The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1951-09-13
Judge Harris Gives
Charge to Grand Jury
Makes Suggestions for Proper
Procedure During Their
Deliberations This Week

generations ms " eek
Suggestions for proper procedure
of members of the Grand Jury during
their deliberations this week. were
made Monday morning by Associate
Judge Morgan c. Harris i'm his semi
annual charge to those selected sever
al weeks ago to serve ON the county's
investigating body.
Duties Of the grand jurors as re-
quired by law were explained to the
twcnty-threc citizens who make up
the group, and in addition Judge
Harris made Other suggestions. He
suggested an examination OF the re-
port of the March grand jury to see
if its recommendations had been
given proper attention; that they
summon proper officials from the
Welfare board to inquire if any I'M
worthy persons are receiving public
assistance; to inquire particularly
into circumstances of absconding
husbands, whose families are rccciv-
ing aid. and to find out what effort is
being made to locate them and prose-
cute them for non-support Of their
wives and minor children.
The full charge to the grand jurors
is reprinted below:
Gentlemen Of the Grand Jury:
You have been selected to serve as
hon fT,tt,,
of Court. 1t is customary for the
presiding Judge to charge you with
reference to your duties and the pro-
cedure you are to follow i'm your
work.
You are charged to inquire into
crimes committed in Garrett County
and to present all offenders against
the law
You will find that most of the cases
will have been investigated by and
prepared for presentation to your
body by the States Attorney. Many
cases of a minor nature are disposed
Of before the Trial Magistrates Of the
County, unless there is a request for
a jury trial by the accused or the
State. The more serious otfenSes are
beyond the jurisdiction Of the Magis-
trates and are held for action Of the
Grand jury, if the Magistrate finds
that prima faCle case has been
made out against the accused at the
preliminary hearing. At this hearing
the accused is either dismissed or
committed to Jail or released on bail
to answer the charge. In due course
the case is brought before the Grand
Jury. Some cases will originate he
fore the Grand jury. You will gener-
ally hear only the witnesses for the
prosecution. and it is your duty to
decide if the charge is supported by
such evidence as warrants the trial
of the accused by the criminal court.
1t is your responsibility to determine
whether charges may he true or false
which should be tried and which
dismissed. In other words, it is your
function to determine whether the
accused shall be called upon to stand
trial. You must have evidence before
you, first, that a crime has been COM
mitted and, second, that the accused
is the person who committed the
crime.
There are twenty-three members of
the Grand jury. As most of YOU prob
ably know, the decisions of the petit
jury OF twelve must be unanimous,
DtI yin NltilN I4C DlJtANN W lllN
Grand Jury. After you have organ
lied, any twelve or more of your
number present constitutes a quorum;
but no presentment or Indictment can
be found without the concurrence of
at least twelve of your members.
The States Attorney will be your
legal adviser. He will furnish you
such information as to legal and pro-
cedural questions from time to time.
However, the States Attorney should
not remain in the jury room during
your deliberations or while any vote
is being taken.
The Court of Appeals of Maryland
speaking of the Grand Jury has said,
''to them is committed the preser-
walton Of the peace of the County,
the care of bringing to light for eXami-
nation, trial and punishment, all
violence, outrage, indecency and ter
ror; everything that may occasion
danger, disturbance or dismay to the
citizen. They are watchmen stationed
by the laws to survey the conduct of
their fellow-citiZens, and inquire
where and by whom public authority
has been violated"
From the oath which you have Just
taken, you know that your deliber-
ations are to be secret, and neither
the accused nor the public should
know what occurred in the jury room
except as shown by the records of
the Court. The accused has no right
to appear before you or to offer wit
nesses in his behalf, but you may
compel the accused to appear before