The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1933-09-14
SEPTEMBER CIRCUIT COURT
CONVENED ON MONDAY
Grand Jury Charged by Judge
Sloan-H. L. Jones, Foreman

tigate any charges of abortion. While
this is a secret sort of offense, which
seldom comes to public attention, yet
when it does the consequences are al
ways serious and therefore l charge
you that if any such offenses, or if in
formation as to the commission of
such offense come to your attention
that you make full and close investi-
CATION as to the guilty party or par
ties.
"You are required to examine the
books and accounts of the county
treasurer. While you do not have time
10 make a detailed investigation and
audit of such books, you should make
such investigation as to satisfy your
selves that the books are being kept
properly and that the balances which
the books indicate that the treasurer
should have on hand are actually in
his hands and available for the uses
of the county.
There is also law against the
sale of narcotics which we are re-
quired to call to your attention. This
is another offense committed in secret
and of which there may be no public
knowledge, yet in cases of which the
grand jury may have or may obtain
knowledge as to it's commission, l
charge you that it is your duty to in
yestigate as fully as may be posi-
BILE and to return indictments where
ever the evidence may warrant, in or
der that the parties guilty of such
offense may be brought to trial.
The carrying of concealed weapons,
while not a matter required to be
brought to your attention, is very
serious offense, the consequences of
violations of which law lead to some
of the most serious violations of law
which come before this Court. This
law seems to be regarded more or less
lightly by citizens of the county and
especially by those who are in the
habit of violating the law, and yet if
this offense could be prevented the
number of crimes of violence could be
largely diminished, and the only way
70 accomplish this result is by the ar
rest and punishment of those who are
in the habit of carrying weapons, and
thus to discourage the custom of car
rying upon the person concealed dead
iy weapons.
"While we are not required by law,
it has always been the custom of
this Court to call to your attention
che law governing the sale Of intox-
icating liquors. AS you are well
aware, the so-called Volstead Act and
the National Prohibition law has been
amended So as to allow the sale of
beer containing not more than three
and two-tenths percent of alcohol by
weight and not more than four per
cent of alcohol by volume. This act
has no effect whatever on the local
law of Garrett county and prosecu-
tions for violatins of that act are still
perfectly proper. If, as is generally
anticipated, the Eighteenth Amend
naent to the United States Constitu-
ton shall be repealed, within short
time thereafter it will restore to the
states such liquor laws as, they now
have on their statute books, and the
only liquor law which will then affect
Garrett county is the local option law
which has been rigidly enforced ever
since it's passage by the Legislature,
under which law the sale of beer con-
tanning not more than three and two
tenths per cent Of alcohol by volume
and not more than four per cent of al
cohoI by weight shall be illegal in this
county. If the referendum touching
that law should result in vote in
favor of the sale of beer, then the sale
of beer containing not more than 81
per CSHC ny NOluHlS1 VI AhO" iihNAS N'A''A'
4 per cent of alcohol by volume will
be legal in this county. If that ques-
ton should fail of adoption, however
it would not affect the local option
law in this county and the law would
still declare improper and make
criminal the sale of beer of such al
coholic content, so that the sale there
after of beer or hard liquors. as
they are sometimes called, would not
under any circumstances be legal in
this county unless the local option law
is repealed as result of the forth
coming referendum vote.
'In the course of your investiga-
ton it is necessary for the grand jury
to make an inspection of the Court
House and Jail. You will therefore
comply with this requirement, make
an investigation of the Court House
and Jail buildings and report to this
Court your findings in reference
thereto.
at is desirable that you be as eX-
peditious as possible in your labors