The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1874-12-04
REPORT
GRAND JURY,
ON THE
Condition of the AImshOuse and
Jail.
NOVEMBER TERN, 1874.

To tie Honorable tile Judges
Of tile Circuit Court for Hattord County.
The Grand Jury, for November Term,
1874, have the honor to submit the following
report
That, in 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 Jurics, of lis entire unfitness for the
purposes for which il was intenC cd, 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 OF remodel the
present one would be money thrown away.
Such as it is, however, under the charge and
direction of the present Sheriff, Mr. VIM. 3.
Jarrett, it is made to subservc the purpose
for which it was erected, in the care of and
sate-keeping Of the prisoners, in as satisfac.
tory manner as possible. II is evident, that
, every precaution 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 n proper
diet.
At present the Jail is unusually full, con-
tanning, according to the Sherifi's report TO
the Grand Jury, the following prisoners:
One man (negro) 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, ono boy (whi,c) awaiting trial
for assault and cutting, one boy (negro) as
State witness, one man and woman (white)
for breach Of peace, one woman and child
(negroes) ditto.
A committee of the Grand Jury, consisting
of Messrs VIM. r. Martin, Alexander Adj
ans and Samuel G. Scarf, visited the Aims
House, and report that there are now TWEEN
ty-iour inmates dependent upon the charity
of the county, and the committee were truly
gratifed to find that the institution was
most admirably conducted, in every respect,
by the oversecr Mr.. Smith Under the i'm
mediate direction of the matron, Mrs Smith,
wife of the overseer, the rooms are kept in
complete order, the beds and bedding are
clean and comfortable, and the entire man
agement of the household matters reflects the
highest credit upon this cstimabe 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 u
larger range placed in the kitchen.
The Grand Jury regret TO have to inform
es summoned before us have promptly APP
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
nesscs, it can readily be perceived that the
public business has been delayed, the course
OF justice INSTRUCTED, 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 numer-
ous so much so, that we are forced to be.
lieve that there were some, who by false rep
reservations to those authorized TO order a
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 lIonors to this
NATTER 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 II sadly dlapidaled condition
There are Il few other necessary additions
needed to the Court House, which will add
vastly to the comfort of the officers of, and
those attending the several Courts, which
will naturally present themselves to the con
sideration of the County Commissioners, anG
it is to hoped that the small outlay requisite
for these repairs and improvements will b,
promptly appropriated by that Honorable
body.
Submitted by order ofthe Grand Jury.
JNO. CARROLL WALSH,
decd Foreman.