Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1923-01-29
COURT CHARGES
GRAND JURY IN
TERM OPENING
Judge Cunningham Calls All
tention to Conditions Exist
ing in County and Asks FOR
Greater Cooperation

Ninety percent of the crimes com
mitted in this county may be attrib-
uted to the illicit smuggling an
vending Of liquors. according to Dis
trict Criminal judge A. w. Cunning
ham, who made the statement in his
charge TO the grand jury this morn
ing, at the opening of district Grim
inal court
Il want TO charge the grand jury.
Judge Cunningham said. THAT men
who buy whiskey can be made to tell
from whom they bought il, and a
man who transports whiskey. even IL
he transports it only ten feet. is
guilty Of felony. Every man IN the
county hears and knows more about
violations Of the law than peace Of
ficers. This court is the chief exec
utive officer Of this district. The
thing Of peace officers in this coun-
~ passing the buck il going 10 stop.
Judge Cunningham stressed coon
Grafton among the representative az
the law, dee airing that the grand jury
was charged to bring out any case
y tIt Dtftl< OiLiftI Id0 Aftit'AA 20
cooperate with others as was his duty.
He read an cxcerpt from an address
by Governor Neff on law enforce
ment.
In regard 70 numerous murders in
this county. Judge Cunningham call
ed attention TO the fact tSat in 1922
between thirty and f7rtv persons
were murdered. Eighteen indict-
ments were returned by the grand
jury. and only two persons were
brought TO trial on murder charges,
and both of them were acquitted.
He stressed the importance Of Of
ficers doing their duty and cooperat-
ing with all others. As 10 the justices
of the peace. judge Cunningham out
lined their duties. stating that more
cooperation by the constables and jus
tees Of the peace would serve TO
place better evidence before the
grand jury.
Illega' voting, purchase Of The poll
tax. voting by persons who are not
citizens. and other illegal forms. We're
touched upon. and the Judge stated
that this is one way b. which the peo-
rIe are prevented from having the
Officers they want. He charged the
jury 70 investigate all of these cases
and bring indictments against those
warranting them.
The Judge also devoted some time
to gun toterS." Contrary to the
common understanding. there Is no
proclamation nor has there ever been
one which permits the carrying Of a
pistol in this county, except by Off
GERS. He stated that violators Of
any of the state laws, pistol carry
ing, transporting liquor in violation
of the Dean law, murder. assault to
murder. forgery, rape. and all the
other charges on the criminal docket
Of the state Of Texas will b. handled
with equal rapidity and faithfulness
to the state.
The grand jury consisted Of L. b.
Mayer, chairman. Frank A'cedo.
Charley Champion. r. VI. Daizcll,
Joseph Kaplan. J. B. Gum, James A..
Brown. Morris Edelstein. K. A. Horn
berg. w. r. Hodge. Tom Yates and
w. B. Walton. Bailiffs for the
court are George Miller. Jack Poit-
niger, s. s. Jones, A. w. Champion
and Albert Leik. The jury was
charged before noon this morning and
started work this afternoon.
Judge Cunningham also announced
that h would not permit the contin-
uance by agreement in eases involv-
ing felony charges.
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