Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-10-13

withdrew his motion to dissolve the commit.
tee, and the names presented by Mr.. Gait We're
the President.
THE GRAND JURY.
REPORT TO THE CRIMINAL COURT.
Important Susgestions-New Rules for
on.Houses Unfit for Use
School Ship Recomme nded for Juye.
nile Offenders-The Grand Jury Room
fresented-Visit to the Jail.
This morning the Grand Jury Of the June
term Of the Criminal Court made the following
report to Judge Fisher, which will be found TO
contain a number OF important suggestions:
TO the Hon. George p. Fisher, a Justice of the Su.
Preme Court Of the District Of Columbia. holding
NE June Term, 1863, for the trial Of crimes and
The Grand Jury for said term beg leave to
make the following report and suggestions to
your honor, and through you to the PROPER
eutnorities. we nave examined 465 cases and
found 213 true bills. having been in session 81
days. We earnestly beg leave to call the
attention OF the court to the great number OF
dismissed cases, and we will state the reasons
therefor.
In our opinion there is no regularity with
the justices OF the peace in this county in their
proceedings, and we most respectfully beg
leave TO call the attention Of your honor, and
through you TO the Court in General Term, to
the second section OF the act OF Congress an.
proved February 22d, 1867. giving the court the
tice before justices of the peace, believing If
this were done it would save MANY innocent
persons from unjust Imprisonment, and be of
great good to the poorer class OF the commu-
We further beg to call attention to the several
staton-honses, especially the central guard.
house and the Park station. These station
houses are not mt either for the policemen who
are compelled to sleep in them when NOT on
duty, but are totally unit to confine prisoners
M yIyrf hAse Ia
and the stencil arising from defective drainage.
,aShns Of es :n e e the
used in Boston harbor, with discipline, rules,
and regulations, as there is no house Of correc.
ton for juvenile offenders in this county, and
during our present term we have he'd much TO
do with such cases Boys found guilty of petty
larceny are confined in Jail with old offenders,
STEPPED in crime OF the blacklist hue, or turned
loose on the community to commit new depre-
dations and to become oolder and more har.
dened In crime, having escaped punishment
on account OF their tender years, they plan
anew to ply their avocations, and soon become
known 10 the detectives and police as profess
sional thieves. This cry ing evil must and can
be remedied, and the plan we propose, we
think, is one that can be carried into speedy
and successful operation with the least expense,
as there are many ships lying at the Navy.
yard, which are NO longer sea. worthy, which
could be brought TO the city, anchored at some
suitable point on the Potomac river, properly
oficered and disciplined, and place the youths
so offending on board the Scholarship, where
they will have an opportunity to reform, and
from which will result to the United States
and the people Of this District a clear saving
Of hundreds OF dollars.
Will your Honor think for one moment that
twenty three gentlemen OF the grand Jury, and
half as many witnesses at from 81. Is TO 81 per
day each 10 Try boy years old for the larce-
ny OF properly to the value Of IS cents, law.
yer's, fees, petit jurors, bailif and many others
too tedious to enumerate, amounting TO over
500, all to ascertain the fact as to who stole
that IS cents worth Of property. DO away
with it, let all such cases be- tried by a com.
mssion OF Justices Of the Peace every week,
and disposed OF, and you Will find there will
be less expense, less trouble, and less crime:
the boys can acquire a good education, and be
led in the ways ofreIgion ana truth, learn the
al Is OF mechanism ana become good and useful
cluZene, enjoying the respect and confidence OF
all who know them, either in this or any other
community.
And we would beg leave your honor to call
attention to the present condition OF the room
occupied by the Grand Jury, which is in the
most dilapidated condition, and totally unfit
for use as such: the paper n the walls is satur.
ated with grease the entire circuit of the room.
The chairs, desks, and windows all want re-
pair, and new carpet is indispensable. Your
honor must De aware that the first people OF
the country are summoned to testify before the
Grand Jury, both ladies and gentlemen,
who nave looked with disgust on the
unsigh'ly place. and we would state if
Tor no other purpose, cleanliness re-
in this department. Further, we beg leave
very respectfully to call your attention
heated term. There being no yentiiatiop.
ne air becomes very Oppressive: we ar,
obliged to cit with closed doors, and the
witnesses waiting to be examined are in .uca
direct proximlty TO the door that every WORD
spoken by a Juror, either pro or con. can be
distinctly heard outside, and is or may be COZ.
indectlv. in the nroceed in gs oY ths Grand Jnrv
and leaves room tor rnmnr IN thu ef,act ths ,SSs
0lSCl0StUR which
shouId he known onIv To themsel vas W. sin
Ger lv hone the sngSeSttons snnrn;,,aJ NJ
elicit vouf IA voSahis osssdsra,tor oJ
In sccordanee With cn.sonn ~. 6rra I,rr
found there many prisoners' The Essis,ane