The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-09-17

The people of Garrett county know
that the government has no money
except the money it has collected from
the people in the form of taxes, and
therefore whatever it may distribute
as dole or as charity is money that
comes out of their pockets, and / think
the people of Garrett county and of
this State would rather make that dis
tribution themselves than hand it over
to governmnt agency for distribu
ton.
The laws must be sustained, but
want to say that in spite of the wave
of crime that seems to have swept
over some parts of the country there
seems to be now less crime in Gar
rett county than there ever has been
in it's history-and by that, of course,
mean crime of any real magnitude
or Importance, am very much graf
flied to say. However, 1 just want to
caution you that when witnesses come
before you it will be your duty to de-
eide all cases upon the evidence before
you. You are not judges; you are not
Lawmakers. You are grand jury
and you must accept the laws as they
have been made and as they are read
to you by the States Attorney. If
you find that any one of these laws
have been violated, whether they re-
late to Intoxicating liquor, whether
they relate to motor vehicles, or what
ever it may be-if you find that the
laws have been violated it will be
your duty under proper evidence to
return an indictment.
There will not be many cases be-
fore you, and l will not add anything
further to what l have said except to
say to you that there are certain stat
utes which the Court is required to
call especially to your attention. For
instance: The statute regarding the
carrying of concealed weapons. If
you find any cases of that kind if the
evidence produced before you is such
as to cause you to believe that often
ses of this kind have been committed,
it will be your duty to find an indict-
ment, because experience has taught
US that the crime of homicide and
other similar crimes of violence are
not the consequence of deliberate
desire or intention to commit homi-
eide or to infiict serious injury, but
that they usually result from a state
of excitment and anger and passion
arising st the moment. Under such
conditions it is with the deadly weap-
on at hand that crimes of violence oc-
coure. Therefore we think that the
statute against carrying of dangerous
and deadly weapons is one that should
be called to the special attention of
the grand jury.
We have also law against the sale
and possession of narcotic or habit
forming drugs. This is very impor-
tant statute, aimed at the destruction
of traffic the evil results of which it
is scarcely necessary for me to point
out, and because of the evil results of
which murder was committed in this
county within the past year.
The statute touching the crime of
abortion is another that the law has
seen fit to have specially called to
your attention. This is a crime which,
of course, is always committed in
secret and it is difficult to obtain proof
sufficient to lead to the punishment
of the perpetrators, but if any such
offenses are brought to your attention
it will be your duty to bring indict-
ments against the violators of this
law.
The mine laws of this State, as you
know, are enacted for the safety of
those who are employed in and about
the mining of coal and other miner
ais, and it will be your duty to make
full Investigations to see that all laws
pertaining to the safe operation Of the
mines of the county are carefully OBJ
served. The State Mine Inspector
will appear before you and want you
to inquire diligently in order to see
that all such laws are obeyed.
These are not the times for men in
public Office to spend any more money
than is absolutely necessary. do not
ask you to be negligent in your work;
do not ask you to be so expeditions
that you cannot discharge your duties
fully and properly, but l do ask that
you be as prompt in the discharge of
your duties as possible, compatible
with full discharge of the obliga-
tion Of your oaths, and I am sure that
you will make record for Garrett
county for the expedition with which
you perform your duties as grand
| jurors.