedings iu tho case had FIRST
| been taken before Justice Of the
! Peace
As 10 the taking or removing of
/ oysters from leased land, Il viii only
be necessary 10 read Section liz Of
tho Acts Of 1914 10 give you snecinct-
/ ly the law under which you are called
/ upon to act. Read L.
/ There are also two cases on tie
criminal docket reported 30 this Court
Of violating the local option law of
ltbis county
For the Information Of The Jury, we
viii read those sections Of this law
which We deem necessary should be
brought particularly to your attention.
! tRsad Sections 3 and 4, Acts of 1914,
/ for violation, under this law. JUS
tees OF the Peace have concurrant
! Jurisdiction with the Circuit Court,
but this does not prevent you from
| taking jurisdiction la any case that
may be brought before you, or that
may otherwise come TO your know l.
edge,
This law, Ike all other laws, should
| be rigidiy enforced under the rules
applicable 10 all criminal cases
Courts and lurics have no say ia
the making or the enactment OF any
law, whether ii be a good or a bad
law. Their province is merely 10 con.
s.rue and To enforce IL.
We firmly hold "a this. however. that
a failure 10 enforce any law, breeds
contempt and disregard for all iawa,
and thereby the good order and the Sc
curity Of the people will necessarily
suffer.
The Court is required 70 call 10 your
special notice the Acts ~ Assembly,
relating To abortion, defauiters Of pub.
lie money. and the unlawful dealing in
cocaine. III you should find any viola
ton under either of these Acts,
it will, of course, be your duty to pre-
sent the offender or offenders.
In all these cases and in all matters
that may come before you, If you
should desire any further explanation
Of the law applicable to them, the
States Attorney, who il your legal ad
wiser will be glad at any time to con-
fer and advise with you
The Clerk will furnish you with list
of all licenses for the county issued by
him, which you will carefully scrutin-
ize and find presentment in everv case
where the law requires a license to be
obtained when a party has failed to
procure 1t.
4 This is revenue meagure and is of
special vital Importance at this time.
To the people OF the State as well as the
county, when they are confronted with
a very exacting assessment law made
necessary from the great loss of reve-
nue. from other sources.
The Clerk will also furnish you with
copy Of the last report of the Grand
Jury upon the expenses of the county,
and under our local law you are required
to examine that report and give your
views and opinions thereon If any
should seem TO you proper and meet In
tho premises.
| For the purpose of aiding you in your
inquisitorial Investigations, the consta.
bles of the county are required to ap.
pear before you and report such viola
tons Of the law as shall have occurred
in their several districts. Feeling that
we have called to your attention all that
| is necessary for proper discharge of
your grava duties, and being assured in
an eminent degree of the strong and
intelligent personel Of this jury, we
leave all into your hands, knowing that
| thn secrnnu of uniar rarocaedinua will he