The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-02-17
Report Of the Grand Jury.

in session at keokuk have had the condition of
the Court room, Clerks Office and Recorders
office, In said city brought to their attention.
While they are not aware that any Indictment
or other proceeding calling for the judicial ao
ton Of this Court, can originate with them,
they feel called upon by imperative considera-
tons to place on the records of this Court the
result Of their Investigations.
IL appears from the testimony taken under
the oath Of the witnesses before as that during
the ten years that District Court having pre-
sided over the entire county, has been held in
keokuk, that no public building, belonging to
the County, has been used, and that the Court
has used five or six different rooms during that
time. None OF those rooms were at any time
comfortable or convenient. The building in
which the Court is now held, and in which are
all the records of the Court, the Clerks office
and Recorders office, is in block surrounded
by frame buildings especially obnoxious to
fires.
1t has no vaults the records Of this court
are oil without any protection from fire or
burglars, except common wooden desks and
drawers.
The room used now, aud for several years
past, rs Court room, is in the third story
next the roof which is a fiat roof with sky
light, In summer it is intolerably hot, with no
ventilation, worth the name, because no cur,
rent Of air can be had, except through very
small windows, and doors. The room cannot be
comfortably wramed in winter. When il rains,
with any wind, The water beats through the sky
light SO as to interrupt the business Of the court.
When the sun shines on the sky.light, il
shines directly In the face Of the Court or
jury and attorneys The room is accessible,
only by a worry narrow stair case, in which the
crowd often get jammed.
/ 1t 10 in one Of the most public parts of the
city. and the noise Of drays, and other vehicles,
frequently causes q suspension Of the business
of the court. II is dangerous to the health Of
those who have to do business there frequently
| for six weeks at time.
The Grand Jurors, aforesaid, say. that from
the best information they can get, full three
fourths Of the business of the county is done
in this court.
They therefore say, that from the foregoing
facts, it appears to them that to continue the
Clerks Office and Recorders office, in the rooms
now occupied by them, is culpable negligence
and trihing with the highest interest of the COM
munity That they are in great danger Of fire,
AMI of being stolen, md can easily be destroy. .
cd at any time, by any person whose malice or
interest would prompt such course.
They say that it is evident that the court
room is intolerable, and that it would be diff
cult to exa0erate the inconvenience, discomfort,
out of its USE These considerations are rem
dered more progressing by the vast increase Of
the business OF the Court, on whose dockets
are now some eighteen hundred cases.
They desire that this statement may be filed
with the records of this county, and certified
copy furnished to the county Judge, with our
unanimous recommendation, that he take some
immediate steps to remedy the grievances,
herein set forth. J. A. GRAHAM,
Feb'y 18th, 1869. Foreman
concur In the foregoing report Of the Grand
Jury. FRANCIS SPRINGER, Judge
0' Lee County c. npva' IS. Erie J Leeoh Clerk
} of the District Court. in and for said County,
hereby certify the foregoing to be true copy
Of the original, now on file in my Office.
49,, Witness my hand and official seal al
l.. s. my Office. Mt Keokuk, February IA
} 49, A. d. 1859
ERIE j. LEIGH,
Clerk of the District Court.
) HOAX, pRoBABLY.-We see no reference il
our English files to the rumored visit Of tn,
AID Highlanders to New York. The London
Times publishes column &C "car:! ecH ri!
Vary intelligence almost every day, recount
ing the movements Of the army and navy, Of
ten for weeks ahead; but in oil that RECORD
} there is not syllable on the subject. The
story is probably canard.-(New York Ex
! press.
AN OH LADY.-The Salem Gazette speak
of an old lady who is now in her 9th year
who reads large print without glasses, an,
t who has eight children, all Of whom belong
to the church. She was not converted her
: self until she was in her 10th year. When i
. is considered that eleven Of her nephews ar
q deacons, and one q minister, and she cam
: into the fold last, it will be seen that sh
! must have made a pretty tough fight Of it 70
number Of years.
i GD~Pliny Miles, author, postof6ce agita
: tor, and agent Of the Galway Inns Of steam
: ers, has lately addressed public meeting il
q Sheffield, England, on the working Of tn
ballot system in this country.