The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1958-09-11
Grand Jury Charge
Delivered by Judge

Rules and regulations explaining
how the grand jurors should con-
duct their deliberations were out
lined by Associate Judge Neil c.
Fraley on Monday morning as the
September term got under way in
the court house in Oakland. Fol-
lowing his address the jurors were
duly sworn by the bailiff, c. F.
Hammond, after which they retired
to the grand jury room to begin
their investigation of alleged in
fractions of the laws.
The charge to the grand jury is
printed in full below.
Gentlemen of the Grand Jury:
You have been selected by the
court to serve as Grand Jurors for
the September Term of Court
which begins today.
1t is customary for the Judge of
this Court to charge you with ref
erence to your duties, and the
procedure you are to follow in
your work.
The Grand Jury is of ancient
origin and comes down to us from
early days in England. Although
the institution has been abolished
in England and many of the States
of this country, here in Maryland
it stands as an important part of
:. "a, q .s,,,ar asal
justice.
There is a double duty cast up
on you as Grand Jurors: a duty to
society to see that parties against
whom there is a just ground to
charge the commission of crime
shall be held to answer the charge,
and duty to the citizens to see
that he is not subjected to proSecu-
ton upon accusations that are not
we'll founded. Whether or not an
accused is brought to trial on any
charge requiring your attention de-
ponds solely upon your determi-
nation and no one may even sug-
gest to you what your decision
shall be.
Your membership consists of
twenty three individuals, twelve
or more of your number constitut-
ing a quorum, and no present
ment or indictment can be found
by you unless at least twelve of
YOUR number should concur there
in. A mere majority of members
present at any session will not
suffice.
A Grand Jury is an investigat-
ing body and has very broad power
and authority to investigate and
inquire into alleged violations of
the criminal laws of this State.
MANY of the cases that will be
brought to your attention will have
been Investigated by the law en-
forcement officers of the County
The States attorney will present
these cases to you and you will
hear the testimony of the wit
nesses that the State intends to
produce against the accused. 1t
is your duty to decide if the charge
is supported by sufficient evil
dence to warrant the finding of an
indictment and that the accused
shall stand trial before petit
Jury or the Court. Indeed, the
oath which you have just taken
requires that you shall diligently
inquire, and true presentment
make of all such matters which
may come before you and that
you shall present no person
through envy, hatred or malice nor
leave anyone unpreSented through
love. fear, favor or affection, or
for any hope or promise or re-
ward
Your proceedings must be alb
solutely secret. No disclosures of
any kind are to be made concern
ing your deliberations or how in
dividual members of the jury
voted with respect to any charge
considered by your body, unless
you are directed by the Court to
make any such disclosures.
While testimony is being pro-
duced before you, the only per-
sons allowed in the Grand Jury
room besides your own members,
are the States Attorney and the
witness testifying before you.
If an individual juror has knoWl-
edge of the commission of
criminal offense that is not brought
to your attention by the enforce
ment officers, it is the duty of such
Juror to disclose such information.
Enforcement of the criminal laws
is extremely important and it is
incumbent upon the enforcement
officers to ever be alert in bring
ing to justice those guilty of VIC
lsting our criminal statutes and
your body plays an important part
in maintaining law and order in