The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1874-12-11
REPORT
GRAND JURY.
on THE
Condition Of the Almsh0uSe and
Jail.
NOVEMBER TERN, 1874.
TO the Honorable the Judges
Of the Cucmt C1oH for Hart0rW C0uaty.


To the Honorable tile Judges
Of the CIrcUN C0uT t0r Uart0W County.
The Grand Jury, for November Term,
1874 have the honor to submit the following
report
That, i'll pursuance of the requirements of
law, they have visited the Jail of the County,
and, although they cannot but entirely en-
dorse the representations made by previous
Grand Juries of its entire unfitness for the
purposes for which it was intended, still, they
cannot at this period of depression in all the
industrial pursuits Of the country, and when
the burden of taxation borne by our citizens,
for things absolutely necessary, is so heavy,
recommend the construction of another Jail,
and to undertake to repair Or remodel the
present one would be money thrown away.
Such as it is, however, under the char &c and
direction of the present Sheriff. Mr.. VIM. 3.
Jarrett, it is made to subserve the purpose
for which it was erected, in the care of and
satc-kccping of the prisoners, in as satisfac.
tory manner as possible Ii is evident, that
every precauton is taken to promote the
health Of the prisoners, by enforcing the ne
cessary rules for ensuring the cleanliness of
the cells, and the clothes and persons of the
inmates, and furnishing them with q proper
diet.
At present the Jail is unusually full, con-
tanning, according to the Sherif's report to
the Grant Jury, the following prisoners:
One man (ncgro) awaiting sentence for
murder, two men (negroes) awaiting trial for
murder one man (negro) awaiting sentence
for assault with intent to kill, one man
(white) awaiting sentence for larceny, one
man (negro) awaiting sentence for larceny,
eight men (negroes) awaiting trial for lar
ceny, one man (white) awaiting trial for lar
ceny, one man (negro) serving out sentence,
two men (white) for action of Grand Jury,
one man (negro) and woman and child me
groes) ditto, one boy (white) awaiting trial
for assault and cutting, one boy (ncgro) as
State witness, one man and woman (white)
for breach of peace one woman and child
(negrocs) ditto.
A committee of the Grand Jury, consisting
Of Messrs. VIM. II. Martin, Alexander Adj
ans and Samuel G. Scarf, visited the Aims
House, and report that there are now TWEEN
ty-i0ur inmates, dependent upon the charity
of the county, and The committee were truly
gratliied 10 find that the institution was
most admirably conducted, i'll every respect,
by the ovcrsecr, Mr.. Smith. Under the i'm
mediate direction of the matron, Mrs Smith,
wife OF the oyersecr, the rooms are kept in
clean and comfortable, and the entire man
agement of the household matters reflects the
highest credit upon this estimable lady. All
the inmates seemed to be happy and comfort
able, they were all clearly and appeared to
he comparatively healthy. Nothing could
be seen, in the judgment of the committee,
that they could recommend to be added to the
Improvement of the building, or comfort of
the inmates, except that curtains or blinds
should be furnished for the windows, and
larger range placed in the kitchen.
The Grand jury regret to have to inform
your Honors that while most of the witness
es summoned before us have promptly ap-
peared, yet there are many who were not
thus prompt, some not appearing for several
days after the summons was returned "serv-
ed" some requiring an attachment to bring
them, and some have not yet appeared. BY
such negligence or design on the part of wit
nesses it can readily be perceived that the
public business has been delayed, the course
of justice DISTRACTED, and our session pro-
longed. Our attention has also been called
to the fact of how little many of the witness
es know OF any presentable matter, and how
many witnesses there were who knew abso-
lutely nothing, nor could they imagine for
what purpose they were summoned. We
are aware that such occurrences are not met
with at every session of Grand Jury, but at
this term they have been unusually numcr-
Gus; so much so, that we are forced to be.
lieve that there were some, who by false rep
reservations to those authorized to order
summons, got themselves placed on the list
OF witnesses, and then delayed appearing at
our door for the mere purpose of increasing
their days of attendance. We respectfully
call the attention of your Honors to this
matter, resting assured, that if the evil can
be removed by any action of yours, that the
remedy will be applied.
In conclusion, we would recommend that
more attention be paid to the preservation of
The Court House, and the grounds surround
ing it. The woodwork and interior walls
Of the building require painting and white
washing. and the paling enclosing the
grounds is in sadly dilapidated condition.
There are a few other necessary additions
needed to the Court House, which will add
vastly to the comfort of the officers of, and
hose attending the several Courts, which
will naturally present themselves to the con-
'ideration of the County Commissioners, and
It is to hoped that the small outlay requisite
or these repairs and improvements will be
appropriated by that Honorable
Body.
Submitted by order ofthe Grand Jury.
JNO, CARROLL WALSH,