San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-27
Petition Judge McCrory
and Are Advised on
How Jury Selected.
MEMBERS OF CLUB
Thought Sheriff Picked
Grand Jury-Clerk Sees
900 Votes Co."


in government and in the methods of
selecting grand juries was given by
Judge w. w. McCrory of the 9th
District Court to members OF the Gao
tus Dramatic Club Friday afternoon.
The club members to the number of
thirteen. and headed by Mrs. W. b.
Dale. of 1926 North Flores street.
had called upon Judge McCrory to
urge that more care be exercised in
selecting grand juries.
The committee took Judge Nc
.Crory unawares as he sat in his court
room about 4 80 Friday afternoon.
They presented him with a petition,
drawn up by three attorneys em-
plOyed by them, setting out their COM
plants and desires. 1t appeared from
what was said by Mrs. Dale, that the
Cactus Dramatic Club would have
Judge McCrory discharge the present
grand jury and impanel another and
exercise great care in order to pre-
vent the selection of men who were
related by blood or have business con-
nections with the present office hold
ers. Their complaint seemed to hinge
on the exoneration by the present
grand jury of four county and one
city official against whom complaints
had been filed by rangers in connec-
ton with the excess fee question.
: do you know how the grand jury
is selected?" Judge McCrory asked
the women after he had ascertained
just what was wanted.
Yes, by the sheriff.. the spokes-
man for the committee replied.
Belonged to Old Law and Order Leag
II see you need some information.
Sit down." Judge McCrory told them,
and then he proceeded to explain in
detail just how grand jury is Sc
lected. First. it was explained. the
district judge selects three men known
as the jury commission. These three.
in secret. select sixteen men. their
names being sealed and delivered to
the judge. Win h is ready for the
grand jury he opens the envelope.
takes out the names and has the jury
summoned. Therefore, Judge McCrory
explained to the women. the sheriff
has nothing to do with it.
Mrs. Dale. when interviewed on the
subject Saturday, said she is the sec
rotary of the Cactus Dramatic Club.
which has about 600 members. Most
of the members. she said. belonged to
the Old Law Enforcement League. or
ganized by Judge Kelley along in
1913. Mrs. Dale said the committee
did not officially rpresent any other
women's clubs than the Cactus ORA
matte Club. but that members of this
club also were members of several
women's clubs of the city. The Gao
tus Dramatic Club. she said. was or
ganized for the purpose of giving plays
for charity.
Are Not Criticising.
What we want" Mrs. Dale said,
sis Il fair and impartial grand jury,
We do not mean TO crlticlse, but we
are informed that on the grand jury
which exonerated the city and coun-
~ officials were three men who are
kin TO Mayor Tobin, and others who
are closely associated with office hold
ers. In murder trial they never
take relatives OF the defendant on
the jury"
Asked if Judge McCrory had not
explained the method of selecting
grand juries, Mrs. Dale replied that
he had. Reminded that the grand jur-
ors are selected by commission OF
three, Mrs. Dale suggested that the
commission should be instructed to Sc
lect fair and impartial men.
But in selecting this grand jury,
il could not have been known that it
was to pass upon the merits of the
fee case" it was suggested to Mrs.
Dale.
She insisted, however, that fair and
impartial men could be secured.
Even Judge McCrory told me"
Mrs. Dale said, "that in trying a case
once where man was Baptist. he
saw that no Baptists were allowed on
the Jury. If you can instruct one
jury. why can't you instruct anoth-
err"
Mrs. Dale was reminded that there
is vast difference between the selec-
ton of grand jury and of a petit
jury.
There Goes 600 Votes"
"Only last week attorneys were al
lowed to inquire of jurors if they
were members Of asecret organiza-
tion," Mrs. Dale declared. "Why not
question the grand jury the same as
any other jury:"
-yrtMrs. Dale explained that they had
moi gone into the matter blind-fold but
had sought the advice of three law
years and that the club had voted to
nav them for their services. Mrs.
Dale declined to disclose the names of
the three attorneys.
Mrs. Dale also declined to make
public the names Of any of the other
women on the committee, stating that
there were about fifteen but that their
names didn't matter, so long as the
name of the spokesman was known.
II don't take the tine to get all
the names" Mrs. Dale said. Il met
some of the women downtown and /
was selected spokesman and was busy
thinking Of what had to say"
Mrs. Dale insisted again that the
committee was not criticisins any
one. but merely sought fairness and
imnartiality in the selection of grand
.There goes 600 votes" the clerk
of the 9th District Court was re-
ported to have remarked. as the com
mittee filed out. evidently not entire
Iy satisfied with the result of their
visit.