The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1873-01-03
REPORT
OLE THE
GRAND JURY,
On the condition of the
AlmshOuse and Jail.
NOVEMBER TERM.
GRAND jury RoOM.
December 14H. 1872.

T" tie Hono,s6h tie Juiges
qt'bC Circuit Co"H .tor HatJom Cc"ntN
In compliance with tie 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 15G witnesses; have found II
indictments, including tl"se for the high
est crimes down TO those known ana rec
ognizcd ms misdemeanors. Numerous in
fractions OF the laws have been brought to
cur notice, which for want of adequate
testimony hav" been left unprcscntcd, but
which we believe if they had been followed
up in the spirit which seemed to actuatc
the perpetrators would have resulted in
indictments against the parties charged.
We have had numerous reports and scri-
Gus and seemingly well grounded com
plants of the carrying to an unlawful and
dangerous extent the hitherto Joyous and
| innocent enjoymcnts of "IIallow Eve
Whilst we do not condemn and would not
attempt to cirCumsCrbe or limit the ration
al enjoyment of the tcaSs which have come
down to us as Our common heritage, we
cannot too strongly rcprobate what seems
to have grown into license of endangcr-
ing human life and destroying property,
under the unrcstraincd cXubcrancc OfyOuth,
or the prctcXt which such occasions afford
for the qualification Of private malice or
personal revenge. Such acts should call
for, at tho hands OF future CIR tud 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 Of their neigh
| bors to prosecute.
We hope this rebukc may save them from
future prosecution, and those whose lives
have been endangered and whose property
has been wantonly and maiciously destroy
ed from the consequences oftheir unrestrain-
cd 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
| as nuisances by the Grand Jury for num-
Der OF years. But we cannot torbcar to
commend the excellent management, the
strict discipline the kind and humane
treatment Of the worthy overseer Of the
poor unfortunate, who are forced to seek,
an asylum cyc3 IN Hartford County A Inns
house.
Their number, as reported to us by the
manager, is 81, comprising 8 white men,
) white women, 1 white child, negro
women, 4 negro children and negro man.
We are compelled to call the attention
Of the properly constituted authorities to
the diIapidated condition of the novels,
properly denominated Poor House, and
would respectfully urge upon them, by every
consideration, that "The poor yc always
have amongst you" to erect at once-with-
out legard to the Legislative enactment of
those who wear purplc and fine linen-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 improvidencc 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 wouldnot winter their stall
fed cattle.
The Jail, if any thng, is worse than the
Poor House, BADLY constructed imperfect
ly ventilated, with no ray of light, it is
indeed a prison. and as such is q blot upon
the age and country in which we live.
The innocence which the law presumcs
here finds Il loathsomc dungeon, a Bastile,
which would, in most cases, be gladly eX-
changed for even the fclon's doom continc-
ment in the Penitentary.
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 lIonors the propricty of
appointing Il Janitor 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-
dition.
We also recommend the erection ola
water closet for the convenience of Jurors
and others having business with the Court
and the public offices
We also beg leave to call the attention
of your Honors to the propriety Of ing
some suitable accommodation for the COM
fort Of the witnesses awaiting the call of
the Grand Jury, by placing Il stove in the
Hall, or purtitioning off the Hall in suit
able and proper manner, at your H0nors'
discretion.
We cannot close this report without
thanking the Court for the uniform kind
ness and torbearancc exercised toward us
in the discharge ofour duties the prompt
ness with which our ieebleness and imper-
fcctions 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. H. HANSON, JR.,
| deco Foreman.
Bel Air TUrnpike (OmDany.