The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1877-12-21
GRAND JURY PREsENTMBNrs
Cobb Superior Court.

We, the Grand Jury, chosen and sworn
for the second week of November Term OF
Cobb Superior Court, beg leave to make the
following general presentments
We deem it unnecessary 10 go into gen.
eral investigation of the various offices and
public buildings of the county, as the etlic-
lent Grand Jury of the first week has super
ceeded that necessity.
We concur in the report of the former
Grand Jury in relation to the bad condition
of the public roads and bridges and would
especially call the overseers and commiss-
toners of roads to see that the roads be post
ed with sign boards at every fork of the
roads and notched posts at every mile.
The road from Smyrna to Dodgers mill,
by Alexander Eaton's, is in bad condition.
The bridge over Smiths creek on the Villa
Rica road wants repairing; also the Bridge
over Mud Creek is in bad condition Ros-
well road two miles from town needs work
very much the bridge over Soaps creek,
at Delk's, on the same road, is in a bad con
dition the road from Concord Factory to
Powder Springs should be widened in sew
cral places Bells Ferry road at MONDAY
bridge is in bad condition and should be at
tended to Immediately. All the roads in
the eastern part of the county generally are
in bad condition.
We would recommend to his Honor the
Ordinary, the necessity of reducing the
jalor's fees, for feeding prisoners, TO $3.50
per month, as in the present condition Of
the county we deem it ve:y proper in its
embarrassed financial condition.
We also recommend that the Ordinary
withhold license for the future TO any per
son applying for the same TO sell ardent
spirits at the grocery known as Lemons at
Lemon Court Ground, also the grocery
known as the Mitchell grocery, and.that the
members from this county TO the next gen
eral assembly be instructed to procure the
passage of bill to prohibit the selling of
ardent spirits at either of the above named
places.
We regret TO notice that there is an in
crease of crime, particularly of what is de-
nominated petty offences and misdemean-
ors consisting ofpetty larceny stealing corn,
vegetables, fruits, provisions Of all kinds,
hogs, sheep, etc. We will not stop to CON
slider the cause. That there is general de-
preston in every business is evident, but in
the county of Cobb every man can make
support by labor--the necehsaries of life are
within the reach Of every able bodied man
who is willing to labor whether they make
money or not These cases tend to fill the
jail, clog the courts and increase the already
heavy taxes of the people. The only RENE
dy we sec is to have tribunal consisting of
a Justice of the Peace or Notary Public or
both for speedy trial of these cases, when
witnesses can be had and punishment in
Jail will deter others. Confinement in Jail
with plenty of good food ia the Jail, await
ing trial, will not deter them, but is heavy
burden to the people. II they. will commit
crime, the criminal and not the people
should suffer We, therefore, recommend
that our Representatives in the Legislature
to pass an act providing for the speedy trial
of this class of cases and to authorize the Or
ganization of a county chain gang whereby |
the criminal may be made to work and Ia |
Dor for the county, if they will not work |
for themselves.
In taking leave of His Honor, Judge |
George N. Lester, We return to him our |
sincere thanks for his courtesy to our body
md also to Col. Greer, our Solicitor Gener-
Il for his untiring energyTifi tic discharge
Of his duty and his uniform courtesy to this
body while in the discharge of their duty
llso to the efficient Sheriff and Clerk and
,ther officers connected with this court
We recommend that these presentments be
published in the official organ of the county,
he MARIETTA JOURNAL
WILEY j. MCCLATCHY, Foreman.
lanes w. Bozeman, Martin w. Johnston,
Royal G. Buchanan, Pascal W. Cochran,
Edward II Eal.estraw, James S. Dobbins,
William J. Collins, George L. Kendrck,
Andrew II. Fowler, VIM. ]. Manning,
Nathan Lee, James r. Murdoch,
James H. Cash, Humphrey Reid,
Thomas E. Legg, John p. Boring,
Nathan A. Fowler, Sanford Gorham,
Alexander, L. Orr.
Ordered, that the foregoing general pre-
sentiments be published as requested in the |
MARIETTA JOURNAL. December Adjourn
ed Term, 1877.
GEO N. LESTER,
Judge Superior Court.
A true copy taken from the minutes of