The hydraulic press., 1861-03-23
CARD TO THE PUBLIC.

| CAhO III PUBLIC.
| Mr.. EDITOR As any member of our COM
munity may be called upon at almost any time,
to the neglect of his business, to go to Nevada at
an expense of from twenty to fifty dollars, as
grand juror for the county, l wish to warn them
how faithful performance of that duty may
subject them to the grossest insults, and even to
the imminent peril of their lives. 1 also wish to
show them how citizen in the discharge of
sworn duty-which every good citizen ought,
when called upon, to discharge-may bring upon
himself the contumey and menace of those who
may happen to be named as remiss under the
laws, by him who seeks honestly to perform that
duty. wish to narrate briefly what occurred to
me in Nevada during the last sitting of the Grand
Jury, of which body was humble member.
The Jury convened on Monday, the 1Ith of
March, when the oath was administered to them
by the County Judge, requiring them to disclose
| anything they might know to have occurred in
the county against the peace and dignity of the
people of the State and to investigate and report
if the officers of the county were faithfully dis
charging their respective duties. On the 18th,
while perambulating the city in company with
fellow-grand juror from North San Juan, and
being near the Hospital, proposed to him that
we should enter and see how its affairs were con-
Quoted. We found every part of the house, with
| one honorable eXeeption-the kitchen-in a
wretchedy filthy condition. The bedding was
filthy and in many cases funprovided with sheets.
In conversation with the patients, we elected
! from one poor fellow, that his bed-clothes had
not been changed for the last four weeks, and
that when the clothing is changed at all, it is
when visitors are expected also, that wearing
apparel remains unwashed unless the patients
are able to do it themselves. Another said he
had been in the Hospital nearly three weeks,
unable to get out of his bed, the clothes of which
had not been changed; and that, during portion
of the time heslay a straw mattrass, with
out Sheets and that he had been neglected
by the physician. Another remarked that he
dared not tell the truths about his condition, as
he was at the mercy of the attending physician,
and might have to remain in the Hospital for
some time yet.
1t is, Mr.. Editor, out of sympathy for the af-
fiicted and thereasohs of forbearance which they
assign that I refrain from giving their names.
The Grand Jury was sworn in ON the lIth, and
our unexpected visit was made on the 18th. On
the 18th committee was regularly appointed to
visit and report as to the sanitary condition of the
Hospital, which duty they performed. They re-
ported that they found it in a reasonably good
condition, and the patients apparently well cared
for. In making out our final report it was pro-
posed that that portion relating to the County
Hospital should read as follows ''They find the
County Hospital in reasonably good condition.,
and the patients apparently we'll cared for, but
would state, that two members Of the Jury visited
the Hospital On Tuesday morning and found it
in very different condition. On that occasion
the Building was filthy, the floor nncleanly, the
beds in many instances unproyided with sheets,
and the patients manifestly neglected. Whether
the change was owing to anticipated visit of
the Grand Jury, or was prompted by regard for
the sanitary condition of the institution, they
are unable to determine
1t was for wishing this temperate reproof in
corporated in the report of the Grand Jury, that
l was grossly insulted and menaced by the per-
son in charge of the Hospital, while conversing
with gentleman in the hall of the National
Hotel. was unarmed and totally unprepared
for an attack of this kind, and therefore did not
resent it at the time. 1t was perhaps we'll enough
for me that | did not, as l was we'll assured by
responsible parties that it was usual for him to
go armed.
think, Mr.. Editor, affairs have reached their
climax in our county if grand jurors must either
go armed to the teeth or suffer contumely and
reproach if they dare perform solemn duty.
T. MCGUIRE.