Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1859-05-21
Report of the Grand Jury.

The following report was presented by the
Grand Jury to the District Court on Monday
morning. They were then discharged;
The Grand Jury of Ramsey County COM
menced their labors on the 4th inst, and pro-
ceed to dispose of the business before them
until the 9th, when, in consequence of an in
timation from his Honor, the Judge of the
District Court, that doubts existed as to the
power of the Grand Jury, as at present en-
pannelled, to act in case other than those
where persons were already held to answer,
they therefore confined their attention mainly
to that class Of cases. r-4
The Grand Jury deeply regret that by rea-
son of any alleged informality in the proceed
Ings of the Honorable, the Board of Super
visors of Ramsey County, it was deemed ex-'
pedient to enter into the examination Of many
important matters, which would otherwise
have received their attention.
The Grand Jury visited the County Jail,
and found everything very clean and in admi-
rable order. They would suggest to the Board
of Supervisors of the county, the necessity
of having the outer gratings of the windows
along the corridors made more secure, which
could be done at small expense.
The Grand Jury next visited the County
Poor Farm, and were gratified to find that
there were but eleven paupers in all, support
ed then at the public expense. The main
building which was commenced last March, is
not yet completed, and in the unfinished con-
dition which they found the establishment, they
decline any suggestion as to the treatment 0i
paupers, which, so far as they could see, ap'
peared to be perfectly proper.
The apartments for the confinement of the
insane, certainly did not appear to be sufi-
GENTLY secure or properly adapted to the end
in view, and they would call the attention of
the Honorable, the Board of County Supervi-
sors, to this subject.
The building now rests on temporary sup
port of wooden blocks. They would suggest
stone foundation wall to be put under the
building Immediately, and the stone for the
purpose they are informed, can be procured
within mile of the premises.
The Grand Jury would call the attention of
the Honorable the Board of County Super
visors to the present condition of the Papers,
! Files and Records of the District Court, and
would recommend suitable apartment for
their safe preservation, as in their view the
open court room is not the proper place for
| valuable papers, records ETC., that in the case
| of fire they could not be replaced, and very
| serious Inconvenience would result from their
loss. There is much business to be trans
acted daily in the Clerks Office, and under
the present arrangements it materially inter
| fercs with the proper duties of the Court.
W conclusion, the Grand Jury regret that,
l.. - the informality above alluded to, they
owing t, ~ from taking such action in re-
were prevem, IDS practiced at the recent
gard to alleged fra, :" dhelr notlce' as Tie
election. and bronobt ';vely Demands
gravity of tbe coSa -, :. - show thai
Enough however uas eio;.. '"d, ant
extensive frauds have been perpetra,.
had it been in their power, they would ha,
prosecuted them to the full extent of the law
A. B. MORRIS,
Form of G. j.
st. Paul, May 16, 1859.