Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1872-01-20
The Grand Jury RepOrt.
Inc UTdhu JuT StcpOtt.
To the Honorable the Judyes IF the Circuit
Tnvrf far AL<oonu Eovafu.

We, the Grand Inquest, beg to report ms
the result Of our Investigations as follows
We have examined witnesses represent
ing various classes and grades of otfenses
against the law and the State, and found
presentments or dismissed them as in our
judgement We thought proper, always
having before US the binding exactions of
the oath taken, and the able charge made
by the Court. The violations OF the Ii
cense law relating to the sale of ardent
spirits, first to minors second on the sab
bath day, from the evidence of an indeti
mite number of witnesses indicate a total
disregard of all law on the subject, rs well
as utter recklessness in the observance of
the claims of morals upon them in COM
mon with all citizens.
To have found true bills for every offence
would be to furnish material sufficient to
keep the court in session for an indefinite
period. We have therefore found not
more than two true bills for the same c,ass
of offences against the same individual
The question was asked almost every wit
ness, particularly minors: Have you ever
been refused liquor? The response was
invariably: Never.
We recommend that great care be excl
cised in granting licenses, and in no case
should any be given without meeting the
letter and spirit of the law. Some cases
lave come before us, which we feel that
tociety and morals would be well served if
there had been sufficient evidence for the
law to take hold of. viz: the i1discriminatc
use of firearms We have been unable
however to secure the requisite proof to
convict and have been compelled to order
the discharge of some who have been con-
! fined in the Jail by commitments of magis-
trates. The great danger to life even in
the ordinary pursuits of business, and away
from the haunts of vice, necessarily grow
ing out of this practice, we have found al
most wholly chargeahle to the traffic in ar
| dent spirits. Or act has impressed us,
which we thi.lk worthy of notice, and
which indicates the material prosperity of
! all kinds of business, viz: only one case of
theft has been brought to our notice, and
that one insignificant in point of value.
| Our visit to the Jail impressed us more
fully of the growing necessity for more
contracted, and the cells arc SO small that
prof. er ventilation is utterly impossible.
| The unfortunate inmates must either
! su"er from inhaling cold, damp atmos-
| PHI, re, or otherwise the intolcrable stencil
arising from the same atmosphere being
heated and breathcd over and over again.
We have found it In rs good condition
as it probably can ba kept under the cir
cumstances The beds we deemed crampcd
md insufficient The SheriA"s deputy.
however, informed us (he htmclf not bsi1g
presenf during our visit, that an order had
been given for others. Every attention
was afforded us to ascertain all the work.
ings Of the institution. We questioned all
the prisoners with regard to living. They
all answered, they had sufficient and in
good quality.
| We visited the Aims House at an early
hour in the morning. We arrived there
at few minutes after nine o'clock. and
found it clean and comfortable. They all
had breakfasted the beds were all made,
and the room swept. The inmates were
moving around at their pleasure.
If within the province Of tile Grand In
quest they beg to suggest what in their
judgement might be profitable and aid
very much in making the Aims House self
sustaining. A number of the inmates are
quite hale and strong capable of doing a
good share Of manual labor. By establish
ing market garden, cultivating fruits
strawberries, grapes, &c, with early vcget
ables, all the labor being performed with
out cost, we think would be great source
of revenue The lands are we'll adapted,
comprising both undulating and bottom,
and has the advantages of the morning
sun. We have no doubt but that arrange
ments could be made with the merchants of
the county for the consumption Of all that
could be raised, commanding the highest
m"..,ct rates.
We recommend the appointment of 4
' capable and experienced keeper, having a
general surveillance of all matters connect
cd with the institution, and that he be paid
! .n1nr al 10, all I,n
can bestow, without any perqusites, and
the only limit to his term of service being
| incapacity or inattention to business. We
find now the salary insufficient to COM
mand the services of competent man,
without his taking advantage of opportu-
mites offered. The present keeper, Mr..
Snyder rs matter Of economy, professcd-
| ly, purchases sheep and cattle, slaughtcrS
them for the use of the Aims House, rescr-
wing to himself the hides and tallow. COM
monty known as the fiff h part, rs his COM
pcnsation for extra work Whether this is
done by contract, or with the consent of
the late Board of Commissioners, we have
not been able to ascertain. Neither do We
know whether it is economiZing or not
We further recommend that bids be invited
for furnishing all supplies. We do this
with the view to all matters which concern
the taxpayers being made as public as pos
lille.
In going around the premises we are i'm
| pressed with the necessity of certain im-
provements. The old building should be
raised level with the one recently erected,
and if it is intended that lunatics shall be
kept there, suitable arrangements should be
made to accommodate them.
The safety of the other inmates is jeop-
ardized from attacks made by them. One
sayagcly attacked the matron few days
ago.
|, We are aware that money is required to
make these Improvements. but our Obser-
yation has been that the people do not
complain of taxes when there is tangible
evidence of judicious disbursements.
The number of inmates are as follows
Twenty-seven men, fourteen women, six
children, one boy, two colored men, three
colored wOmen-tifty-thre in all. There
have been ten deaths since last Court, and
six births.
We investigated matters pertaining to
the School Board in so far rs we believed
it necessary. Mr.. Mckay, the Examiner
explained to us the existing contract for
furnishing books to the schools of the
county. Some complaints having been
made of certain officers being illicitly con
nccted with the publishers of said books,
we find nothing to justify us in SO report
ing.
Mr.. Mckay gave the aggregate amount