Mountain advocate., 1921-08-19
CIRCUIT COURT OPENS
Spirit OF Optimism Apparent


ed to respond to the summons, Judge
Rose delivered his charge to the jury
1t bri5tled with optimism as TO the
future Of law enforcement in Knox
County and the perfect attention Of
the people who jammed the Court
room was evidence that those pre-
sent were with Judge Rose heart
and soul
He instructed the Grand Jury to
indict in every case where the evil
dence of the Commonwealth, If un-
explained. wCuld warrant conviction.
Crime begets crime. Judge Rose
pointed out that i'm England and I'm
France 7j to so per cent Of homi-
cides pay the penalty, either in the
penitentiary or by death. while in
America. where we boast Of our edu-
cation. religion and talk of the ele-
yatiOn ui tn human race, the per-
contlgc or convictions is > per cent
or i"aa. He pointed out that some
people of criminal tendencies cannot
be reached by any appeal to the bet
ter emotions and that they will be
ready to kill those that make that
appeal. The only way to deal with
such criminals is to make them feel
the ball and chain around them.
Speaking Of the morning meeting
OF the Law Enforcement League,
Judge Rose said that every good cit
izcu in the county would be glad to
see peace and order restored to the
county.
Paying tribute to the public
schools, Judge Rose said that 90 per
cent of those serving time in the pen
itentiary are unable to read or to
write. He insisted that he would
not stand for the breaking of the
law wherein Il man keeps his child
rem from the benefit of the public
schools. To do so is to rear them
in ignorance and crime and deprives
The children Of their sacred rights.
"The man who buys from boot
leggers had better know from whom
he buys it. Last term I sent a num-
ber of men to jail for bad memory
and the same course will be continu-
ed" He asked the Grand Jury not
to be misled by men claiming ignor-
ance of whom they bought liquor
He said it is the duty of every good
citizen 20 P.ve information 10 some
officer or TO the court when lie
knows of still in the county The
man who protects the criminal is
not much better than the criminal
himself
The Court severely indicted the
false swearing and perjury that is
too prevalent and that is being used
to debauch justice and 2sl,ed The
Grand Jury to indict every person
found guilty as it strikes at the very
foundation of law and justice. In
claiming that the world is growing
better, Judge Rose said that when
he was younger aud attended an
election where blackberry wine, and
corn liquor and cider were freely
drunk, that by evening every man
on the grounds was fighting or try
ing 10 keep would fighters apart,
which is sufficient answer to the
charge that the liquor question is
worse since prohibition came in.
The Court scored seduction as a
crime against childhood and point
ed out that tho a child may not sell
a COW as minor until she is 21
years of age the law allows her to
barter her honor to n scOundrel
when she is sixteen years of age.
Judge Rose himself put thru the law
in the Legislature which raised the
age of consent from 12 to 1G years
and many men fought the change
savagely. lie said II should be 21
years.
Pistol Carrying must stop. II the
carrying of concealed weapons were
stopped, murder would practically
stop. Men don't carry pistols to kill
squirrels and other animals, but to
kill their fellow men, Just so long
as juries and officials fail to do their
duty so will they he conniving at
the first step in murder.
The Court recommended that pri-
soners sent to Jail should not be fed
in idleness at the cost Of the tax
payers They should be put on the
rock pile and made to earn the 75c
per day that the taxpayers have to
pay for their keep,
Judge Rose then charged the
Grand Jury that they investigate
any bribery or perjury in connection
with the primary election. lie caus-
ed much amusement when he said
that money furnished to influence