Supreme Court of Alabama December 15, 1884 (Banks v. State)

STONE, C. J.

At common law, the rule was to prepare indictments, send them before the grand jury, administer proper oaths to witnesses in open court, and send them before the grand jury, to be examined by them touching the truth or falsity of the charge preferred in said indictment. — 1 Arclib. Cr. Pr. and PI. 97, 98*, 8th Amer. Ed., vol. 1, pp. 304, 305.