Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1920-10-05
GRAND JURY CITED
To WAVE OF CRIME
Judge ShackeIfcrd Issues Strong
lnstructions-Prevention Is
Law Enforcement

you
not to pass the buck to the next
grand jury. If you see anything
to do, do it, but don't pass the
buck to the next grand jury, as
has been done in other counties. .
Thus members of the Madison
county grand jury were instruct
ed by Judge w. r. Shackelford,
after that body had been duly Sc
lected and sworn in Tuesday
morning OF serve during a part of
the October term of Circuit court.
The attention OF the grand jur-
ors was called to the saturnalia of
crime that has swept the country,
Madison county not being an ex-
ception, during the past few
months While there were no in
dividual cases cited, the attention
OF the jurors was called to the
fact that abolition of crime de-
volved upon the courts and en-
forcement of laws, and that it was
their duty to make Investigations
and return indictments wherein
they found the situation justified
such action.
Judge Shackelford's charge was
the most elaborate. eloquent,
earnest, and appealing that has
ever been rendered in the Madi-
son circuit court, according to the
opinion of number of we'll
known attorneys who were pres
ent and expressed themselves af-
ter he had concluded.
The laws in every phase. were
touched upon. as well as the duty
of the jurors, and many new leg
islative measures were explained.
as well rs the fact that the grand
JOrOrS we're not cOnviCtOrs but in
vcstigatOrs, OF crime, in the name
OF the people of the county. and
that it was the duty Of the petit
jury to mete out justice. How
ever, the law would become lax
and crime continue unless there
was a rigid enforcement and this
was advocated in every sense of
the word.
THE man who is intoxicated
and in charge of an automobile. is
more dangerous to the communi-
ty than man with loaded pistol
in his pocket, y said Judge Shack
clford in explaining the law re-
garding the propelling of motor
hehicleS by persons under the in
fluence of liquor.
The city and county officials
and especially the chief of police
were commented upon extensive
ly for the successful and effective
manner in which they have been
handling such cases as came un-
der their jurisdiction
The jurors were informed that
they should inform the sheriff of
witnesses wanted, and they
would, through subpoenas. be
called upon to give information.
Misdemeanors were dwelt upon
extensively. and larceny murder,
forgery, miscellaneous shooting
etc, were given attention. Judge
Shackelford stated that with one
exception he had never known a
man charged with stealing chick
ems to escape penal servitude :;
however. there were many charg-
ed with murder, forgery. shoot
ing and the like who were let 90.
at is almost a sure shot that
the man charged with stealing
chickens" he said, "will be CON
victed, and it is almost as sure a
shot on the other hand that those
charged with more serious of
fense will be able to escape going
to prison. in many cases at least"
"A laxity of the law means a
continuation OF crime" he said.
THE failure of the officials and
those concerned and responsible
not enforcing the law holds those
persons, in a way, responsible for
the condition of affairs and they
are relied upon to see that the law
is obeyed. There have been many
instances where man has been
convicted of murder. but | don't
remember Of one instance where
in that man has been indicted by
grand jury for carrying a conceal
ed weapon, ard had it not been
for the weapon the crime would
never have been committed. 1t
is within the bounds of reason to
believe that every man in the
conuty who carries a concealed
weapon. can be convicted. This
would stop the killing. There may
be fights, but that would be about
the amount OF 1T.
eff the law is not enforced, it
shows that it is the desire not to
have it enforced, and there will be
a continuation of misdemeanors. /
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