Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1835-12-03

o. We find the following prcsentmcni by
the Grand Jury Of Washington county Md, in
the last Hagsrstown Torch Light, which we
deem our daty to lay before our readers. This
matter 10 which it relates 10 one Of interest to the
people of his county, some Of whom, may have
been made sufferers by the evil complained Of
To the Honorable, The justices Of Wosking
ton County Court.
The Grand Inquest for the body Of
Washington County, beg leave respectful
ly TO represent TO the Court, now 10 ses
sion, that 10 the fulflme0t Of what they
consider a very important duty, they have
made dilisent enquiry into the condition Of
the Jail OF Washington County. as well as
ipto the conduct and management of its
keeper. IL is with pain and modification,
that the Jurors feel themselves constrain
ed to speak of them as they merit, and as
the testimony before the inquest warrants.
II appears that Jacob Hoover has been
the common Jailor of Washington County,
during the whole time Of the present IN
cumbent Of the SheriiT's office. II appears
furthermore clear to the minds Of the Ju.
rors, from a full investigation of his ad
ministration Of the affairs OF the prison,
that il has been in total dereliction of his
duty as a public officer. and 10 reckless
ness OF the consequences, though often ad
monished Of them. The Jurors are well
informed that this Jailor, in conjunction
with others, constituting an Ubiquitous
continuation. has been for a long time ex-
tensively engaged, in the nefarious and
brutal traffic in human flesh, in lis very
worst and most odious forms. Ii appears
in evidence TO the Jurors. that the legiti
mate uses and rightful purposes ofihe pub
lie. Jail, have been constantly perverted to
the secret and private uses and individual
enolunent Of this most unholy alliance
They have ample evidence before them.
that for a considerable fine past, slaves
bought up and destined for the southern
market, have been Illegally, repeatedly,
and clandestinely introduced into the pri
son, and suddenly carried off, and as the
Jurors verify believe, in repeated instan
ces without any form Of law or shadow Of
right. 1t is furthermore in evidence be
fore The inquest that the aforesaid Jeilor,
has, in violation Of his sworn duty, as a
public officer, and in outrage of common
honesty as a man. been guilty, with others
of the clan, OF the foulest e1tortien by the
exaction Of double rewards for advertised
runaway slaves: disappearing to the
owners, the great labor, risk, hazard of
person, and expense Of capture, when ii
has been actually discovered, that The iden
teal slaves were during the negotiation,
immured in some secret loft or private
dungeon, awaiting in chains for many days
the result Of the base and fraudulent treaty
As dissracefal to the community, and
revolving to the heart Of every good cit
gen, as must be such shocking details, and
in censure whom it may. yet the
Grand Inquest, as the proper tribunal, feel
themselves irresistably called upon by a
sense Of imperative duty, which they owe
10 the court, TO the people, 10 the great in
of morality at large, and certainly
10 themselves, TO mark emphatically With
their strongest apprehension, all official
iniquities within their province, whether in
or in low places.
The undersigned Jurors, after the most
erious consideration Of the whole subject
of the foregoing allegations. in con
respectfully recommend TO the
and confidently hope, that he will
ind it TO be his bounden duty, to dismiss
orthwith from his office, his NEST unwor-
by Jailor.
f. TILGHMAN, Foreman.