Weekly Trinity journal., 1857-06-27
Grand Jury Report.

County Of Trinity:
The Grand Jury of the special Session, COM
mencing June 18th, 1857, beg leave to present
the following report.
AS Jury Of Inquest, whose functions embrace
a County of large territorial extent, and aVotlng
population exceeding two thousand in number, 1t
affords us extreme pleasure to commend the NOR
al tone that perrpdcs our community. Although
six months have elapsed since like body as our
own have set in convention, but single charge
has been transmitted from the examining Courts
for our cognizance, and that one entirely unsup-
ported by competent testimony. Such moral
and law abiding development is unparalleled in
the history of the most uuexeeptionable sections
of the older States.
1t does not become US to say that there has not
been occasional infractions Of the laws which our
Statutes describe as misdemcanors, cognizab!e
and punishable by Justices of the Peace were
it otherwise the County of Trinity has advanced
TO the millennium state, which We are hardly au-
thorized to declare at present
In this connection we deem it proper to state
that in the performance of our duties we draw
distinction between criminal acts over which
magistrates of subordinate and limited jurisdic
tion can exercise control and those Of a higher
grade
Although acting as the Grand Inquest Of the
County, We could not think that law or propric-
ty enjoins upon us to burden the Court of Ses-
sions with every trivial offence that may be com
mitted. BY much the larger portion of our gricv-
ous County debt has cnsued from the action of
previous Grand Juries in this regard. much
more effectual remedy is secured by resort to
Justices of the Peace. The County sustains but
little and in most cases. no loss at all, while the
offender is divested of the advantage of the thou
sand technicalitcs that surround the higher
Courts. We commend all good citizens TO make
all cognizabe complaints before subordinate
magistrates. 1t is their duty TO do so.
We regret exceedingly for the fair fame Of our
County the defalcation of the late County Treas
urer aud while we would enjon upon the proper
officers all haste in the civil prosecution of his
sureics, we would state that we have performed
our duty to overtake and punish the absconding
official.
The County debt is becoming subject of much
alarm to our tax-paying citizens. The statistics
furnished us by the present Treasurer exhibits
the amount of outstanding Warrants to be $33,-
200 from which is to be deducted $4,000 adver
tised Warrants; leaving the entire County debt
the fearful sum of $1,000. We have tthh6uSht
proper to introduce this matter in our report in
order to commend to the Board Of Supervisors the
utmost rgdity and carcfuness in the allowance
and approval of future accounts. Efficiency in
administration of County affairs is much impair
ed by the reduction in value of County issues oc-
casioned by the large County Indebtedness
We are called upon to perform painful duty
in administering censure to the late County As
SCISSOR. Although he has escaped the ignominy
Of public prosecution from certain techncali-
ties in the revenue law, we find him guilty of
gross laxity in the performance of his official du-
ties, which evinccs much moral turpitude and
we trust for his own honor as well as personal
safety, that he will make a strict and accurate
settlement with the Board Of Supervisors which
convenes on the 25th inst.
We deem it incumbent upon us to make rec
! OHlmPHualOn DturIHS UUOH tHc hdIe hceplHR vi
the Public Records and the funds that pass into
the hands of the County Treasurer. Our strenu-
Gus advice to the Board of Supervisors is to make
immediate appropriation for the construction of
a good fire-proof vault, to be located within the
Court House for such excellent purpose. In our
present situation a fire may consume our entire
County and public archives and subject the citi-
zens Of this County to irreparable loss and injury
! In closing our intercourse with your Honorable
body we commend your urbanty and capable
and rapid dispatch Of business. Our regard for
our new District Attorney is evidenced by a
unanimous resolution extollng his attention TO
business, and expressing our gratitude for the
constant and excellent assistance he has rendered
us in the discharge of our duties.
We also commend in the highest terms the val.
liable services of Under Sheriff Clark.
The report of the Jail Committee we adopt and
make il a portion of our own.
JOHN MARTIN, Foreman.