Calaveras chronicle., 1851-12-13
Report OF the Grand Jury.

Report Of the Grand Jury.
To the Hon. Court of Sessions fer Decem-
Der term, 1851, of CaiaUeras County:
The Grand Jury of Calaveras County
for this term, have been diligently engaged
for some days, in the discharge Of their
duties, and would submit the following re
port and prese ntment !:
Section pa of the act to regulate pro-
ceedings in criminal cases reads as follows
The Grand Jury must enquire into the
case of every person imprisoned in the Jail
Of the county on criminal charge, and
not Indicted into the condition and manage
nentof the public prisons within the coun
ty and into the wilful and corrupt mis-
conduct in Office of public officers Of every
description within the county, In the per-
formance of their duties, imposed upon
them by the law, they have visited the
County Jail, and found in confinement four
prisoners, against Two of whom bills have
been found another is confined under SEN
tence of the last District Court, and the
fourth is an Indian, whose case does not
come within our jurisdiction, but who has
once been discharged The prisoners de-
clare that theyshave no cause of complaint
against the officer having them in charge,
but aM--3oying all reasonable indulgence
and comfort The Jail has never been sur
rendered to the county, nor have payments
on the part OF the county been made, rs
agreed upon in the contract with MIR. Ste
venson, the builder, who has fully and ho-
norably complied with his parts Of the
agreement. The Jail is at present rented
from Mr. Stevenson at the rate Of $3.50 per
month, with no security of returning pos
session of it for any length of time, and the
jailOr and prisoners are liable to be remov-
ed at any moment by the proprietor Of the
building. We would recommend that the
money should be raised and paid without
delay, and the county be no longer depend
ent upon the charity Of citizen. The
Jury have good reasons for supposing that
there have lately been collected, and believe
there are now more than sufficient funds in
the hands of the Treasurer to liquidate the
amount due blythe county upon the build
ing used as the jail.
g The Grand Jury, owing to the want of
sufficient accommodations have been consi-
derably delayed in the discharge Of their
duties, but cannot ATTACH any censure to
Mr.. Chauyin, the officer in attendance, who
has manifested throughout our tedious ses-
wants and wishes. There is not at the
present time Court House in the posses
sion of the county, but the Grand Jury
and Court are compelled to hold their ses-
sions where accident or the charity of pri-
vate citizens permit. They are gratifed to
report that the greater frequency with
which the courts are held, by leading to
the more speedy and frequent conviction
of the guilty, will induce a greater respect
in the public minds for the laws and those
entrusted with their administration. Sec
tion 215 Of the act before referred to, reads
as follows They are also entitled to
free access, Mt all reasonable times, to the
public prisons, and to the examination
without charge of all public records with
in the county The Jury regret to state
that upon demand to examine into the re-
cords of the County Treasurer, they were
refused by that officer in person, and by
thus acting he has defeated the object of
the law Having done everything within
their power to bring before the public
correct account Of the condition Of the
treasury of this county, we would, there
fore, recommend that he be punished for
contempt in refusing to comply with the
legal and just demand of the Jury.
Being aware that reports are current
~ OelleVeu tnrOuSnOuG lne county uerOgh-
tory to the Judge Of this County, in refe-
renee to the canvassiDg of thevotes for the
permanent location of the County Seat
and believing that an examination of the
case was demanded, the Jury would report
that, after carefully investigating the case,
they have no hesitation in generating the
County Judge from all censure as regards
the decision of that electOn-the power of
canvassing the votes having devolved by
the special act calling the election upon
the County Clerk.
Having completed the business before
them, this Grand Jury ask to be discharged
JOHN Y. LIND, Foreman"