Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-23
'iESEAlR!|CR ( BUREAU !! |! | ]
IH'ITS SGRAND ..JUR|ES
S,ss Waste, Delay and puplI.
n cation Of Effort In System
IA, OF Indictment
TRACED TO ITS DERIVATION

=. Z
Opinions which question the vaidc OF
ne Grand Jury system In admini.tta. :.
don Of the criminal law were cited TO-
dey By the Bureau of Municipal Nc.
search in brief survey. =.
1.-THE Grand Jury u not marry e
firmly rooted, an institution q m'snt
h .uppo:ed: sne ovSnW sss..,.,I nno "a
even mention I. Others permit, ,,Is I:esiss. 4.
leture to chahss' s''eE OF s'o"s" '"e
Grand jury. - n.....,,..,.
S,"Tne Conssvv. s svI .,.s "s.sS,~ y. J.
provides IN epect tn ~" ssSs.s"s.
esptions pic T...s \. ~.ssss. - ~ nsss
ms urcho Sy SSy me- s~ns.ss.iv ~
6 ind'ctaCIc gIcnss "ass. :,.S o"t 80 Sss.S. sh.s
Nls 20 sne ,.S9..HsiS " N
o1ssnMSSss rsa..si Cc""t,tnt,on contsins
nc .rs.~ ~ Gs"sS JwSv nsccS.S. .
20 gu. assts ornsscwtions' Finsily.
Ms ~ .o fmrisdictions in fhis country
1'. % .:.rs nSss withont the meet.
~ WIZ Grand Ju,s. thoush In case
- need II may Be summoned at any
time. It is said that: In the State Of
I"siss are called In q year.
,.:s. :. ,..
Duple.sso" Ass
Nv UHOuiu u0 uuNSAOsVN ssS
esFious proposal 10 made 70 abolish en-
Grand Jury. There are some occasions
when the Grand Jury 10 regarded %
Indispensable. Il ID asserted, however,
frat such instances Are comparatively
rare, and that In the vast majority Of
eases the Grand Jury can perform no
ueeful function,
THAT majority consists OF the cases
which come to the Grand Jury. from Q
committing ofncial lin Pennsylvania Q
Justice Of the peace, magistrate Or cor.
oner), who II charged with the duty Of
determining whether Q urima fAcie case
has been .established against the &C.
cu.ee' "rS S. n S,,.. 's, ~ ~ nssrS % J,ssv IN n
% snch n cass is to hear the vltnesees
sor The proCecution. but not for the Dc.
fsnse. and 20 determine whether the
evidence warrants holding the defend.
ant Tor trial, II the evidence 10 sun.
cient. the defendant 10 held; II not, the
eharse is ignored and the prosecution
iropped,
tion OF the Grand Jury IN that Il dupli.
cStss the function Of the committins
mssistrste. Roth have made the somd
inonirv: Il the evidence such that the
vrcsecution should be dropped without
Hrthes inveetisationi Why. we are
asied. should there be two such in.
ouiries? n ono is sualcient, another
question arises: Which one should be
cbsndoned?
"As n general pro,osition. assuming.
n Il seems fair 20 ass,,fne' that both
inonir;cs can he msds uifh comai thor.
oushness. that Of the Grand Jury seems
70 fall under the ban, II for no other
.ssson hcco,.s ths Gland imrv I. ,sr-"
cumbersome. expensiye and difficult 70
keen in readiness at the times and places
t which preliminary examinations Of
accused persons must be made.
,...
Wasse' Deny' Ancoovensence
'"If the function OF the Grand Jury
is not essential, the effect Of retaining
Il ID to waste vast sums Of public money,
and to interpose needless step between
tho defendant and his trial. The latter
spells delay, and Is an especially se.
rious matter II the Grand Jury meets
only once In several months and then
only for short time, instead Of being
u virtually continuous session, as 10
the case with the criminal courts Of
Philadelphia County.
The Innocent defendant Ia compelled
. wait longer than necessary for vim.
dication, but the guilty criminal vel.
comes the delay. The witnesses against |
him may die or disappear. Burdened |
With the necessity Of testifyins before
The committing magistrate, at the trial, |
and In addition before the Grand Jury. |
they rnav olrnost ho fovvivan o.. d;..r'