Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1918-04-19
JUDGE CALHOUN'S CHARGE TO THE GRAND JURY.

]
your opinion will establish a probabl,
/ case for the State. You are the judges O
the kind, amonnt and sufiiciency of the
evidence you will hear to enable You tC
find an Indictment You should, how.
ever, examine only the witnesses for tho
prosecution: you will, therefore, not hea,
the accused, or his or her witnesses.
( All testimony before you should be
given under oath administered to the
witness by your foreman. The oath to
be taken is that usually administered to
all witnesses i'm courts of justice in the
trial Of cases to tell the truth, the whole
truth and nothing but the truth touching
the particular case you may be at the
time investigating.
1t will take nine of your body to con-
sttute quorum to transact any business
or to find an indictment. When you
shall have found an Indictment, which,
in any case, may he formally prepared
for you by the district attorney, you will
have your foreman endorse on it the
words: "a true BILL" which must he
signed by him in his official capacity. In
those cases which you fail to find indict-
mcnts. you will have endorsed on them
the words: "Not true bin" which also
must be signed by your foreman in his
official capacity.
All indictments must be returned in
open court by your body, but in return
ing indictments, you should abstain from
calling the names of tie parties indicted.
You have the right to make free use of
the process of the court to compel the at
tendance of all such witnesses as you may
wish to examine. The failure of any wit
ness, properly and duly subpoenaed to
appear and testify before you is con-
tempt of court, and if brought to the
Courts notice will be punished as such.
The district attorney is your legal ad-
wiser, and will assist you, if called upon,
in the examination Of witnesses, but he
should not be present during your delib-
Grafton upon case, or when you are
taking vote of your body as to whether
or not you will find an indictment.
You may, without the permission OF
the Court, adjourn for any length of time
not exceeding three successive days.
Should you wish to adjourn for longer
time, you must first get the permission of
the Court so to do.
There are certain matters to which
desire to call your special attention, and
there are certain others which the law
makes it obligatory on me to give you in
special charge.
Section 2l40 of the Revised Statutes,
makes it the, dntyof seacBj nfty,Asr mem
bers to report to your body all cares Of
of the criminal laws of which
he may have knowledge, which have oc-
CURED since the sitting Of the last grand
Jury, and penalties with fine and impris-
any wilfull failure so to do-the
fne not to be less than $50 nor more
than $500; and the imprisonment, which
may or may not, be in the penitentiary,
according as the offense not reported is a
or felony, not to be less
than one, nor more than five years.
Act No. 43 of 1906, makes it a crime to
carry weapons concealed on or about the
person. The habit of carrying concealed
weapons is one too much INDUCED in byI
our citizens, both white and black. 1t Il
most reprehensible practice, and one
which is especially dangerous to the peace
and good order of tlk community and a
menace to society. 1t is the
most fruitful progenitor of felonious as
'auts and homicides that know of, and
because of these deplorable facts our
grand juries should put forth especial
Efforts to put an end to the practice alto
yether, and if it be not possible to wholly
accomplish that desideration, we should
1t least do all in our power to minimize
he evil as much as it is possible to ac-
'omplish. therefore make special and
Urgent request that you indict every per-
on, let him be white or black, rich or
Door, regardless of social position or stand
ng, who, you may find, has, or is violat-
ng this law.
Under Act IS of 1886, it is criminal
'ffense for all stores, shops, groceries, sa-
oons or other places where merchandise
'f any kind is sold, save the exceptions
tated in the Act, to keep open, or to sell
my of the merchandise kept therein, on
sunday. You will indict for all viola |
ions of this law.
Under Act No. OF 1872, you will in
'estigate all complaints, if any, of brib-
,ry Of all public officials, and return in
iictments against all such offenders.
Under Act 2O6 of 1910, the cohabitation,
'r concubinage, between persons of the
white, or Caucausian, race, and persons
If the black, or negro, race is prohibited
lnder penalty. Ii you know of any vio-
ations of this law, or if any such viola
ions should be reported to you, it will be
specially gratifying to the Court if you
will return indictments in all such cases.
1t is an offense to sell alcoholic or malt |
liquors without license, and it is your |
luty to indict for all niractions of this
aw.
You may and should inspect the public |