The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1872-12-27
REPORT
OE THE
GRAND JURY.
On the condition OF the
AlmshOuse and Jail.
NOVEMBER TERM
NOVEMBER TERN
GRAND jury Room. !
December 1lN. 1872.


To tie Honma6ie tile Judges
yNe Circuit Court tor Ha1ford Ceuntu:
In compliance with the law the Grand
Jury of Hartford county for the November
Term, 1872, beg leave to submit the follow.
ing Report
We In the discharge Of our duties have
examined 1856 witnesses; have found Al
indictments, including those for the high
est crimes down to those known and rec.
ognized as misdemeanors. Numerous in.
fractions of the laws have been brought to
our notice, which for want of adequate
testimony have been left unpresented, but
which we believe if they had been followed
up in the spirit which seemed 70 actuatt,
the perpetrators would have resulted in
indictments against the parties charged.
We have had numerous reports and seri.
Gus and seemingly we'll grounded com
plants OF the carrying to an unlawful and
da" gerous extent the hitherto ioyons and
| innocent cnjoymcnts of "Hallow Eve
Whilst We do not condemn and would mol
attempt to circumscribe or limit the ration
nj enjoyment of the feasts which have come
| down to us rs our common heritage, We
cannot too strongly reprobate what seems
to nave grown into license of cndanuer-
ing human life and destroying property,
under the unrestrained exuberance ofyouth
or the pretext which such occasions afford
for the qualification Of private malice or
personal revenge. Such acts should call
for, at tho hands Of future Gr,ud Jurics the
consideration which their importance de-
mands, and which we were only deprived
of by the adroitness ofthe perpetrators and
the indisposition on the part ot' their neigh.
bors to prosecute.
We hope this rebuke may save them from
future prosecution, and those whose lives
have been endangered and whose property
has been wautonly and maliciousy DESTROY.
ed from the consequences oftheir unrestrain-
ed enjoyment and their unbridled license.
We have in accordanc with the require.
ments Of the law visited the Almshouse and
the Jail. 1t is unnecessary, and perhaps
but plagiarism, to call the attention Of the
authorities to the unsuitableness of these
TWO institutions, which have been reported
az nuisances by the Grand Jury for mum
! Der Of years. But we cannot tnrbcar 10
commend the excellent management, the
strict discipline, the kind and humane
treatment of the worthy oversecr of the
poor unfortunate, who are forced to seek
an asylum eves IN Il Hartford County Aims.
house.
Their number, US reported to us by the
manager, is p, comprising $ white men,
white women, l white child, ! negro
women, 4 negro children and negro man.
We are compelled to call the attention
of the properly constituted authorities To
, the dilapidated condition of the novels
properly denominated Poo, House, and
would respectfully urge upon them, by every
consideration, that THE poor We always
have amongst you" to erect at once-with.
out regard to the Legislative enactment of
those who wear purple and fine lnen-suit-
able buildings for the poor unfortunates.
whose necessities have forced them to be-
come wards of the county. Economy, if
not humanity, would dictate to every tax.
payer the improvidence of keeping, with
the consequent necessity for increased food
and fuel for their maintenance. '.men who
wear, the same image" in apartments in
which they would MT winter their stall.
fed cattle.
The Jail, if anything. is worse than the
Poor House, BADLY constructed. imperfect.
ly ventilated, with no ray of light it is
indeed prison." and as such is a blot upon
the age and country in which we live.
The innocence which the law presumcs
here finds loathsome dungeon, a Bastile,
which would, in most cases, he gladly ex
changed for even the felon's doom confine-
ment in the Penitentiary
We hereby present it as disgrace to the
age and IL nuisance to the county. Its
counterpart exists only in the legends of
the Black Hole Of Calcutta
We would respectfully suggest and rec
ommcnd to your Honors the proprcty of
appointing Jantor for the Court House.
whose duty it shall be to attend to the
building, Keeping it clean and in order,
make the fires during Court and at other
times when required, experimenting the
grounds and keeping them in proper CON
dtion.
We also recommend the erection Of a
water closet for the convenience of Jurors
and Others having business with the Court
and the public offices.
We also Lcg leave to call the attention
Of your Hon"is to the propriety of making
some Suitable accommodation for the com
fort Of the witnesses awaiting the call of
the Grand Jury, by placing stove in the
Hall, or partitioning off the Hall in suit
able and proper manner, at your Honors'
discretion.
We cannot close this report without
thanking the Court for the uniform kind
ness and forbearance exercised toward us
in the discharge ofour duties the prompt
ness with which our ieebleness and imper.
fections have been aided by the Court,
whenever solicited, and all the officers of
the Court for their efficiency in the dis.
charge Of their respective duties.
Yours. most respectfully,
B. II. HANSON, JR,
dcc20 Foreman.