The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-03
REPORT OF THE GRAND JURY.
Public Buildings, Etc.

The following is the report Of the Grand jury
A true bill against P. NJ. Richards, on tw
counts, for forgery. Not true bill for murde
: against d. c. Warmoth.
To the Honorable A. A. Atocha, Judge Of the ST
perior Criminal Court
The term for which we were impaueIed a
Grand Jurors for the Parish Of Orleans expirin
this day, we respectfully submit our report of tn
result OF our labors. During the term we hay
examined large number Of cases with as nue.
expedition az the circumstances of each cas-
would permit US.
Your Honors instructions given to us oraI
Immediately after our being impaneled hav
been followed with as much precision as it wa
IN our power to exercise. All the cases pre-
sented to us have been finally disposed Of ant
presentments made into court III accordance
with the decision Of the necessary number O
| Grand Jurors acting in each case.
| We have returned true bills For murder -
granddaughter 2, arson 3, rape 2, incest /, false
1 Imprisonment l, assault and battery 2 embezzle
ment and breach Of trust 3, perjury /, publish.
ing as true fol ged order 2, forgery q purchas.
ing certificates OF registration 2.
| These being all the cases submitted to us for
our investigation, except number in which the
bills We're ignored
We have visited the following institutions
Parish Prison, PSI inmates 2l3 males. 80 females:
Workhouse, inmates insane Asylum, 1873 in
mates !; c4aSIty Hospital 700 inmates; Boys
Shepherd, 27o; Girls House ct Refuge. 81 in.
mates; Home OF the Aged and Infrm, 70 in
mates; st. Mary Boys Orphan Asylum 800
inmates; Little Sisters of the Poor, $50 inmates;
81. Annals Asylum, 70 inmates st. Vincent In
FAINT Asylum, 300 inmates; Seventh street Orphan
Home, 80 inmates; Childrens' Home, "a inmates;
Jewish Widows and Orphans Home, 80 inmates
PARISH PRISON.
It is with great regret, that az grand Jurors and
citizens, we are compelled to report to your honor
fhIa itnti ia in,
for the purposes to which it is devoted. The dis
tribution OF space for the safe keeping of the
large number OF prisoners almost constantly con-
fined therein is wholly inadequate, the ventilation
there is really any ventilation the cells are damp,
the flooring and stairs are rotten, and nearly
everything requisite to make this humane place
of confinement is wanting
The law IN reference to providing INDECENT
persons with clothing, Shoes etc. has been
neglected. As your Honor is aware, YOU yourself
have been forced to direct the sheriff to procure
the most absolutely needed and scanty clothing
Tor prisoners to come into court with something
on to cover their nakedness. The sheriff is not
responsible for this neglected state Of the build
ing, Tor it is the duty OF the Council Of the city
to cause the public buildings to be kept in
proper state.
Not having visited the prison during the term
Of the management of the prisoners, their main
tenance and other proper care devolving upon
the sheriff and his deputies While condemnino
IN the strongest terms the conpitioa of the build
ing, we have but praise to bespeak for the
present sheriff his chief deputy and Deputies in
charge OF the prison, for the present good man.
agement and the efforts that are being made to |
properly care for it's inmates and moderate the |
nardships resulting from the condition of the !
building.
We lind adjoining the Perish Prison prooer a |
arge building wholly unoccupied, lately used |
rs the Insane Asylum and formerly known as |
police Jail. Why this building should be left |
lnoccupied while its being made part of the Par
,iencies complained OF in the Parish Prison
building, we cannot understand. We believe
hat this building should be immediately made
part OF the Parish Prison, and transferred to the
custody Of the sheriff for the purpose OF being
lsed, and to form part of the Parish Prison of |
he Parish Of Orleans.
In thl. new addition could be confined persons
Undergoing sentence for petty otfenses and mis-
lemeanors, also persons awaiting examination
nd trial before the committing magistrates and
lner courts, under charges for petty offenses
uch as msdemeanOrs and the lesser felOnies
~ this means the Parish Prison could be relieved
rom Its over burden, and what is exceedingly
important, a separation could be made between
ne hab ltual and confirmed criminals and those
rho are not to be thus classified whereby manv
Tho become hardened criminals by contact with
hose Tor whom there is no hope of reformation |
crimes. Furthermore the services Of all those |
sentences should be utilized for the
eneht OF the city. 1t would take too much time
nd space for us to undertake to describe the
arlous modes in which this could be done, but
lis subject IS well worthy the consideration of
lie city administrators.
wORK-HOUsE.
We visited the Work-House and Soup-House
ext and found these buildings in dilapidated .
Id unit condition for the purposes to which j
ley are devoted. There was at the time of our
SIT but seven or eight persons in the yard. We
n see no profit to the city from the continuance
this institution, unless an entire change in
e existing laws as to the disposition to be made
persons sentenced for minor offenses and vjo-
ton OF the city ordinances can be brought
out. At present the best that can be done is r
shut up the institution and transfer it's few i'm :,
isoned inmates to the Parish Prison. L
The Soup-House adjoining appears to US as not I
al meeting the objects for which it was estab-
he'd, is an Encouragement to laziness and va p
ancy, and not benefit to the really needy. 1t 7,
ould be abolished.
INSANE ASYLUM. V
The Insane Asylum next claimed our atten. n
n. we entered this institution with the mis- !,
1ngs that, owing to the impoverished condi-
n OF our city, we should not find all the
lulrements for place in which are confined U
poor creatures who are doubly entitled to the c:
lsderatlon and COMMUNICATION of all citizens, c.
fault Of theirs; but with all our misgivings,
were still surprised at the pow
y Of the institution aid the lack
nearly everything for the use, Ca
lntenance and care Of the inmates. Out OF Su
1873 inmates, 81 have not even beds upon ~:
ch to sleep, but are obliged to lie down on ~
bare floor, without even blank is under or DE
r them, and but few who have beds to sleep Dr
have blankets to cover them Many are with CIR
, shoes, no hats, and almost naked, Some ia
lg can be done, be it ever so little. and il ~
ut to be done without delay to remedy the Nc
dition Of things therein.
Paris letter says Of Cassagnac, the duello-
'naist: Zone OF the poorest writer's on the
IS, he seldom gets into a controversy without
10 WOrSted: so that wnurldad in his ualf |