In many cases sent up from justice courts,…

chunk 480 · paragraph 1857

e charge and instruc- tions of your Honor, we have made investiga- tion of all matters brought before us, which it was possible in the limited time allowed for the session of the grand jury, for us to consider, and where the facts justified the same, have found indictments. In many cases sent up from justice courts, we found that civil actions and peace proceed- ings were more proper than reference to the grand jury. We also found that personal and neighborhood quarrels and jealousies were the cause of some cases being referred to our action. We would call to attention of the justices of the peace of the county to the necessity of their full and thorough investigation of all charges brought before them, and of determining this motive under the law reference should be made to the grand jury, or the cases adjudicated in their courts. By reference to the reports included here- in, it will be seen that we devoted a considerable portion of the time allotted to the grand jury in an investigation of the records, officers and affairs of the county, and we believe that all persons who feel aggrieved that their present- ments were not received, will now be content when they realize the importance of such in- vestigation necessitating the postponement of their complaints until the grand jury shall meet.