The Baltimore County union., 1874-10-31
Miscellaneous.
GRAND JURY REPORT.
SEPTEMBER TERM, 1874.

10 the Honorable the Judges of
the Circuit Court for BaIto. Co.
HNHE Grand Jury respectfully report that
thew have been in session twenty-eight
davs. and have examined two hundred ana nj
tv cases and disposed of them as follows =
Presentments, eleven; True Bills found, one
hundred and twenty-five Witnesses examln-
ed, three hundred and twenty-elght.
MANY of the cases before us were very trl,
fling offences and ought to have been disposed
of by the Magistrates, if within their power. -
II tbeir authority does not extend thus far, the
laws should be changed SO as to give them the
control of such cases; the expenses OF tne
county would be decreased and much unneces-
sary labor saved. n, A.
Our attention having been called by the
Court to the numerous violations OF the sun
day law, from which proceed so much OF trou-
ble and ANNOYANCE to the neigh borhoods In
which merely drinking houses (not the regular
homes for travellers are located, we endeavor-
ed through the police and constabulary iorce
of the county, whose duty it is to attend TO IT,,
to ferret out every violation, but it was sur
prsing to encounter either the amount OF lg-
norance, the utter indispostion to perform du-
ty, or the willful disregard of law as manlies-
ted by said officers, with very few honorable
exceptions. speedy remedy ought to be ap-
piled by those who have these forces under
their control. When questioned it WAS not un-
usual to hear the reply that "we were not ap-
pointed as detectives" and the result is thS
many have ESCAPED who would have been en-
rolled with those who have been presented and
indicted. We do assure you thatall have been
presented who were within reach of the testi-
mony we were able to obtain from these un
willing sources. Those who have escaped may
congratulate themselves upon the fact that the
delinquency of the officers has allowed 1T. In
view of all the difficulties surrounding these
Investigations the labor performed, the inter
ests involved and the expense attending, we
commend the result of our labors, not only to
your careful and serious consideration, but In
woke your earnest efforts to complete what has
been done by US.
We visited the jail /: we found it very much
crowded. The building is entirely too small
and very uncomfortable; ; too many prisoners
not only in one out in each Of the cells. The
seniors and juniors in rascality in immediate
contact, learning lessons from each other well
calculated to advance them in the nefarlous
callngs. Without intending to intimate that
a palace should be erected for prisoners, we do
say that larger building is necessary to pre-
vent its becoming school-h use tor the pro
motion of crime. We were pleased. with the
cleanliness and good manag ni'n' %: til" Place.
We cannot speak too high J ii these w-o nave
it in charge.
We also visited tie AimS b"use and found il
to be in every respect what the wants OF the
poor require. The location is most excellent,
the building a noble structure. substantial,
roomy, we'll ventilated, its internal arrange
ments complete, and under the management
of the present worthy and efficient keeper, Mr.
Abraham Cole, the inmates az" as comfortable
as their diseased condition Will allow. We
think the farm could he well cultivated and
the expenses of the institution reduced. If
an exchange of the land on the rear end OF the
farm could be made for that in the front OF the
buildings, running out to the turnpike. upon
equitable terms, we think it would be desra
BILE and profitable.
Great improvement could be made in the
mode of returning the names of the different
traders. Forms should be printed by the Clerk
of the county to the officers at the proper times
upon which to make their returns, which, we
think, would be benifcial and greatly ficilitate
the Grand Jury IN making their examinations
We learn that the County Commissioners in
tend to remove the insane persons of the conn
ty from the Maryland State Insane ASYLUM
to Upland Home, and to employ a resident
Physician for the Institution. We believe this
will be of decided advantage to the patients,
as well as to the taxpayers.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
JOHN M. WALKER,
Oct. 24.-8w. Foreman.