Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-05-06
Report 20 the Criminal Court The Mi
gratOry, Idle and YagabOnd Nc.
grOes who Recruit Our
Prisons.
Drinking Saloons and Gambling HelIs-
The County Jail and POOrhOuse-
The Insane.
The S,atiOnhOuse-City Hospital he
WOrkhOuse on Presidents Island
Revenue Officers Etc.

-lAAsaAA II 10 h-N-Nss may ID, AofUs
To Hon. John D. Adams, Judge Of the Crimi.
nal Court of Memphis:
The undersigned, composing the grand
jury for the January term of your hon.
orHble count, being about to be relieved
OF the grave responsibilities which have
rested upon them, deem It their dutv "a
Initiate their iliustricuJ predecessors in
reporting 10 you an account of our stew
srdshlp, before being discharged and re-
uring into the shades Of private life.
Those who have preceded us alone know
bow delicate is the trust that wss con-
hded to US, which We have lsbored To
dischsrRe witb0lt fear, favcr or affec.
ton. We regret thai the records will
show that we have found q great many
true bills. A very great number we're sor
MIsDEMEANORs AND PETTY oFFENsEs.
Under our present laws, all cases have
to come before grand jury for invesu-
CATION, however trifiing the case may
be. Such cases have to be considered
by us, and we could rot conscientIously
refuse TO prefer indictments, although
knowing well that the county and State
would De taxed heavily in prosecuting
them. Memphis, on account Of her 10.
caion on tbs great inland sea-" draws
to herself al races and classes Of people,
intent on sn honest livelihood or to live
of the labor of others. She is on the
great highway between ths States east
Of the Mississippi and on the west of
that great river, and, of O consequence,
always has a lssge migratory pOpula-
ton. She is the Mecca for the colOTed
eople, and If they have one popularity
greater than any other, it is the love of
lawsuits; they are never more delight
ed than when engaged in prosecuting
their fellow-men. Every day on enter
ing your courtroom we have observed
dark cloud hovering near-a cloud go
dark as to send firth its sweet smells in
the close atmosphere Of your room.
THESE PEOPLE FILL OUR JAIL AND STA
TIONHoUsE.
We believe that nearly three-fourths
Of the persons whose cSses we have ad-
judged, are cOlOTed. 1t should be the
duty of every good citizen to do his best
to lessen crime. Our people are grosning
under the weight Oftaxes. But few know
how much it costs to State and county
to prosecute criminals. We believe a
great expense can be saved by enactiug
9 law giving mayors and recorders OF
cities and towns exclusive original juris.
diction in all misdemeAnor cases under
twenty-five dollars, made violations Of
town and city OrdinSDcss, with power
and authority to commit offenders forth
with to house Of correction or work.
house, refusing to send their cases be-
fore an appellate court, unless good ard
bonds for COSTS are given on the
appeal from the decision. S1ch q law,
NC inForpaaH NEroo r1auaad AurirO tbo
lsst session OF the legislature, and failed
for want of time to receive the approval
of the governor. We earnestly call on
those who will represent US in the next
legislature to aid aud assist in the pas
sage OF such law as will bring more
speedy Justice to the offender, and great
II relieve the taxpayer. Wnen that is
done, our criminal courtroom will be re-
lieved OF many Of the
CHANGERS ON"
and many Of the men and women can
be spared for the productive industries
whose presence is now always at
i'court." We have had to deal with
material spirits" and "spirits material
Zed, - but the former has proven to be
far more dangerous to the peace and
Iuiet of our city. 1t is notorious that
saloons throughout the city, with few
exceptions, keep open doors on Sundays,
cut we have to report that upon the
closest investigation, we found very few
Oersons who ever "smilet" Oh that day.
We have found many dens Of infamy
md vice in different parts Of our city, q
iisgrsce to our city and to humanity,
Ind they should be broken up at what
.ver cost. They are .frequented by the
owes. characters, are the resorts for vile
men and women, who cOngregate there
md daily furnish victims fer our jail,
md Justice would demand Oftener for the
,allows. We believe that
MEMPHIS HAS MORE THAN her SHARE
OF GAMBLING HELLS.
Men will gamble, they will seek ven-
ures and hazards, and as other viola
ors Of the law, should be made to feel
Is severity. 1t seems Amos. impoSsi-
DE to control this growing evil that al
most defies the law. We wish to call
attention to two games, called "keno"
md "policy," which are drawing into
heir vortex the youth and ignorant pOr-
ion of our population, who are daily
their small earnings, and often
he money of their employers. We have
heard of many cOlored people who are
actually starving their families in
the game Of "policg." II
We have not legislation enough to cure
his evil, we respectfully pray for more
md better. On many delicate subjects
We have had to deal; We have tried to
consider them on the broad principles
,f humanity, and, when possible, clOthe
hem with the mantle of charity.
The "socisl evil" is q problem that
better and wiser men than We have
ried TO solve, lessen and restrain.
No clsss OF people are more persecuted
han those poor, frail women, VINO are
)fteDer more sinDed against than sin
hing. " He that is witnOnt sin among
you, let him first cast q stone at herr
Would it not be bsst to mske virtue
Z the necessity, pzss wholesome and
proper laws for their government, con-
iue them to streets less frequented, re-
move them from the hesrt Of the city,
md If they will continue 20 sin, let them
lsy tribute for the privilege. The
women Of the town. EhOUld not be
70 parade their shsme on cur
by night nor day, in sight
u our wives and daughters. Taxation,
both 10 county and city. has been the
means Of greatly depreciating the value
Il real estate. 1t has diven away q
arge amount Of capital, sent elsewhere
or Investment. Would it not be well to
apply this high taxation to tipping.
IhOI 5, R8mbling-houses, and houses Of
ll-iams? IfHtt succeeded in doing its
VCrk as well and az successfully in the
.hree latter as in the two former cases,
he three great evils that now iDfest and
filct our city would sOon be well righ
COUNTY JAIL.
On the day we visited the jail, one
hundred and eight prisoners were con-
iued there, and more than three-fOurths
IL them were colored. We gave il
thorough examination, and found it
under fine discipline, owing to its good
by Sheriff Anderson, ably
sssis ted by JAiler Jackson and Turnkey
Dawson. Neatness and good order
marked every department. The fare,
beds and bedding is substantial and
good, and we might say too good for
men and women who have violated the
laws Of their country. Very many of
them certainly live better than they
ever did at their own homes. Jailer
Jackson certainly deserves great praise