The daily gazette., 1877-12-05
Rep9rtof the Grand Jury.

Crime on the DecreG8e-Ihe morals Of
Delaware's rising generation In dan
ger-A house of correction recommend
ed-1he Court, Attorney Geaerol and
his ass ociates Complimented.
The following are the principal points |
In the report of the Grand Jury which |
was read on Tuesday afternoon, previous |
to adjournment for the season.
The Indictments.
The Grand Jury, inquiring for the
County of New Castle, having perform
ed the duties assigned them, respectfully
submit to the court their report as fol-
lows; .-5-0 0 u.
Since our appointment we have acted
upon 377 bills ofwhich number 32S were
returped as true bills and 40 ignored.
Of those returned as true. four were for
capital offences, and the remainder were
mostly of a minor rcharacter; when we con-
slider that these offences are the accumu-
lation of year, we are led to believe
That crime in this county is not on the
increase. I... .....
The revolving crime of rape, it is true,
presents itself to the notice of the court
more prominently than heretofore, and
In O manner well calculated to alarm the
community; but we are glad to say that
its commission is SO closely followed by
conviction and certain punishment, that
the fears of the people are allayed by the
confidence they have in the strength OF
the protecting arm of the law; and hence
| they have no occasion to resort to the
more summary methods of punishment
Which-where laws and rulers are alike
weak-an excited and outraged populace
sometimes feels called on to execute
upon the culprits.
we cannot forbear to express our re-
gret that magistrates are compelled by
law to send 30 many petty cases to the
couros at every session. Legislation is
certainly needed to correct this growing
annoyance, not only as a matter of con-
venience, but also, because of the loss OF
time, aud expenses incurred In bringing
witnesses to New Castle from day to day
to attend the trials. A Quarter Sessions
Court in Wilmington, with authority to
dispose of all such local minor cases
would be a saving of hundreds of dollars
annually to the county. s't'
COURT HOUSE.
In pursuance of what we deem to be
q duty which we owe to ourselves, to the
Bench and the Bar the officers of the
Court and to the people, we are con
strained to present the Court House as
building unfit for the purposes fol. which
: it is used its want of proper ventilation
Its lack of convenience for jurors, Wit
r nesses and others having business witt
? the court its defective light ITS spas
l modic efforts to become heated in colt
weather and cool In the warm season ii
l abortive acoustic qualities; the tampereC
i and cramped facilities it offers to visitors
the antiquated appearance of its Jury
rooms land indeedits acknowledgement al
pearances generally all combine to maxi
n the building stand forth as reproacn TO
the progressive spirit of the age.
In the crowd which usually attend
u court proceedings we have seen q Ba'
1t commingling indeed. Male and female
b old and young, black and white, the neal
J, appareled and the ragged and soiled, a.
2 packed together upon ante-diluvia
. benches placed upward toward the cei
a ing as it to discover how much foul al
% the lungs of the human being could IL
"a hale before death ensued. We hav
1t seen one set of jurors displaced from thei
t, seats and scattered to give place TO ar
G other set who may have just returne'
. the bailiffs run hurriedly about In an
= outside the building in search of import
$ ant witnesses, whose health perhar
u would not permit them remain under IN
= influence of the impure atmosphere VIII
in. ..
"A rail or sit upon the platform at great IN
~ convenience TO themselves and ~thei
le clients for want of room In the bar. w
or have seen the honorable judges bend owe
their desks intent upon hearing what
was not possible, because OF the noise
sr moving feet within tho small compass
It, room allotted to business.
tn And this In q court room in New Castl
- county one year after the centennial cele
" bration of American independence, an
~ when thirteen coiouies have grown I'M
. thirteen sovereign states and ten terrific
no ries Need we say more to the authoritie
y" having the remedial power in their hand
Id than to tell them, through this honorao
L: cAurt that our court house is unworthy
ri the proverbial liberallty and hnancii
ability of the people of New Castle count.
10 We are aware of the fact that the Quei
he tion of removal and locality of the cou
A. Ihouse which has agitated the popult
90 mind for some time past, and Is yet an III
% settled question, may be urged as reaso
ne why the present undesirable STRUCTURE
,el permitted to remain as 1t is. But we ia
to undersiand why this should be made
:. perpetual bar to any proper 1mproveme
IN In the building whereby the health al
[r. com fort of the people should be protecte
nd | A few thousands of dollars judtciously 9
~ pended in enlarging the building, so as
ef make 1T more suitable for the preser
would be money well invested. 1t wou
give the property a market value whit
would make 1t an object of purchase to 4
If yestors at any time in the future when I'll
ar court house question shall have been Sc
'or tied by the people and the courts shnu
ice be removed to another part of the count
"a Taxp would not seriously object
,ar that 1nasmuch as It's sale at any reason
- BILE amount thereafter would return in
en- the county treasury all 1t had cost, wi
Iii ample interest added, while any mon
ed spent In patching 1t up would be mar
fpRtly mOley wasted.
ne The temple of justice should present I
IL appearance OF cheerfulneSs. 1t should {
err fer 10 those who are brought within
al walls at least ordinary comfort and cow
'ou nience. 1t must be remem bered thai W
- nesses and jurors, as rule, do not vii
an court houses voluntarily. Tney are sur
rs moned to lay aside all business pursu
~. and give up, for the time being, often VI
rly liable interests and give up, for the tiI
to being, valuable private interests and I
,pe take them selves to the court and there
-So remain until discharged by due course
'no law, under heavy penalties. These p
ate sons are mostly citizens end tax payer
led they come from all classes of soclety-n
tba ther age. sex or condition. is exempt
~, , | must answer when called by the law.
ne hold therefore, that it is unjust to the
md oao nln and unjust to the community w