The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-03-17
GRAND JURY LEADS THE WAY FOR
IMPROVED LAW ENFORCEMENT
CONDITIONS

The Henderson county grand jury, sit
ting at the late session of Superior Court,
gave evidence of activity and efficiency
which offers encouragement to law abiding
citizens and to all who are interested IN
promoting efficiency in our county govern
ment. This newspaper would advise that
ALI good citizens study the report made by
the grand jury, as covered in news story
printed one day last week in The Times
Ne ws. 81, ....a .......
The iury's report makes it clear that due
aiAntion was given to all routine matters
Co5fng under the jurisdiction of the body;
anas in addition, the problems of law en-
f0aoemdnt received special attention. One
ofithe chief reasons for the existence OF
The GRAND Jury system relates to the en-
forcemeat Of the criminal statutes. The
body ifas extensive and important powers
and obligations in this particular. The
present grand jury offers evidence Of I'M
derstanding Of these obligations and this
authority and determination to function
effectively in relation to it's duty as to law
enforcement. .--.
The Investigations of the jury at this last
term Of court serve to fasten public atten-
ton on the problems of law enforcement
in the county. Other efforts have been
1.ade by Grand iuries, law enforcement Of
fcecs and efforts to arouse public senti-
ment. bnt no more than very moderate sue
cess mas attended these efforts.
6 Il i,,,-,y f,yoC 10
conditions in the county far from satisfac-
tory and on the whole, believes crime is
increasing and law enforcement is daily
5acotrving more difficult That this is an
accurate conclusion probably would be the
Judgment of every informed law abiding
citizen of the county.
What is the majority of good citizens of
the county (good citizens are in the major
ity in Henderson county, going to do about
conditions? This is question The Times
News has asked many times in past years.
Fhfs newspaper has called attention to and
pointed out the absolutely certain trends
and results Of lawlessness, when and where
it is not curbed and suppressed. If law
breaker is given any latitude whatever he
or she will usually in the END go the limit
in defying and violating the laws.
Law violation is something that extends
and spreads and becomes more violent and
defiant day by day and year by year. The
heavy hand of law enforcement must be
placed on law breakers and kept on them
or they will ultimately control any munich
patty, county or State.
The experience of Henderson county
with law breaking is that law enforcement
has not been sufficiently certain and rigid.
We make this assertion with some definite
understanding of conditions in the county,
the problems and difficulties faced by law
enforcement officers and the courts. Too
often law breakers are able to escape the
consequences of their misdeeds and too
often they are treated with consideration
which ii by no means merited or justified,
whea TREY come into the courts
EYt was an absolute certainty that every
pers9n guilty of violating the laws in Hen
derspn county would be punished to fine
limits provided by the statutes, it is certain
thati conditions would gradually improve
and this newspaper believes that in few
years Henderson would be pointed to as a
rSfel in law enforcement and observance
ness. ~ '''
ihe 500 OF bringing about these condi-
lions rests with the grand jury, the law