San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-31
Thinks Only Purpose Is to
Learn What They Ex-
peet to Testify.
VS. FOR BARTON
Lets Adjutant General
Know Grand Jury Soon
to Adjourn.

That states witnesses nave 'oeeH
called before the Ninety-fourth dis
trict court grand jury in two in
stances where cases were pending IN
justice court, and therefore were moi
available for the trial of the case, was
tao charge made by Justice Of the
Peace II. Neil Campbell Friday mora
ing. Judge Campbell's remarks were
made Just after he. had gsanted a
continuance in the case of G. l.. Nib
er. state ranger, charged by complaint
with assault upon Joe Carter. Judge
Campbells charge, however. did NOS
include the Miller, case. as it was
continued at the request of defense
counsel and not because Of the alb
sence of witnesses.
The first instance, Judge Campbell
declared. was last Wednesday. whch
the case against n. G. Williams,
charging him with rudely displaying
a pistol. was called. Williams is al
legged TO have accompanied the rang
ers on a raid made on Austin street.
following which charges of simple as
sault and aggravated assault were
filed against Ranger Miller.
The case had been set down for
hearing, Judge Campbell said, but
when it was called. he was informed
that the witnesses for the state wer"
then before the grand Jury as well as
the papers in the case.
Told j. r. Not Important.
Il went up to get the papers"
Judge Campbell said. land word was
sent me from the district attornc.
that the grand jury is more important
than the justice court Unable 70
get the witnesses, because the grand
jury had them. | passed the case.
Friday. Judge Campbell said, when
he called the Fred Burnes case, IL
which state rangers had filed charges
complaining that Burnes had been IN
possession of equipment for the man
ufacture of liquor, the witnesses. he
learned. were then appearing befof:,
the Ninety-fourth district court grail
Jury. As it happened. however. u
motion to Quasl the search warran
was pending and this was acted upon
without the necessity of summoning
..The witnesses In these cases."
Judge Campbell declared. "are taken
before the grand jury for but one pur-
pose and that is to milk from. them
the testimony they expect TO give 10
the trial of the case. i fail TO see
WHY the grand jury should do this. as
my court has the original jurisdiction
in these cases
Furthermore / see no reason why
the grand jury should even invesu-
gate these cases in question as all
they could do is TO file charges against
the men. II this be their purpose, and
charges already have been filed anc
are pending in my court The on'3
purpose / can see is to get them up
there aud intimidate Them
information for Barton.
At this juncture Judge Campbell
also took occasion 10 declare thas
State Adj Gen. Thomas ID. Barton,
who is in charge of the ranger clean
M" here. had informed him that here
after all cases would be taken Deiors
The grand jury and justice courts
would not be bothered :,
Il want to say" J;sdge Campbell
said. that next week General Bar.
ton will find himself without gran
iury and unless he expects to go ac-
cording to the constitution and law ne
will have TO use the courts. We can
hold men in jail without filing
charges against them
Judge Campbell also disclosed the
fact that he had informed Genera,
Barton that in his court he tried
cases according to the law and eyi
dence."
Il have never refused to function
as a justice of the peace in any man
her." Judge Campbell said. Il would
have issued search warrants at The
request of the rangers. provided theS
complied with the state law in every
respect. am ready also to taxi
any complaints. from state rangers OF
anr enc else, as long as they observe
the law