The Parisian. (Paris, Tenn.) 1907-1962, 1920-03-12
CIRCUIT COURT IS
ADJOURNED WITHOUT
HEARING OF DOCKET
Influenza Conditions Render Secur-
ing of Jurymen Impossible;
Cases Come Up in July.
GRAND JURY AT WORK;
JUDGE DELIVERS MESSAGE
Particularly Denounced "Mob Law"
Also Gave Jury Instructions As
To Speed Artists.

Because of the continued epidemic
Of flu over the county, Judge Har-
wood, upon the solicitation Of the
local bar, at the convening of the
March Circuit Court here, Monday,
continued all the civil docket, and all
the state docket except two Jail cases
until the July term of court. It was
difficult even to impannel a grand
jury, so many of the intended jury
men being sick, or having sickness in
their homes, and it behooved the court
for it's own good, and for the good
of the community to postpone its
docket.
A large crowd, particularly inter-
ested in the injunction appeal by the
shop men, and composed mostly of
railroad men, was present at the OPP
ening of court Monday afternoon,
and heard the Judges instruction to
the grand jury,
AS is customary, the Judge talked
at length to the jurors upon the pow
er lodged in them, and urged that
they employ their best abilities to
perform their duties as jurors. A
mong other things, he called attention
to the care that should be taken Of
the poor house, saying that public
charity, at best, was cold; and that
it should at least be ample. In ex-
pounding the "Sunday Laws, he
spoke of the recent Supreme Court
decision in regard to the legality of
Sunday basball, and said though the
court had no power to affect Sunday
closing except as nuisance, that
people ought to keep the Sabbath,
that they needed the rest and quiet
ude of Sunday, if only as health
resort.
In discussing the quarantine laws,
topic of much current interest, he
declared that the board of health had
unlimited power, power to suspend
state and federal government even,
that they were an army to whose
banners even the president and fed
eral authorities must bow, that peo-
pie should cooperate with health
boards, whom he should think what
they were doing, should not abuse
the power vested in them, because
their power was unlimited except in
questions Of unreasonableness.
The judge never fails to hand one
to the speed artists. He urged the
jury to return indictments against
speeding over 20 miles an hour, and
against unlighted automobiles. He
said that the laws Of the land were
reasonable in their demands and that
it was important to observe speed
limit. We are living in chaotic
state of affairs, he continued, "all are
chasing the dollar, and reverence
for law is our only salvation. The
law is our only king, and down with
the law, go all mankind. The law Is
the preserver of life, Of homes, of
our children, of our community. II
every man is a law unto himself, then
we have Bolshevism, etc."
He closed his instructions with
strong denunciation Of mob law. He
explained that it was in the sober
moments that men should reflect up
J on these things, because only high
tension held mob. That the courts
had no patience with the spirit that
animated mob, and he was glad to
assert that no mob rule had come un.
der his jurisdiction, and that he
thought people were getting beyont
the mob spirit.
"Life is but short" said the Judge
1--WE are here a while, then gone like
a flash, and when man, who ha.
Joined a mob appears before tht
Great Tribunal, which makes no mis-
takes, what defense will he offer fol
taking a man out and hanging ant
numbering him. Leave it to the law
If they are not strong enough, vot'
for men who will make them strong
er. Suppress crime by lawful meth
DDS, rather than by the murderou
rollfa