The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1874-11-07
Miscellaneous.
GRAND JURY REPORT.
SEPTEMBER TERM, 1874.

10 the Honorable the Judges of
the Circuit Court for BGtto. Co. i:
VNHE Grand Jury respectfully report that
they have been in session twenty-elght
DAYS, and have examined two hundred and nj
ty cases and disposed of them as follows =
Presentments, eleven True Bills found, one
hundred and twenty-five; Witnesses examln-
ed, three hundred and twenty-eight.
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 their authority does not extend thus far, the
laws should be changed SO as to give them the
control of such cases; the expenses OF the
county would be decreased and much unneces-
sary labor saved.
Our attention having been called by the
Court to the numerous violations OF the Sun
day law, from which proceed 81 much OF trou
bic and annoyance " the neighborhoods IN
which merely drinking houses (not the regular
homes for travellers, are located, we endeavor-
ed, through the police and constabulary force
of the county, whose duty it is to attend to 1t,
to ferret out every violation, but it was sur
prisiDg to encounter either the amount OF lg-
norance, the utter indispostion to perform du-
ty or the willful disregard of law as maniies-
ted by said officers, with very few honorable
exceptions. A 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 1--WE were not ap-
pointed as detectives" and the result is tina
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
Iohn hn N ter
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 IA one but in each OF the cells. The
seniors and Juniors in rascality in immediate
contact, learning lessons from each other well
ca culated to advance them in the nefaTl0us
callings. Without inten ing to intimate that
a palace should be erected for prisoners, we do
say that larger building is necessary to pre-
vent lis becoming school-hCuse for the pro
motion of crime. We were pleased with the
cleanliness and good management OF the place.
We cannot speak too highly of those vino have
it in charge.
We also visited TIE Aims house and found il
to be in every respect what the wants OF the
poor require. The l'Dlii" IS most excellent,
the building a noble structure, substantial,
roomy, well ventilated, It's internal arrange
ments complete, and un'i"r the management
of the present worthy ahd q ficient keeper, Mr..
Abraham Cole, the ihnatrs are as comfortable
as their diseased condition will allow. We
think the farm could be we'll cultivated and
the expenses of the institution reduced. II
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 deslra-
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 beneficial and greatly fcilitate
the Grand Jury IN making their examinations.
We learn that the County Commissioners in
tend to remove the insane persons of the coun-
ty from the Maryland State Insane Asylum
to Upland Home, and TO employ resident
Physician for the Institution. We believe This
will be of decided advantage to the pailrul:,
as well as to the taxpayers.
All of which is respectfully submitted
JOHN NJ. WALKFR.
Oct 24.-3W Foreman