The Lexington advertiser., 1946-04-18
Judge Davis Charges Grand Jury With Complete
Investigation Of Conditions In County
Jury Called Back
10 Investigate
Killing, Larceny

back the Grand Jury Tuesday after
noon at 200 o'clock to investigate
killing and some grand larceny
winch occurred after the Grand
Jury had adjourned its sesson Mon
day, April l, charged that Grand
Jury Tuesday afternoon with COM
plete investigation of conditions in
Holmes county.
Judge Davis, presented this week
with petition from Holmes county
citizens asking him to reconyene the
Grand Jury for the purpose of in
vestigating lawlessness in this coun-
", told the Jury that the petition
was "an indictment against the
Grand Jury and every officer in this
county" He said that if the petition
was true that it speaks bad for the
county," and if not true that it was
a hbelous article against every Off
cer."
Judge Davis dismissed the Grand
Jurors to retire to their secret ses-
sion with this utterance: 1--WE win
take the balance of this week to in
vestigate conditions in this county
and don't mean maybe"
Petition Published
Given herewith is a copy of the
petition handed Judge Davis carrv-
ing large number of signatures Of
Holmes county citizens. We quote:
To the Honorable S. F. Davis,
Judge of the Fourth Circuit Court
District of the State of Mississippi.
WHEREAS, the report in the,
press showed the Grand Jury em-
panelled Monday, April l, duly
sworn and charged by you for the
regular April term of Circuit Court
In Holmes county was in session for
only one day, and was actually, in
fact, in session only about six hours.
and
WHEREAS, for number Of years
there has been increased violations
OF the laws regarding whiskey and
slot machines in Holmes county, un-
til, today there are numerous places
which openly and flagrantly violate
the laws of our state and county to
such an extent that conditions in
Holmes county are absolutely mex.
cusable and intolerable, and
WHEREAS, we deem it the sworn
duty of that Grand Jury to make q
thorough investigation of matters
brought before it affecting the gen.
eral welfare of the people of Holmes
county, and that jury, in fact, actu-
ally failed to perform its duty, there
fore, be it -,
RESOLVED, by the undersigned
citizens of Holmes county that we
respectfully and urgently implore
your Honor to recall your Grand
Jury and charge them with thor
ough and complete investigation Of
lawlesssness in Holmes county, par
ticularly, the open sale of whiskey
and display of gambling devices, es-
pecially slot machines, and instruct
ing District Attorney Howard Dyer
and County Attorney Pat M. Barrett
to give their utmost cooperation to
the matter of subpoening witnesses
and bringing to the Grand Jury's at
tention all of the information pos
sible bearing on these conditions
with the purpose of placing the re-
sponsibility for such conditions in
Holmes county and call for an ac-
counting from those responsible for
same, and be it further
RESOLVED, that copies of this
resolution be given The Durant
News, The Lexington Advertiser, the
Memphis Commercial-Appeal, the
Daily Clarion-Ledger of Jackson
and The Jackson Daily News; that
copies of it be sent to the District
Attorney and the County Attorney.
This, the 9Th day Of April, l946.