The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-12-25
GRAND JURY REPORT.
THE RESULT OF TOE GRAND INQUEST
DURING THEIR LAST SESSION.
A Careful Resume Of Local Affairs.


term is about to expire, in obedience to duty and
est blished custom, realiziDg the Importance Of
referring to Their stewardship, beg leave respect
fully to submit Tin addi ion to certain special re-
ports already rendereD this final report, with
such recommendations as have suggested them
| selves in the course OF investigation. Actuatsd
by justice, tempered with such sagacity as we
could command, we have fairly considered and
inquired into numerous cases comprsheDdng
murder, rape, manslaughter, incest, crime
against nature, embezzement, perjury, false i'm
prisonfnent aud peoulation In office, with results
already published to your Honor
We have also visited the various public institu-
tions, and propose for consideration comments
hereafter to follow.
CARRYING CONCEALED WEAPONS.
To the unquellgd indulgence in shi practice
may be attributed the numerous murders which
have taken place in our midst from time TO
time; and while the penalty OF the law
against it may be in every way
adequate, the obstacles to is enforcement
arise from the diff Guilty in obtaining inries
whose unanimous convictions will prompt ver-
dict of guilty" and in d measure to a too lib
eral constrnction of the discretion left with the
court, in section 932, Revised Statutes. To OBJ
viate this, we recommend that committing
magistrates be empowered and required TO inn
pose the full penalty Of this law on all such
OIL snders, and, should they fail or refuse TO full
fill 1t, then TO be made pers nally amenabe as in
u case OF official misconduct.
While upon this subject we are constrained to
prOmu gate our emphatic condemnation OF the
pernieious privilege accorded the city police in
permitting them to roam about the streets like
moving arseDals, who, instead of proving them.
selves exemplars Of law and ORDER thereby be-
come examples OF depression by this mighty
precedent, in perpetuating practice remndfni
OF the infamy and barbarian of that engine OF
oppression, sthe Metropolitan Police bill" con-
oeived and created for purposes of sustaining all
the elements OF antagonism to good government:
n md nr,p y
mand its discontinuance.
SOCIAL EVIL.
Common decency and public safety demand
that some action OF the authorities having for it's
object the restriction OF this evil TO certain well
defined locations should be adopted, becsnse
it Is palpable to all whose eyes not voluntarily
closed agslnst the evidences Of it's in-
cressing magnitude, that omission will re-
suit in virtual destruction to the int insic
value OF some OF the most attractive real estate
within the Incorporated limits of the city Lo-
Gated in between and approximately to the resi-
dences OF some OF our most respectable citizens
throughout it's limits, but especially along those
streets most convenient to business centres, may
be found cyprisns plying their trade with shame
less audacity, ana the alarming Gemoralizs stion
from the contact of society with these people
would be difficult to estimate, because the in
buenoe OF vice, proverbial for being contagious,
10 also insiduous; therefore, In the interest OF
morality and public veal, we call upon the Legis-
lature to move in such direction that the flaming
license with which this horror now la Hauuted
may be checked and it's enormity suppressed.
RECKLESS NEGLECT OF STREET RAILROAD COM
PAnIEs.
The monthly sacrifice OF some useful life on
the altar OF "criminal negligence by some one
of the horse cars or steam trains plying through
The city merits severest condemnation and
by all humanity. For the right to
survive undissurbed by fears Of the loss OF that
which should only be taken by an act Of God, or |
IN expation for some horrible crime carries with il
something more than mere scientific application; |
snd patience would become fatigued in endeav.
bring to recount cases which have fallen yictims of
.hese frghtful installments Of blood, OF rgony and
ieath. Then, whence the cause2 It seems to be |
iue to eagerness tor increased dividends, which
has prevented the establishment OF proper
safeguards that will bear semblsnce to immu
llty from danger. This is specially applicable to
he fact OF the utili alton In July last, on the
Janal street steam train, Of vehicle totally un.
itted to the uses to which it was applied and
through which valuable life was added to a
egion OF others ,crifei on q similar altar
Again, since the duties which are imposed
lpon the drivers OF horse cars ars 80 numerous az
o render 1t impossible for them to perform all,
ingle-handed, without detriment to tho lives OF
it1zens, or even to the interest OF their employ
RS. why Ehould We wonder at the occasional item
4 horror reciting how it happened, and upon
7hom the blame fell, in some bone. crushing
ccdent? The experiment has been fairly tried
NJ occupants OF beds OF suffering and tombs in
emeteries cry out against longer tolerance.
lence we call upon the Legislature, the City !
ouncil and society to unite in breaking down a
arrier 80 inimical to safety.
GAMBLING.
The evil practice OF gambling has grown to
1ch proportions in this community and the ex-
ting laws against it have proven to be 80 made
uate to suppress 1t, that it is seriously asked,
why should not the State and the city derive q
avenue from the practice OF custom, vicious as l
may be, which cannot. by any means known to !
le law, be eradicated?'
People Of all stations in life will play at games
hazard and gamble, all laws to the contrary '
Forced to recognize the existence OF this ire.
retsible evil, the secret practice Of which has o
ndency TO increase its da gers to society, We | t
INK thai games at hazard in places Of public 4
sort shoud be made legitimate sourcs Of 0
venue to the State and city, by imposing upon '
lose who conducs them State and city license. 4
hlch should be of a sufficiently high amount to | n
ush out OF existence tho small gambling places '
'nerally frequented by the poorer classes OF q
,ople, and to compass the effects of the practice
thin the narroWest possible llmits !.
This would be mplIshed by legalizing the ii
isiness OF Keeping games OF hazard in places Of b
iblic resort, through license tax OF not less il
an, gay: $1,000 year. of which $4,000 should be b
I'D to this city, and $4,000 TO the State. v
a law to this effect, imposing such license. n
ould contain among others the provision that II
lnors mast be ostracised and playing must ci
confined to the second and third fl lors of the ia
ding used for that purpose, aud that the ii
ound floor shall not be used as a place Of re
hiking or OF public resort OF any kind. to
CRIME NOT PROVIDED FOR IN THE LAW
In the course Of our investigations many cases pi
We been examined, developing the collection s. :.
mlsappropriation Of moneys by clerks, agents .!
q attorneys who have represented princioa W
d against whom the evidence warranted affirm. ne
We indictments. but the laws requirement, s.I
It "concealment" Of the collection must be es-
'llshed to constitute crime, rendered it in
nbent on us to return unWiIlingly mot true ia
10" in many cases; therefore. since our criminal m
tutes do not include law which covers these de
es we urgently recommend to the law-makine m
yer to supply the omission. nj
FICTITIOUS COMMERCIAL HOUSES.
I has been brought to our notice that pum- co
OF firms" are doing business in this city who ~ ~
1d properly fall within the category of eauiyo. up
strength suggested by the caption; and for pc
ose special guidance we herewith quote the 10y
on partnerships, and urge its enforcement, 30