The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1938-09-15
JUDGE SLOAN DELIVERS
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continued from rage ONe)
members of the body would have an
opportunity to vote in the primary
election. Monday was also a legal
holiday-Old Defenders Day-in the
State of Maryland.
The Courts charge to the jury fol-
lows:
Gentlemen of the Grand jury
Except for certain statutes which
the Court required by. the Legisla-
ture to call to your attention at the
opening of each Jury Term of Court,
the charge to the Grand Jury is mere
ly an age-old custom, and amounts to
little more than a repetition of the
Grand Jurors oath-which shall be
your guide in all matters which may
come before you. That oath requires
that you s. = shall diligently inquire,
and true presentment make, of all
such matters and things as shall be
given you in charge, or, shall other
wise come to your knowledge, touch
ing this present service"
The major part Of your duties will
be to investigate charges of violation
of the criminal laws which have al
ready been heard by the justices of the
peace of the county, in which they
have held the parties charged to an
swer such further action thereon as
may be taken by the Grand Jury.
Those cases have been investigated by
the law-enforcement officers of the
county, the witnesses have been sum-
moned to appear before you and they
await the exercise of your judgment
as to whether the evidence be suffi-
cient for submission to petit jury
whose duty it shall be then, on the
evidence submitted by both PARTIES
State and traversers-to decide the
question of the latter's guilt or inno-
cence. By that part of the oath just
quoted, you will observe that you shall
not only inquire * of all such
matters and things as shall be given
you in charge '*D-which means
those which are brought to your
notice in the way just mentioned
but you shall also inquire into other
matters which -" $ shall otherwise
come to your knowledge"
The power of Grand Jury is not
only extensive but is extremely impor-
tant, and it is one of the chief factors
in the enforcement of the law and the
preservation and maintenance of the
peace and order of the county, and is
also one of the strongest assurances
we have for the safety and security
of the people.
Taken as a whole, the people of this
county are sober, Industrious and law
abiding, but such condition can only
be maintained and continued by the
punishment of those, who, by their
conduct, disregard the rights of others
and disturb this condition. Since the
last term of Court, have heard of no
unusual conditions which should be
brought to your attention, on which
you might be required to investigate,
and we shall be fortunate if this shall
always be so.
AS said, there are certain, statutes
which the Legislature, has directed,
shall, from time to time, Sbe' Brought
to the attention of the Grandi Jury.
Section A of Article II of the, Code
requires that your attention be called
to Section of Article 27, which for
bids and prohibits and provides pun
ishment for the crime of abortion,
the advertisement of any drug, medi-
cine or instrument, designed to pro-
duce the same, and the sale Of any
such articles. The practical purpose
of such a requirement is doubtful, as
this is a crime difficult to discover,
which only comes to the surface when
the consequences of its commission
have he'd unfortunate-often fatal
results.
By Section 70 of Article 81, it is
provided that eff any Clerk, Register
of Wills, Sheriff, Collector of Taxes,
Notary Public, or other officer, whose
duty it is to collect revenue due the
State of Maryland OF any county
thereof, shall, after the receipt of said
revenue by him, wilfully detain the
same in his possession and neglect to
pay the Same into the Treasury Of
the State or to the County Commits
sioners, or the proper officer author
lied to receive the same, for more
than sixty days after the day upon
which it is made by law hi sduty to
pay the same, or if no particular day
be appointed by law for said payment,
and such officer shall retain any rev.
enue due to the State or to any county
thereof, and which it is his duty to
collect, and which he shall have col
lected, and shall neglect to pay the
same into the Treasury of the State,
or to the County Commissioners, or
the proper officer authorized to re-
ceive the same, for the space of six
months after he shall have collected
the same, such officer so offendig in
either case shall be deemed to be
the Courts having criminal jurisdic-
ton in this State, shall give this law IN
charge to the Grand Juries summoned