The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1932-03-24
GRAND JURY CHARGED BY
CHIEF JUDGE D. |. SLOAN
CONTINUED from Page Onel

NCOHClnueu IfOm rage OHeD
ing of a pistol with the same concern
that we do violations of other laws.
Most murders and serious assaults
and many burglaries and robberies are
committed as a result of the carrying
of. gun and the most serious conse-
quences can arise from that practice.
If you learn of anybody who is car
rying a pistol or other dangerous or
deadly concealed weapon and he is
indicted and upon trial found guilty
he will find out just how serious that
offense is regarded in this court, be-
cause the offense of carrying con-
cealed weapon is not going to be
punished by the mere imposition of a
nominal fine.
Another statute to which we are re-
quired to call your attention, but one
which has become more or less obso-
lete in sense, is that requiring Off
GERS of the law charged with the col
lection and receipt of public funds to
account for them in accordance with
the law specifying time and method
of accounting.
The greatest number of cases with
which you are likely to have to deal
involving the violation of any single
statute are those concerning the local
liquor law for Garrett county, a law
that is much more effective than the
Volstead Act, because the penalties
attached to the commission of that
crime in this county are much more
serious. We seem to have more Of
fenses of this character because some
people seem to have formed the idea
that because of the passage of a ma
tional law that the state law has be-
come obsolete and they can violate
that statute with impunity, but the
law against the manufacture, sale or
possession for the purpose of sale OF
Intoxicating liquors in Garrett county
is still on the statute books and is
the most effective law that we have
for the punishment of violations of
any liquor law, and it is still as much
an offense to sell or manufacture or
possess for purposes of sale intoXicat-
ing liquor in Garrett county as it
ever was. Indeed / am not so sure
that it is not a more serious offense
than it was before the passage of the
national law, because violators are of
those who habitually faunt the law
for purposes of gain, and the court
can not look upon with any degree of
leniency those who Systematically en-
gage in the violation of law for pur-
poses of profit and gain. We are not
required by law to call this to your
attention but because of the impress
sion that many people have formed
that they can violate this law with
impunity we want to make it thor
oughly understood that it can not be
done in this county.
1t is your duty to inspect the pub
lie buildings of the county-the court
house and jail-and to make a report
of the conditions which you find in
these places with any recommends
tions which you may have to make
with regard to conditions generally
and with respect to any suggested i'm
provements to the court house or Jail,
which, of course, will be submitted to
the county commissioners or the GUS
todians of the buildings.
There is nothing else l know of
which particularly should be called to
your attention. Several of you have
been grand jurors before and are &C
quainted with the duties which you
have to perform. The PUBLIC has
never yet had any occasion to COM
plain of the kind Of service they have
received from any grand jury in Gar
rett county and / am satisfied from
the personnel of the present jury that
this will be no exception to the rule
of efficiency and thoroughness which
has applied in the past.