The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1938-09-15
to their resnectivve Courts.

OSCIlOn zoo Oh ATIlCIe Z HldheS IL
unlawful for any practitioner of med
icine or dentistry to furnish or pre-
sent for the use Of any person any
cocaine, HEROINE, opium, morphine
and certain other narcotic drugs, eX-
cept under strict regulations therein
provided for, and it is made the duty
of the Judges of all Courts having
criminal jurisdiction to instruct the
Grand Juries " to diligently in
quire into and investigate all cases of
the violation of the provisions of this
subtitle (Health-Narcotic Drugs and
to make true presentment of persons
guilty of such violation"
1t is the duty Of Grand Juries in
this State, by Section % of Article 81
of the Code, to " i visit the Jail and
inquire into its condition, the manner
in which it is kept, and the treatment
of the prisoners, and report the same
to the Court" 1t is customary also
and Grand Juries are generally in
structed-to inspect the Court House
and report its condition, together with
such recommendations as may be
made for the repair and improvement
of both the Court House and the Jail
The Court is not required by law to
instruct Grand Juries in respect to the
statute against carrying concealed
weapons, but this offense is so
often attended with such tragic
consequences that it should not be ig-
nored or lightly regarded. The seri
BUSINESS of the offense is such that
the Legislature has imposed severe
penalties of its violation, by providing
for fine of not more than one thous
and dollars, or Imprisonment in the
Jail OF House of Correction for not
more than two years.
In Garrett county the sale of beer
is now authorized by law under such
regulations as are imposed by the
Act of 1885. In no county in the State
have the liquor laws been more faith
fully enforced than in this county,
and we can assume that there will be
no relaxation of this alertness on the
part of the Grand Juries or the en-
forcement officers of this county with
respect to it.
Section 1O4 of Article IL of the
Public Local Laws, title, Garrett
County," provides that the books of
the County Treasurer shall be opened
to the inspection of the Grand Jury.
The only implication that can be
drawn from this is that it is your duty
to see that the books of the County
Treasurer are carefully kept and mon
les received by him promptly and
properly deposited. There is no need
of your making an extensive audit of
his books, as it is now provided by the
general law of the State that periodi
cal examinations of his books shall be
made by the State Auditor whose re-
port will be available to you when re-
quired.
Section % of Article 20 of the Code
requires that in all counties except
Frederick and Allegany, each con-
stable shall be sworn at every Cir
cult Court for the county, or Criminal
court of Baltimore to the Grand jury"
This means that in Garrett county
each constable shall be required to
appear before the Grand Jury and re-
port to it all violations of the crimi-
nal laws of which they may be cogni-
zant or which may have been brought
to their attention. This also means
that if there have been viola
lions of the criminal laws in their re-
respective districts or communities
of which they knew-or should have
known-that then their failure to take
proper action or to disclose such vio-
lations to the Grand Jury, shall rem
der them liable to indictment for mall
feasance or misfeasance in office.
Necessarily, the other law-enforce-
ment agencies of the county are large
ly dependent upon local constables for
information, and this makes the Of
fee of constable far more important
than it is generally regarded.
By your oath, you will notice that
you are also required to keep secret
all matters which may come before
you, the importance of which is such
that we hardly think it necessary to
enlarge upon this caution.
1t is desirable that you perform
your duties as speedily as may be
consistent with the thorough investi-
cation of all matters brought before
you, or which may come to your
knowledge. The very fact of your Sc
lection as Grand Jurors is founded on
the judgment of this Court that you
can and will properly and promptly
perform the duties to which you have
been summoned.