Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 May 1910 — GRAND JURY IN SESSION. [ARTICLE]

GRAND JURY IN SESSION.

Convened Monday and Will Look Into Bridge Graft. COURT CHARGES MEMBERS Particularly In This Matter and Tells Them That “Graft Knows No Politics, and Every Good Citizen Should Desire That Graft Be Stopped, No Matter . What the Politics of the Grafter May Be.” The grand jury drawn for the ‘April term of court but not called until a few days ago for the fourth week, convened Monday. Rowley Moorhouse of Wheatfield township, was excused by the court on his filing a physician’s certificate of sickness, and Charles M. Blue of Rensselaer .was summoned by the bailiff to fill his place. As made up the jury is as follows: George Davisson, Barkley tp. Chas. M. Blue, Rensselaer. . Everett Brown,' Barkley. Geo. H. Sommers, Milroy. John E. Alter, Union. Charles Erb, Hanging Grove. The court charged the grand jury at 11:30 a. m., and appointed John E. Alter as foreman. The court made an especially strong charge' regarding county officers and graft rumors, and said that graft knew no politics, and that politics had no place or standing in court; that all good citizens desired public contracts carried out honestly; that a good citizen, be he democrat or republican, could do no better service for his county than to bring to justice the grafter, no matter who he was or where he was from. And especially, he charged, it was the duty of the jurors to return indictments if evidence was presented to them which was probable to result in conviction at a trial Of the cause; that the jurors should look at the evidence and not at the individual, and should discharge their duties .without fear or favor, no matter who was hit by their action. The charge was exceedingly strong along this line, and indicated that Judge Hanley is very much in earnest in putting a stop to grafting in Jasper county and bringing to time those who have been guilty of robbing the"taxpayers in public contracts. Prosecutor Longwell has had Prof. Smith, head of the engineering department of Purdue University, here two or three times during the past week measuring' ? up a large number of bridges constructed in the last two years and comparing the measurments with the plans and specifications. Just what he; has found is of course not known to the public, but it is rumored that all show a steal of from SSO to SIOO each on the smaller bridges. Prof. Smith told his story to the grand jury M;onday afternoon, and how that body can help but return several indictments on the evidence that it is alleged will be presented to them will be a marvel. The members of the grand jury were excused Monday evening until Thursday morning, when the grind will be resuthedl