Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1858-10-23
The Grand Jury.

This body, which has been III seSSio" ''''
since the commencement of the preSeh. 'ei"
of the District Court, terminated 'iie'. '"'',S
ON Wednesday last. The following Is 'i''''
presentment. which we find III tiie I"'eS Va
Thursday; it is an able document
REPORT OF THE GRAND JURY.
Tha Grand jury of Ramsey county, in
concluding their labors, find that there are
facts of general nature, not demanding spe-
cifc action as against individual oftenseS
which seem to require notice at their hands,
and be- TO submit to the Court and the pub
lie the following facts and considerations
SPURIOUS CURRENCY.
Extensive violations of the spirit. and prob
ably of the letter of the Statute for the sup
preston of unauthorized currency Ito which
our attention was particularly directed,) has
been shown to exist yet not with such crlm-
inal intent or disregard of public safety and
interest as demands prosecution. The latter
consideration is strengthened 10y the fact that
the State, County and Municipal governments
have all offended, and while the Grand Jury
rejoice TO know that the spurious currency
referred to has BEEN and is being retired, I'M
der the force of public sentiment which may
be safely left to deal with it, the intrinSlcaliy
dangerous character of such unrestricted ana
unguarded issues at least requires this notice
AT our hands.
FRAUDULENT VOTING.
1t has been in evidence before the Grand
jury that gross and wholesale frauds have
been committed on the ballot box. That
wagon loads of men have passed from one
to another of the different voting places in the
city and county, voting at each poll. These
audacious acts, receiving the countenance OF
the active men on election day of dominant
party, TO an extent that rendered arrests I'M
possible. or effected rescues when arrests
were made, 20 UNPUBLISHED, for the reason that
so long time elapses until the sitting of a
competent Court and Grand Jury. That the
offenders, who are of migratory class, are
out of the way, or witnesses cannot readily be
found. There is also defect in the law
which practically secures immunity for the
otfense of double voting In a commercial,
active and changing population such as ours,
these frauds may be again and again repeated.
The ratio of voters to population, and compare
son of votes and different elections, show that
these frauds have amounted to hundreds II
not thousands. These facts demand te9astd-
tire action TO prevent, in some measure at
least, these fragrant violations of the most sa-
cred rights of citizens of a selfgoverning
State, which if not arrested prepare the way
for the opposit evil of Vigilance Commit tees,
overriding and trampling upon the miserable
forms of law that permit such mockery OF
the arbitrament of the ballot box.
AN INDEPENDENT CRIMINAL COURT REQUIRED.
We would submit for the consideration of
those who properly act, whether the popula-
ton and commercial character of Ramsey
county, and the fact of its being the seat OF
the State Capitol, do not require separate
Criminal Court with frequent sittings of Grand
Juries. Appeals from lower Courts to the
District Court in criminal cases are said to be
equivalent to acquittals This it is believed
is not so much from defects Of law as on ac-
count of the long time between sessions OF
the District Court. Witnesses and prescott
tors having removed, or failing to appear a
cainst offenders when put on trial IN District
Court. this Jury, now in the fifth week OF Its
sitting, NAV claim, in view of this protracted
session. to have discharged its duty with some
fidelity. vet it has shrunk from the investlga-
ton of charges which would have prolonged
the session weeks or months. The sacrifices
of active business men consequent on sucf
absence from their business pursuits, should
not be required, and would be avoided by such
a Court as suggested. An additional ano
weirhtv reason is found in the hlndrance
the civil business of the Court, affecting Judge
Lawyers and Suitors.
PUBLIC PRISONS.
The Jury find that a costly, and, it is be
lieved, secure County Jail is being finished
The City Prison, at present the only prison
of the county, is evidently shabby and inse
cure place for the confinement of criminals.
place of safety from fire of the public
records of the county, is now being provided
by the Supervisors.
PUBLIC OFFICERS AND MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC
AFFAIRS.
An examination of the official conduct OF
County officers and the management Of Coun-
ty affairs has shown a sad state of disorder
,oolaot op6 c,rp,inal ahuSn Tho p,Ora ,rrocS
acts of corruption and misdemeanor have re-
ceived the attention called for by indictment
of the offenders, with which action the jury
leave these matters for reforms already inau-
gurated by public sentiment, and the general
interest of a taX-paying public.
Respectfully submitted.
WILLIAM r. MARSHALL, Foreman,
THOs. BURTON, ANDREW LEvERING,
ARTEMAs GALE, GEO. W. HARRINGTON,
BF. HOYT, W. H. RANDALL,
A. H. LAVENDER, w. G. CLARKE,
JAMES DAY, CHAS. G. PETTEYS,
HENRY M'KENTY, VIM. b. LANGLEY,
A. VANCE BROWN, DANIEL O'HERRAN,
JAMES RACQUET, n. M'LEAN,
n. E. TYSON, W. H.. TINKER,
H. MALTBY.
THE LATEST ELECTION NEws-Everyb body
is inquiring now for the latest election news.
Only one thing creates more conversation, and
that is the fact that 10 HALL, of the Apollo
Restaurant, has fresh lot of Shell Oysters !
just think of it, We Epicures. 30" gets
them up in good style, too. His taste in gus
tatory matters is well known How we should
like 70 hoard there Those that do are COW