Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-07-19

municipal Court OF mempnls; rH
We, the Grand Jurors, empanneled
and sworn for the June term of your
honorable court, would respectfully state,
while the laws has wisely provided that
no one shall be lightly deprived of his
liberty or life, it has, with equal wisdom,
provided that be who would contemplate
the commission Of crime shall be deferred
therefrom by the knowledge of sure and
speedy punishment. We think that with
the experience our country has gone
through 10 the last month, that rogues
and rascsls will steer clear of our city.
Never has there been time in several
years that 30 great number OF convicts
have been sent to our penitentiary. We
only hope our courts may continue to be
prompt and efficient in the prosecution
of those who violate our laws.
There is nothing needed 70 much as a
workhouse., All youthful offenders, black
and white, are now sent to Jail indiscrim-
inateIy; no chance for reform, and at q
heavy expense to our already overbur-
dened taxpayers. .nI eg aN Isl
1t with pleasure that we can state TO
our taxpayers and balance ofour county,
that the number of criminals now in jail
compared with the reports a year ago are
less than half, and at the present rate of
trying them are being reduced daily.
One Of the greatest curses with which
we are afflicted is the great number of
Justices of the Peace, and their swarm of
satellites in the shape of deputy con-
stables. With near thirty magistrates
and one hundred deputy constables, it is
wonder that our city is not worse of.
There are some few exceptions TO this
statement, however.
We made thorough examination of the
new county Jail, and find it, in every re-
spect, in good condition. II is clean
and well disciplined, and properly con-
Quoted. 10 regard to the bnilding itself,
having stood nearly two years, we are
enabled to speak more critically than we
could on its first completion. This lapse
of time would be sufficient to show defec-
tive work, faulty and insufficient founda-
tions, bad masonry and irregular work
but, after close examination, we find it
in good state of preservation, proving,
in our minds, that where, as general
thing in such buildings, the proper sta
bility of the work is neglected, in this
case great care and supervision has been
taken, which reflects great credit on the
architect in charge.
We notice that the Board of County
mmissioners are having tagging laid
down in the area of the cell building, I'm
stead of brick, 6rst laid down)-a COM
mendable improvement-and on in
curing why it was not originally laid
down, we find that in the original speci.
| fcation of the architect, Mr.. James B.
Cook, it was specified to be done, and in
these words: Flagging to be laid not
less than four inches thick, sawed on
both sides and dressed on the edges, laid
in courses and well grouted with hot ce-
mcnt-the whole to be laid on Arm bed
to be laid in basement, big hall and
whole vacant space of cell building"
We find that the original Commission
ers for the work ordered a certain
amendment, that section "a, pavement of
brick instead of stone tagging, which
never ought to have been, az the result
proves, brick in such position being
useless.
We find it the custom In all buildings
of this character, that 1t is the business
of the engineer of the Jail, with his as
| sistants, 10 do all the needed repairs in
and about the building, such as gas fit
ting and plumbing, and iron work gen.
orally, and we cannot see why in this case
| the engineer Of the Jail does not attend
to it, instead of employing outside as
sistance, thereby increasing Jail ex-
penses. The ventilation of the Jail we
| find most excellent, proving the plan
adopted by the architect perfect.
In regard to security, there can be no
question on that point, and believe the
guards unnecessary. The Jail Except
its cost has proven ITSELF up to this time,
to be credit to the county of Shelby,
and an honor to the architect, James B.
Cook. ..
The prisoners look well. Some COM
plant was made, which might be ex-
pected. We found one hundred prisoners
confined, for various oifenses. During
the month of June, we find that there
were admitted, upon various charges,
twenty.three whites and fifty.two colored
persons.
From the amounts appropriated by the
County Com missioners for guards for the
jail and other expenses, 1t Is certainly
very costly establishment to opr county.
We find the County Commissioners are
paving, or at least are making appro-
priations, for various Offices, including
guards of the Jail, also for fuel that is
used about thejail, and other appropria-
tons too numerous to mention, that we
are of the opinion that the law would not
sustain them, We are glad to see that
proceedings have been commenced, and
hope they will be continued, until ell
matters pertaining to our county affairs
shall be overhauled, and those who have
eo~mjtted the wrongs be brought to
iusticq, -....
We find upon an examination OF the
Trustees report that but few magistrates
have made reports Of State cases or fines
collected, the law requiring them to re-
pert the collection OF all fines monthly.
After protrscted session OF more than
q month, and after investigating great
many minor offenses, we now draw our
labors to CLOSE by returning our thanks
TO Your Honor, the Attorney General and
officers of the court; also, TO the jailer
and deputies for attentions shown US at
the Jail. All Of which is respectfully sub
mitted.
[Signed.] WIN. MCDONALD,
Foreman.
Oscar j. Prescott, J. W. Watering,
s. A. Norton, J. Banks,
W. P. Paul, NJ. Montgomery,
J, d. Wimberly, j. 81. Grant,
Al