The mountain Democrat., 1864-08-06
REPORT OF IHg GRAND JURY :


To tie Hon. County Court Of FL Dorado County,
State Of California;
We, the undersigned Grand Jurors for the
July term, beg leave 10 submit the following
as our final report. and ask to be discharged
We have diligently inquired into all Cases
presented to us for examination. Twenty i've
charges have been presented, and two re sub
mitted Iby order Of the Court; of which five
have been discharged, and in twenty-five cases
indictments have been presented as fnllows:-
For murder, one; for assault with intent to
commit murder, two; for robbery. three for
assault to do bodily injury, three for grand
larceny, five; for burglary, one; for assault
with intent to commit rape, one for resisting
an officer sQne; for exhibiting deadly weapon.
one for Carrying concealed weapons, two; for
assault and battery. two.
We appointed committees TO examine the
county Offices, Jail and hospital, and lind thro'
said committees that the various books OF &C
count and record are kept in neat and credit
able manner. 10 the county Jail. there are at
present. confined twenty four persons, who APP
pear to be well provided for. as regards food
and raimeui We recommend that a new floor
be laid in the southeast room OF the jAil. and
that the drainage be improved, and that some
small repairs be made in the masonry in differ
ent parts Of the Jail.
There are at present in the county hospital
'
be kept in good order, and the inmates are " ell
cared for. The grounds are cultivated Ia a
limited extent and if the county owned the
buildings and grounds, many Improvements
could be MADE by the patients who are able n
work, and in IL few wears produce all the iiuit
and vegetables required t" supply their wants.
We would recommend t. the Board Of Super
visors that they purchase suitable grounds and
buildings for hospital purposes, # such grouad
can be had at Il reaSonablOrate.
We recommend that the county procure
buildings for the accommodation of al! lis Of
hcers, and avoid the payment of rents.
We lind the Indebtedness Of the county Ia
be, on July 3lth, .s64, siXty.uinc thousand
two hundred and eighty-one and - !pl dollars
(S69.2sl l2l, being nineteen thousand three
hundred and forty five and ls.l00 dollars Si9,.
S45 Is less than at the same date last year.
We call the attention Of the District Att0r.
ney to the fact that the late County Assessor.
Geo. Mcdonald, having left the State without
any special enactment Of the Legislature, CON
tinued to draw pay for three his after leav.
ing, and if 10 violation of law, we recommend
that he take such measures as will enable the
county to recover the same. We also refer
him to an allowance Of fifty dollars made for
the purpose Of making up the semi-anuual re,
port of the Board of Supervisors. II the law
makes 1t their duty to make semi annual re
ports, and their Office being a sa!aried one,
why should they make an appropriation to
a clerk for that purpose?
Since we have been in session, numerous
complaints have been made against the official
acts OF the Public Administrator F. A. Horn
blower. The Grand Jury find the following TO
be the facts: In two separate cases, the offer
was made by him to waive bis right to admin
lister on estates. providing the parties contest
ing would pay him the amount which be would
be entitled to receive in case of his administr
ting. A public officer should perform the du-
ties OF his office as prescribed by law, and
charge the fees allowed for the services; and
any officer seeking an opportunity to com.
pound and receive pay for services not render.
ed IN the oqipian Of this GEand 4s.sy, Is ss1s-
hensible
We call the attention of the Justices of the
Peace in the County to the law as laid dow n in
Article l494, sec. l76, page 2S4, Woods Di.
gest, and recommend that they fully comply
Herewith in all cases examined before them, as
we have laoored under great disadvantage for
want Of the papers in many cases. We also
recommend to them that, in all cases where
there is a doubt as to the grade of the offense
upon which parties are brought before them,
II a lesser Offense comes within their iurisdic-
ton, they proceed to try the parties, as many
cases are sent up which on investigation show
that the parties could have been tried in the
Justices Court.
We call the attention Of all peace officers to
the law against carrying concealed weapons,
and urge upon them that they enforce as
provisions In every case that they can find
And as crime appears to be increasing to an
alarming extent we urge upon them that they
use extra vigilance in the discharge of their
duties.
To the Sheriff and his Deputies all praise is
due for their exertions in the arrest of the late
mnrdcrers and robbers IN our county.
The Grand Jury return their thanks to the
District Attorney, the Sheriff and his Deputies
for their prompt attention.
All of which is respectfully submitted.