The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1939-09-14
GRAND JURY CHARGED
IN LENGTHY ADDRESS
Continued from Page One)

charge which means those
which are brought to your knowledge
in the manner | have just indicated
but YOU shall also inquire into other
matters which &" x shall otherwise
come to your knowledge, either
through information gathered from
witnesses before you, matters that
have come to your own personal know
ledge before you were summoned to
the service of the Grand Jury, OF mat
ters which may come to your know
ledge from other sources. The power
of a Grand Jury is not only extensive
but is extremely important, and it is
one of the chief factors in the enforce
ment 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
as a whole.
There are certain statutes which
have been in effect in this county for
years, which are required by law to be
called to your attention. Section 4 of
Article 27 of the Code requires that
YOUR attention be called to Section 3
Of Article 81, which forbids and pro-
hibiJs and provides punishment for
the crime of abortion, the advertise
ment of any drug, medicine, or instru-
ment, designed to produce the same,
and the sale of any such articles. The
practical purpose of such a require
ment is rather doubtful, as this is a
crime difficult to discover, and which
only comes to public notice when the
consequences of its commission have
had northumberland often tragic
results.
BY Section 70 of Article 27, 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 or 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 same, for more than
sixty days after the day upon which
it is made by law his duty to pay the
same, or if no particular day be ap-
pointed by law for said payment, and
such officer shall detain any revenue
due to the State or to any County
thereof, and which it is his duty to
collect, and which he shall collect, and
shall neglect to pay the same into the
Treasury of the State, or to the Coun-
ty Commissioners, or the proper Off
Ger authorized to receive the same, for
the space of six months after he shall
have so collected the same, such Off
Ger so offending in either case shall be
deemed to be a defaulter and
the Judges of the Courts having Grim
inal jurisdiction in this State, shall
give this law in charge to the Grand
Juries called in their respective
Courts.
By Section 285 of Article 81 it is
made unlawful for any practitioner
of medicine or dentistry to furnish or
present for the use of any person any
cocaine, heroin, opium, morphine, and
certain other narcotic drugs, except
under the strict regulations therein
provided for, and it is made the duty
of the judges of all Courts having
criminal jurisdiction to instruct Grand
Juries " < to diligently inquire into
and investigate all cases of the viola
ton 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
Soo+,a,, Of A 1.+ic1n XII of
the Code, to visit the Jail and
inquire into it's condition, the manner
in which it is kept, and the treatment
of the prisoners, and report the same
to the Court" 1t is also a custom
and Grand Juries are usually so 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 Court House and Jail.
The Courts are not required by law
to instruct Grand Juries with regard
to the statute against carrying con-
cealed weapons, but it is usually done,
because this offense is so often attend
ed with such fatal results that it can
not be ignored or lightly regarded.
Many men carry guns just to be
smart. Some young men think they
have not attained the state Of manhood
unless they have gun. The place to
stop that practice is here, before the
damage is done.
The sale of beer is now legal in
Garrett County. In no county Of this
State has the liquor enforcement act
been more scrupulously observed and
kept and enforced than in this County,
and we can assume that there will be
no relaxation on the part of the
authorities.
Section 104 of Article II Of the Pub
lie Local Laws, Title, Garrett County
provides that the books of the County
Treasurer shall be opened to the in
Spection of the Grand Jury. This does
not mean that you have to make a
complete audit, but simply to see that
they are properly and efficiently kept,
and that the various accounts contain
their proper balances. The system IN
effect here now for complete audit
by State auditors makes it unneces-
Sary for Grand Juries to delve so deep
ly into this matter.
In this connection, l think there is a
matter that should be called to the
attention of this Grand Jury. Three
Acts were recently passed by our
Legislative Body at Annapolis, 1899
Session, which were provoked by eX-
cessive purchases without public adj
vertising by the County Commits
O.. l lot.F