The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1940-09-12
GRAND JURY Is CHARGED
BY CHIEF JUDGE D. [. SLOAN
.Jurist Calls Attention To a Mum.
Der of Statutes And Following
Administration of Oath
Jurors Begin Work

Garrett county ClICuIJ court began
its duties on Monday morning follow
ing the administration of the oath to
its members and the charge to the
members of the body delivered by
Chief Judge d. Lindley Sloan.
Judge Sloan called attention to a
number of statutes and outlined the
duties of the members of the Grand
Inquest His address follows:
Gentlemen of the Grand jury
According to custom, centuries old,
the Courts having criminal jurisdic-
ton at the opening of every jury term
of Court, instruct the Grand Jury as
TO the nature of the duties they are
about to undertake and perform
The Grand Jury is an agent and
most important institution, and on the
performance of their duties citizens
and public rely as one of the safe
guards in the preservation and peace
of society for safety and security of
the individual. You are an investigat-
ing body, a major portion of whose
time will be absorbed in the investiga-
ton of such cases as have already
been Investigated by the enforcement
officers of the county, against persons
who have been charged with the viola
ton of criminal laws and are already
in jail or admitted to bail and await
your action, all of which will be
brought to your attention by the
States Attorney, who will be at your
service at all times while you are IN
session. Although most of these cases
have been already investigated, it will
still be your business to hear the wit
nesses who will be produced before
you, and if there is reasonable evidence
of the guilt of the accused to indict,
their guilt or innocence to be later de
cided by the Petit Jury or by the
Court as those indicted, may elect
In addition to the cases already pre-
pared for you, it is your duty as pre-
scribed by your oath to investigate any
other offenses which may be brought
to your notice or of which you or any
Of you may have personal knowledge
and summon such witnesses as you
may think necessary.
The Legislature requires that at
each term of Court, certain statutes
shall be brought to the attention of
ton of Article 27 of the Code, by
which we are required to call to your
attention Section 3 of Article 27, for
bidding and prohibiting and prescrib-
ing punishment for the crime of abor-
ton, the advertisement of any drug,
medicine or instrument designed to
produce the same, and the sale of any
such articles.
Another is Section 70 of Article 81,
which is as follows: "If 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 Commissioners
or the proper officer authorized to re-
ceive the same, for more than sixty
days after the day upon which it is
made by law his duty to collect, and
which he shall have collected, and
shall neglect to pay the same into
the Treasury of the State or to the
County Commissioners, or the proper
officer authorized to receive the same,
for the space of six months after he
shall have so collected the same, such
officer so offending in either case shall
be deemed to be defaulter 8"
Another of these statutes is Sec
ton 285 of Article 27, which makes 1t
unlawful for any practitioner of med
lcne or dentistry to furnish or present
for the use of any person any cocaine,
III nd
tam other narcotic drugs, except under
the strict regulations therein provided
for
1t is the duty of Grand Juries by
Section % of Article 81 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 prison.
ers, and report the same to the Court
1t is customary also for Grand Jul'ies
IN this County to inspect the Court
House and Jail and to make such rec
concentrations as it may see fit for the
repair and improvement Of the Court
House and the Jail.
We are not required to especially in
struct the Grand Jury as to the Stat
ute against carrying concealed weap-
ons, but it has been the custom SO to
DO because this offense is lightly re-
garded by so many persons, frequently
with such tragic consequences. The
legislature, realizing its seriousness,
hXed penalties of a fine of not more
than 81 900 or imprisonment in the
jail or House of Correction for not
more than two years.
Although not required, it is custom
airy to direct the attention Of the Grand
jury to the liquor laws of the County.
IN this County, the sale Of beer is now
authorized by law subject to such reg
ulatlons as the Act of 1885 imposes.
me liquor laws have been rigidly en-
forced in this county and we can as
sumo that there will be no relaxation
on the part of the Grand Jury or en-
loIcement officers in this respect.
:. Article ~, Section 1O4, of the Pub
nc Local Laws, title Garrett Coun-
E' provides that the books of the
county Treasurer shall be open to
tne inspection of the Grand Jury, and
u IS implied from this that it is your
GGuty to see that the books of the
county Treasurer are carefully kept
and money received is promptly de-
posted.
have not commented on any of the
eases which might come before you at
(Cop4;p,oI 90, D,oo EO,,rl