Arizona citizen., 1877-10-13
[ CAL TIERS.
District Court Proceedings.


 presiding, with J. Ne1gass Clerk and C
 A. Shibell, Sheriff. Monday the grand ju
 " was impanneled and charged, cases call ed and either passed or set for trial Al civil cases have been disposed Of save few on appeal from Justices courts. Fol lowing is the grand jury's report handed to the court yesterday morning when that body was discharged;
 RooNs OF THB GRAND JURY, TUcsoN PIMA COUNTY, October Term, 1877.
 To THE HoN. c. G. W, FRENCH, CHIEF JUSTICE ARIZONA, First Judicial District The Grand Jury lmpanneled to serve dur ing the October term, have the honor tc submit their final report of the transac tions during their session.
 We have had under consideration four teen definite and great number of indef. nate charges for crimes alleged to have been committed since the last session oi the grand jury. Three bills and present. ments have been found and presented to the court for trial; nine charges have been ignored and two continued until the next session of the grand jury.
 The classification Of the charges is as fol lows: Charged with murder four Of which one true bill has been foundj assaults two, and both ignored; accessory to murder one and was ignored; larceny one, forgery one, burglary one, attempt to extort mon- l 'ar- al d. F.r which are presented; failing 10 serve a warrant one and ignored.
 ! We beg leave 10 call attention to the re- ports Of the several subcommittee ap- pointed by our Foreman to investigate the ] affairs of the county, and while each Of said committees have diligently inquired into the matters referred to them, we de- ] sire collectively 10 announce the result of our deliberations. We find on examina- ton Of the records and also Of several wit ness, that very considerable expense against the county is contracted by reason Of the justices Of the peace in various pre- c1ncts and townships of the county, re- Imanding frivolous cases 10 the grand jury, whereas said eases might and ought to be disposed Of in some manner by those jus tices of the peace. We have instances or mere tap-room brawls and scrapes brought l before us for our consideration, and while the evidence at best was not sufficient to warrant a conviction, yet the cases are brought before us at great expense to the county for mileage, board, hire Of convey ances. etc, from distant parts Of the coun- ty. These cases properly come under the jurisdiction Of the justices courts and they should impose penalties laid down by law.
 We also find that although the county owns a courthouse, there is considera- ble sum expended every month for rent which we consider prudent economy does not jUstlfy.
 Much dissatisfaction is current concern ing the county hospital, not but what we as we'll as every body else consIderIt mer- itorious and worthy charge against the county; we find, however, that no record or check is made in the affairs of that in- stitution; and while we consider the at- tending physician proper and reliable person, we would suggest that some rec. ord be kept by the proper part es, showing how, when and for what reason and Tor how long each patient has been confined in the hospital; again. no reasonable method Is being followed whereby the worthy, needy and suffering could O. would !. be alleviated, for we have evidence that several chronic loafers and vagrants have enjoyed the comforts Of the hospital while other really suffering and deserving per- sons have been refused admittance by ! those in authority, and have been com pelled to live upon the bounty of certain | generous and kind-hearted citizens. We think a greater number of suffering hu- man beings might have been restored to ] health if a stringent, yet equitable admin istration Of affairs Of the hospital bad been secured.
 In the matter of the escape of prisoners, | we present some charges, and considering the negligence and indifference manifest ed by the jailor in charge at the time, we wonder that any prisoners remained at all in the jail It has come 10 our knowledgel that the jailor was interested with the con- tractor who supplied the prisoners with food, receiving twenty-five cents per day . from each seventy-fve cents paid by the While this fact does not consti- . tute any crimina offense, it is well to dis such practices and record . our opinions on tbe subject so that arepe- tition of them be prevented.
 The residents of Tucson have been ire quently annoyed by drunken Indians and the only manner in which the grand jury could torcibly impress upon those parties selling the liquor 10 them, the gravity of the offense, was by resolving itself into a detective force and ferret out what the paid officers of the United States, of the Territory, county and city have neglected 10 do. There have been five arrests and secured by us, and we con yratulate our citizens upon having at least broken the ice for them in the matter by bringing the offenders to justice; whether | the good work will be carried on or left ( ,lumber as before till the next organiza- ( ion of the special detective force of the ] grand jury takes the matter in hand, re- { mains to be seen. We consider that our iuty has been erformed, and that well.
 We desire to call attention of the Board 1f Supervisors and demand a more eco lomical administration of the county af- airs, and particularly call their attention { 70 clerical as we'll as any other errors that | lppear to have been overlooked by them [ heretofore. We have not failed to notice he very economical administration of the district court, and as taxpayers as well as Y yrand jurymen, desire to convey to his lonor, c. G. W. French, our thanks for ,