The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1960-03-17

and explained the ancient origin
of the investigating body
The complete charge to the
jurors is given below:
Ladies and Gentlemen of the
Grand Jury
You have been selected by the
Court in the manner prescribed by
law to serve as Grand Jurors for
the March Term of Court which
begins today.
| am sure that some of you have
previously served as Grand Juror.
For some this will be the first
time for such service.
1t is customary for the presiding
Judge to charge you briefly with
reference to your duties and the
procedure you are to follow in
the performance of your duties.
The Grand Jury is of ancient orr
gin 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
the administration of criminal
justice.
Your membership consists of
twenty three persons, twelve or
more of your number constituting
quorum, and no preSentment or
indictment can be found by you
unless at least twelve of your
members should concur therein. A
mere majority of members pres
ent at any session will not suffice.
A Grand Jury is an investigating
body and has very broad power
and authority to investigate and
inquire into alleged violations of
the criminal laws of this State.
Most 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 witnesses
that the State intends to produce
against the accused. 1t is your
duty to decide if the charge is
supported by sufficient evidence
10 warrant the finding of an in
dictment 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 UMPIRE
sented through love, fear, favor or
affection, or for any hope or prom
Use Of reward"
There is a double duty cast upon
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 a duty to the citizen to see
| that he is not subjected to prose
cution upon accusations that are
moi we'll founded. Whether or not
an accused is brought to trial on
any charge requiring your atten-
ton depends solely upon your de-
termination, and no one may even
suggest to you what your decision
snail be.
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 CON
sidered by your body, unless you
ale directed by the Court to make
any such disclosures.
While testimony is being pro-
duced before you. the only persons
allowed in the Grand Jury room
besides your own members, are
the States Attorney and the wit
ness testifying before you.
If an individual juror has knowl-
edge of the commission of a crimi-
nal offenSe that is not brought TO
your attention by the enforcement
officers, it is the duty of such
juror or jurors to disclose such
information. Enforcement OF the
criminal laws is extremely impor-
tant and it is incumbent upon the
enforcement officers to ever be
alert in bringing to justice those
guilty of violating our criminal
statutes and your body plays an
! important part in maintaining aW
and order in the community.
Happily, our County seems to 1e
fee of organized vice and crime
that is frequently found in moro