Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-04-24
EDITORIAL
JUDGE MoNRo's PLIGHT.

DEVEL0PMENTS in Columbus, in
the dispute between Superior
Judge George P. Munro and the
grand jury, in which the newspapers
of that city have taken decided
hand, will be watched with more than
passing interest by lawyers, editors
and the public generally throughout
this section. A glance at events as
observed from this distance seems to
place Judge Munro very much on the
defense, and in view of his threats
strongly implied in his most unusual
final charge" to the Muscogee grand
jury, a wholesale citing of persons
for contempt of court would cause
little surprise.
Judge Munro placed himself in the
position of throttling, or attempting
TO throttle, the Muscogee grand jury
when it sought to make certain rec
concentrations regarding the punish
ment of liquor violation cases, which
have become sore spot in that COM
munity. 1t criticized no court, but
Judge Munro apparently took unto
himself an application of the recon-
mendations, which strongly urged
chain gang sentences instead of fines
which, the grand jury said, amount
ed to cheap licenses. Judge Mum
70 pleaded and argued with the
grand jury to eliminate from their
presentments any suggestions on the
punishment of crime, then forbade
any such expression on the ground
that it would constitute interfering
with the discretion of the court which
he characterized one of the most sa-
cred attributes of the court. .
But the grand jury was persistent;
it refused to eliminate. And Judge
Munro refused TO receive the present
Aents
The grand jurors then, after he
ing discharged, met and decided to
publish their preSentments, regard.
less of the consequences, and did
so Saturday morning over their in
dividual signatures. The particular
recommendation to which the court
objected, was published in this pa.
per Saturday afternoon.
With their publication Judge Mum
ro,s troubles began in earnest. In
the same newspaper publishing the
grand jury's presentments was a
lengthy transcript of his final As
minute charge" to the grand jury
in which he laid down the law to
them in astounding fashion, telling
the grand jurors he was their Moses
and lawgiver, that he ran his court
hike creased lightning and with UNI
eFring Judgment, that he Numbered
the law and it was their business
TO hear it and not go beyond the
law. The Enquirer-Sun, in an edi-
torial Of more than half page Sun
day morning, following some stern
but measured comment Saturday
morning, administered as striking a
public rebuke GA court as it has
ever been our privilege to read. At
lacking the conduct of Judge Nun
10 as a menace to the foundations
OF Liberty by attempting to interfere
with the grand jury in any respect,
1t went into the law on the subject,
showing that the grand jury is not
suhservlent to the court in such mat
ters but is collateral with it, and then
quoted the law requiring the find
ing OF the grand jury to be receiv-
ed by the court and made a matter
OF record. 1t suggested that had the
grand jury merely reported its find
lngs, instead of comforting with the
court at the conclusion of its duties
and never formally rendering them.
Judge Munro would have been sub
ject to impeachment for not receiy-
ing them, regardless of their con-
tents.
The judges charge was chayacter-
lied by the Enquirer-Sun as "bom-
bastic and Falstaffian" and fit sub.
Jet of ridieule were it not of SO
great seriousness. 1t gave as its rea.
son for attacking the attitude of the
court the fear that should he "get
away with it" he or other judges
might attempt such thing again. II
declared that his conduct makes hi.
reelection to the bench out of the
question.
The Columbus Ledger, the only
other daily paper of that city, in a