The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1936-03-19
CHARGE TO GRAND JURORS.
! IS MADE BY JUDGE ROBB|
Continued from Page Onel

/ Continued from Page One)
grand inquest, or as it is commonly
known, the "Grand jury" has haC
and obtained a very prominent par
in the prosecution of offenses agains
the law, and in the protection of cit
liens against unjust prosecution OF
the oppression of government. The
origin of your body can be described
best by quoting from Corpus Juris
which says:
"In the struggles which at times
arose in England between the
powers of the King and the rights
of the subject, it often stood as a
barrier against persecution in his
name, until at length it came to
be regarded as an institution by
which the subject was rendered
secure against oppression from
unfounded prosecution of the
Crown. In this country, from the
popular character of our institu-
lions, there has seldom been any
contest between the Government
and the citizens which requires
the existence of a grand jury
action of the Government. Yet the
institution was adopted in this
country and has continued from
considerations similar to those
which gave to it its chief value
in England, and has descended
as a means, not only of the bring
ing to trial of persons accused of
public offenses upon just grounds,
but also as a means of protecting
the citizen against unfounded ac-
cusations, whether it come from
Government or be prompted by
partisan passion and private en-
nifty"
Your body may become of very vita
Importance.
You will have the power to call be.
fore you any person within the Dor
ders of the State to give you any in
formation you may desire with refer
ence to offenses against the law. You
have the authority and power to in
quire among your members if there
is any condition known to them which
may be detrimental to the welfare Of
the people, and it is their duty, frankly
as may be within their knowledge
The officers of the county should be re-
quired to furnish you all information
which they may have as to those
things you may desire to know.
1 may state from my experience that
the law enforcement officers and
those connected with them, do know
something about all law violations
and as to any and all conditions which
may exist, so that if the general pub
lie feels that there are some conditions
which should be corrected they should
look to the officers of the country for
their correction, and from my obser-
walton I am sure that they will quickly
take proper proceedings.
1t is we'll for your body to appoint
from among your number two clerks
to make a digest of the testimony of
the respective witnesses who may be
called before you. Necessarily, secrecy
must be observed by all members of the
grand jury as to proceedings had be-
fore you. No Indictment can be re-
turned unless approved by the votes OF
at least twelve Of your members.
ing conditions as you may think prop
err and you should not limit yourself
in investigating that which may come
before you, though of course, time
should not be wasted at the expense of
the taxpayers.
By statute, the Court is directed to
call your attention to the laws relat-
ing to abortion, carrying concealed
weapons and traffic in drugs and mar
cotics.
You will examine the books of the
County Treasurer and the Jail and
Court House should be inspected.
The Court has no knowledge of any
particular violations of law which
should at this time be called to your
attention. The usual infractions in a
county such as ours will be presented
before you in due course by the States
Attorney, and you will take action
thereon.
Lately have noticed comments in
the press in reference to the age of
those violating the criminal laws, and
when it is said that the youth of our
land is responsible for vast major
ity of crimes, a number of writers
seem to believe that this is true as an
incident of our present times.
This is not true. The criminal his
tory of other days and former times
shows conclusively that relatively to
the increase of population there is no
greater proportion today than then
Youth has been and still is period
of adventure and romance and paths
are often tried which would not be
followed in later days Of life and it is
natural when these paths are tried
some may slip. Youth is a wonderful
time when the Individual feels that he
himself can govern his own actions
best, when he does not clearly see the