The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-05-11
Directs Grand Jury to Aid Dis
trict Attorney In Discovering
Those Who Are Guilty.
MUST PROTECT PUBLIC
Federal Judge Believes People
Are Rapidly Approaching
the Point of Resistance.

In his charge to the grand jury at
court yesterday morning, Judge Will
liam B. Sheppard declared that unless
congress and the courts protect the
people from profiteering, the country
VIII turn to Bolshevism. Judge Shep-
pard told the jury that il was the duty
Of every juryman to act on his own
knowledge as well as on that present
ed by the district attorney. In clos
ing his charge Judge Sheppard said
that persons convicted of profiteering
in his court would receive their fun
share Of the punishment provided by
the statutes.
That portion Of Judge Sheppard's
charge relating to profiteering and the
high cost Of living was listened to
with profound interest by ali IN the
court room. The judge spoke quiet
ly and with great earnestness and his
voice carried into every corner of the
room.
The warning that the country was
drifting toward Bolshevism and that
only through immediate action of con-
gress and the courts could the red
wave be halted, brought an answering
echo froIa jurymen and spectators
alike. At recess time the corridors
and ante-rooms buzzed with discus
sions of the charge.
Judge Sheppard gave the grand jury
to understand that its power to in
vestigate is absolute and specifically
told it to use every effort TO discover
those guilty of violations OF the law
as now provided by congress. He di-
rected the jurymen to present evidence
which hey themselves had, and to aid
and assist the district attorney in
every way in bringing to justice those
guilty OF profiteering.
''ThS country is rapidly appro <hln,
the point OF resistance. Judge Shep-
pard said. "and unless there is a ces-
sation of profiteering the people will
rebel" The judge insisted that the
lapse Of two years since the signing
OF the armistice had brought no re-
lief from the hardships of war time
and that unrest was becoming great
er. Much Of this unrest he laid TO
profiteering and the belief Of the gen
eral public that unjust prices are be-
ing eXacted.
Judge Sheppard's declaration that
those convicted in his court Of prof.
teering would receive their just share
of the penalties provided by law in
dicates how strongly he feels on the
necessity OF curbing high prices.
The judge referred at length TO the
prohibition law. He explained how
the 18th amendment and the Volstead
act had over Tapped state statutes and
directed the grand jury to bring in
dictments on the facts and not TO con
slider in any way the constitutionality
of the law. Conspiracy and white
slavery were also explained to the jury
before il retired TO begin its investi-
cation. Ed. williams of Bombay was
appointed by Judge Sheppard to be
foreman Of the jury Of which the fol-
lowing are members: Chas. T. Cottrell.
George Kupfrian. James w. McHugh
Glenn c. Richards. Albert w. Watson,
c. Z. Wilson. William c. Bonacker.
VI. NJ. Brazile. G. c. Ball. William r.
Gonzalez, c. w. Lamar, L. ID. Robin
son, w. T. Tracy. NJ. L. White, G. W.
Ainsworth. Howard +. Brazel, Joe
Williams and w. T. Harden.
Additional petit juriors drawn yes
leIudS were. dUg w IullldInB -. r
Zeek, Il. ! Bell. A. w. Davis Joe V.
Riera, = Pensacola; j. b. Bevis. Ma
lone j. ID. Campbell. Chipley: T. W.
= Jsby, Panama City; w. r. Welch.
near AtmoFe; W. Z. Anderson. Ar
gyle; 3. NJ. Byers, near Atmore;
George +. Garden, DeFuniak Springs;
A. ". Douglass. st. Andrews Bay.
Henry Beechman Of Calhoun cOun-
ty, John Clements and Thomas Sim
mons pleaded guilty to charges of il
licit distilling and were fined $50, the
minimum. They had previously been
sentenced in the state courts and their
punishment was light on that account
Lloyd Morgan was tried on the same
general charge and was found guilty.
the jury remaining out only few
minutes. He will probably be sen
fenced this morning.