The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-05
PRESENTMENT BY THE GRAND JURY
Their Investigation into the Girard
College Systematic Evils no
Longer Exist Under the New
Administration Prisons
in Satisfactory Condi-
tion-The Aldermen,
Rumsellers, Etc.
Court of Quarter sessions-Allison, p. j.

This morning the Grand Jury came into Court
and, through their foreman, made the following
their final presentment, which will be found to con-
tain matter of the deepest public Importance
To the Honorable the Judges of the Court of Oyer
and Terminer and the Quarter Sessions of and for
the City and County OF Philadelphia. The Grand
Inquest OF the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
nquirng for the City and County Of Philadelphia for
May Sessions, 1869, make the following their pre-
SENTIMENT
Immediately upon receiving the charge OF this
Honorable Court the jury entered upon their duties
and since that time have patiently heard and care
fully considered the evidence concerning 93S bills
which were laid before them by the District AttOr
ney 1872 of these have been returned as true bills
the other l46 have been ignored. In some Of these
cases the evidence not in the opinion OF the jury
sufficient to sustain the charge; but in most of them
the charges themselves were of so triting charac
ter that they should have been returned by the
Aldermen to the Court. In all cases where with any
good reason could be DONE the costs put upon
the prosecutor. Notwithstanding this, however, in
the majority Of them the costs fell upon the county,
When, in addition to this expense it is considered
that in many OF these cases thus returned either
through the ignorance or the cupidty of the magis
trate,l the accused were committed to prison until
released by the action OF the Grand Jury, it will be
seen that we have here an evil of no common magn-
tude; the remedy for which can only be found in
radical change in our system of magistracy, which
should require FIRST that the committing magistrates
(who are in reality judges both OF the law and Of the
facts) should be chosen from those who
are learned in the law; and, second, that they
should receive a fixed and adequate salary
for their services in place of the fees charged
by law In further proof Of the absolute necessity of
such change the jury would refer to the last report
of the Inspectors of the County Prison, in which it
is stated that in addition to all the bills ignored by
grand ures in the year 1885, where the parties were
out on bail (thc number Of which must have been
large) 'there were 1921 prisoners committed TO
prison for trial OF which number $50 were released
by the ignoring Of the bills by the grand ures and
6O72 were discharged by the committing magistrates;
thus showing the startling fact that nearly ttOelUe-
hirteentS Of all those ChO ioere committed to prison
discharged Cithou being brought 10 trial o
In pursuance of their duty the Grand Jury have
visited the Penitentary, u House OF Refuge, and
the Almshouse in all of which institutions they were
SouTteously receye9 CIV ~ py Ine olicers, ana every
result Of these visits they are pleased TO report that
they found all OF these institutions in excellent CEN
dition. They saw nothing which seemed TO require
amendment, but, on the contrary are of the opinion
that the various executive officers entitled to
cOmmendation and praise for the fidelity with which
their duties are discharged
Respecting Grard College, the jurylearned that in
asmuch as 1t is entirely educational and in no sense
reiormatory in its character 1t has not been deemed
part Of the duty of previous grand jures to visit
That institution Nevertheless, in view of the state
ments made in the charge Of the Court, and in
az WIN Ine pnohshed req1est Tast
that justice to the community, as well TO those
VINO nave the present management of its affairs, re-
CURED them TO make particular and special inyes-
tlgaton, that they might ascertain whether the
abuses which were alleged to have existed under
former administration continued in any degree at
the present time For this purpose, without any
previous notice. they visited the college the 10th
OF the month, where they cOureOusiy received
by the President, who afforded them every facility
for the prosecution Of their inquiries. During their
WISH, which continued for several hours, the jury
went into almost all of the used by the pupils
at the college, including the Kitchens, dinng-rooms,
dorlnltorles, study-roOms, play-rooms, ana many
others They saw all Of the boys at play, and after
ward al Their dinner; they examined the PRESIDENT
uhder oath touching the present discipline OF the
| institution; they also examined one OF the pro-
lessors, VINO has been for many years connected
| Wlth the college, one Of the matrOns, ana three or
four OF the oldest boys, selected by the foreman of
tne jury, nqulring of them as TO their 1000, tnelr
| treatment by the officers and generally as 70
| MheInef there was now any good ground Oh coHl-
paint upon the part OF the boys. The jury regret
that the proper limits of this presentment VIII not
| ADMIT OF any extended statement OF all Jhat they
| saw ana heard with so much satisfaction. Ihe re-
suits OF their investigation may however, DE Drleny
| stated as follows:-
| FIRST The rooms which were at one time used as
i1chups are now, like all the other rooms VslIeu ny
| IhS Jury, perfectly clean and well Ventllateu
| second The boys are never confined IN tms OF
any other rooms for punishment; thaI system ol us
| Cipnle having been abandoned IN the cOHege shce
| uT 1,ti ,Etetirement OF the former President. -, , -
| lnIu. Inc boys are never entirely uepINcu vi any
| OF thelr meals as punishment nor are they ever
| put upon bread and water for more IMAM one meal
| consecutiyey.
Fourth All the sanitary regulations OF the college
appear 10 be OF the best character the strongest at
estatlOn OF which is TO be found in the remarkable
| Iact mat there has been but one death during the
| hundred pupils.
. Upon the 18th Of the month the jury visited the
| county iIlson, carefully examining the various Lde-
maTkably clean condition. They interrogated some
| OF the omcers and number OF the prisoners re-
specung the 1000 and the treatment OF the inmates
anu discovered no good reason for complaint IN
ether OF these respects. In the female department
everything was found 10 be in admirable order, with
ample room 20 allow the allotment OF separate cell
J 70 each prisoner This Increased accommodation