The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-03-01
"MOONsHINE" INVESTIGATION

Editor Star: The jury of investi-
cation, commonly known as the grand
jury, has at last, believe, functioned
and adjourned. l have been waiting
patiently TO hear something from your
able pen bearing on its efforts to do
something along the line suggested by
the honorable judge Of our circuit
court, but fear you have come TO the
conclusion that discretion is some
times the better part of valor, or else
you have not heard any of the rum
ors" occasionally heard upon the
streets Of our beautiful little city-as
some would say.
One prominent citizen who was call
ed as a witness before the aforesaid
eminent body stated to me that $50
far as he could see, of course) this
investigation" was a perfect farce.
But what probably strikes most peo-
pie with considerable force is the man
ner in which it is said some of the
witnesses seemed to suffer from loss
of memory when called upon to testify
where they are getting their supply
of drinkables, and from whom. | un-
derstand one party objected to testi-
flying because he did not wish to get
a friend in trouble, and when given
ample opportunity to consider his sit
uation and his chance to be hauled be-
fore the judge and doctored for con-
tempt or otherwise, he solved his
problem by stating that he had made
his purchase from a couple of parties
he did not know, perfect strangers to
him, riding along one of our many
country roads.
With all the moaning and grooming
in the travail of our mountain of JUS
tice the only results, so far as / have
learned, are indictments against a
couple of poor. friendless "niggers."
What do you think of that, my dear
editor, friends and fellow citizens?
Again. With the illuminating pres
ence and assistance of our states at
torney to assist them in their delib-
erations and to point out the straight
and narrow paths of the law. if you
know | wish you would tell me how it
was no one seems to have been indict-
ed for false swearing when called
upon to tell the truth and nothing but
the truth before this august body of
investigation Surely some one must
have visibly tripped up in his state
ments while undergoing the "third de-
gree examination before and by this
inquisition in such manner as to JUS
tify reference to the petit jury. If
you know anything, dear editor, please
tell it to u.s. L. N Green.
My dear Lawyer: So far as we can
see, the trouble in this matter is owing
to you and your brother lawyers, who
have built a labyrinth of technicali-
ties in which the guilty can hide,
while the innocent become lost. 1t
does not seem to US that the sheriff
and his officers, the county judge, the
state attorney or the grand jury nave
overlooked anything they could do.
If you think you have proof of per-
jury, why don't you go and swear out
warrant against the perjurers? 1t
is your right to do so. It's our opinion
that if Mr.. Ditto, foreman of the
grand jury, and Mr.. Scofeld, state at
torney, had believed any man could
be convicted of false testimony, he
would have been indicted at once.
Howsumever, we thank you for call
ing attention to these matters. Per-
haps if they are worked upon ten or
twelve years the people will wake up
and elect legislators who will clear the
underbrush out of our legal system.
If there was nothing in it but the
good, big trees, Justice would cast a
protecting shadow over the land.
Editor.