The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-05-26
PEOPLES DUTY TO
SEE THAT LAW IS
RULE IN MEMPHIS
Judge Mccall Tells Jurors to
IndiCt BriberS, Whisky
Makers and Sellers Where
Traces of Guilt Are Found.


"The laws against the whisky traffic,
he bribery Of officials IN connection
herewith; the crime of perjury and all
ither evasions must be punished said
John +. Mccall, federal judge, in his
.harge to the grand jury Monday.
But" he added, this can only be done
when the people whose duty IL Is to ali
he grand jury favor law enforcement,
1T is their duty. according 10 the
urist, ITO come before the grand jury
whether summoned or not, and failure
% do so when Law violations are OBJ
leryed Is failure TO fulfill she duties
" American citizenship
He laid special emphasis on the Of
enSes Of manufacture n t~ransporta-
ion OF whisky In this section, the al.
eyed connivance Of federal, county and
.ity officials with the whisky trade in
Ill its branches and told the grand jury
hey should return indictments In all
tuch cases, whether the evidence amt
rom hearsay, written proof or reports
n the newspapers. He laid especial
emphasis on the newspapers; he said
many wild reports were printed by
newspapers who often would dodge the
ssue by using the words lit is said, u
VI some such phase to ovade RESPONSE
Aility. He yentured the assertion that
where such statements a. made the
very man who made them would dodge
he issue II he were brought before the
stance when, on Ncy. :, the false re-
sort of the signing of the atmistice was
printed and the people worked up un-
necessarily.
mo man has the right to violate any
aw and swerying from the principle
" letting any offender get away would
be a form OF oppression by the grand
Jury itself" the judge said, Expressed
Or implied laxity OF duty conspiracy
with law violatOrs or any criminal act
" an official should result In the re-
turning Of a true bill,
/ The manufacture and distillatlon OF
wine, whisky and beer has been re-
ported prevalent to some extent in tins
sounty," the Judge said. mo matter
I the distilling Is done in a. coffee pot,
1 vest pocket still or done on the table
before breakfast, IL is a violation Of
the law" added Judge Mccall,
Whisky has been brought here by
every means from u Of the state,
the charge continued, and whether by
boat, buggy. automobile, grip, suitcase
or on the person, such infractlon Is a
violation OF the Reed amendment and
should result in indictments where evi-
denee of guilt is shown.
Judge Mccall concluded by emphat-
ically stating the laws can be en-
forced II the people want them en-
forced.
1.-THE Jurors he declared. should
weigh information and return indict-
ments wherever evidence of traces Of
guilt were shown"
Judge Mccall began his charge TO the
'ury by relating the history OF grand
Iuries and impressing them with the
fact that upon the rights OF trial by
Jury rests the whole fabric OF Justice.
IIa YoigaraIaA tho uYatornnnt chat thu
grand jury does not convict--only In
1uires and returns bills of indictment.
M that duty Ia not uoue properly an
Archy %reigns,' the Judge said, The
grand jury in federal cases has more
power than state courts, II was pointed
out, as the government stands ready
itself to, prosecute more than the state
does,
The i~nsidiousness Of perjury was first
recited TO the jury. Misstated facts
nay convict an innocent man or FREQ
n felon, Jurors, therefore should weigh
these matters carefuhy.
Then followed explicit instructions by
Judge Mccall on misuse of malls, the
insidiousness of improper matter being
sent through tho mails MS well M &C.
eusations against mail employees rifling
the mails or being In any way lax In
the discharge Of their duties,
Counterfeiting was dwcit upon and
the evasion Of draft and espionage acts.
There may be some eregs OF pro-Ger-
manism left" said the Judge" and II
so they should be sifted and guilty per-
aons sent TO the penitentiary Tendency
toward violating the pure food and drug
act has been shown a little lately, and
the. Jury is warned TO act firmly against
such violations of the raw.
violations Of the Harrison act, al
though on the decrease, still are fire.
Quent,' the charge went on. Ample
care for addicts has been taken In the
Harrison act but still violations are fire.
duent, he impressed on the Jurors.