The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-11-28
Repert Of the Grand Jury.

To the Hon. E 3. Turner, Judge OF the Dis
trict Court, Travis county:
We refer with encouraging hope
fulness to the improvement that has
been made the last few years in the
moral sentiment and desire upon the
major part of the community to en-
force more rigidly the law, and punish
the vlolators, which they have found
to be more certain under the pres
ent jury law, giving hope to the good
citizen.
The present jury law, in its wise
provisions, forms juries of good men,
who should deem their jury services as
the duty of good citizen, and not as
privilege.
Owing to the law of 1876, making
all land forgeries indictable in the
county OF Travis, and which has in
creased the business of the district
court; secondly, the Rio Grande suits
are returnable in Travis county
thirdly, the increased population of
of Austin and Travis county
we therefore respectfully ask that
the Sixteenth Legislature constitute the
county of Travis judicial district,
with an increased number of terms of
the court each year, say from 1890.
which the amount of business demands,
and would thereby lessen the cost to
the county for keeping the prisoners in
Jail; likewise would render q more
speedy trial of those charged with of.
feuses and lessen escapes from punish
meet caused by delays. While speak
ing upon this subject it would not be
smiss to add that officers should be
held to a strict accountability for q
proper discharge of their official duties.
| We would commend that the law re-
curing attorneys representing the State
to put in writing the causes of dismiss
al of cases before justices of the peace
De enforced, and said justices note the
returns that are made in suits on their
dockets; also report to each term of
the commissioner court, turn over all
| coniiscated arms, and, further, call the
attention of officers to arresting or re-
porting all violations of the law There
are so many robberies committed
throughout the country it seems advis-
able that the law prohibiting the car
rying of weapons be amended or re-
pealed, as the peaceful, law.abidiug
citizens go unarmed and bad men do
not regard the law.
We further suggest that the law for
the inspection of ANIMALS and hides re-
quires some amendments so that par
ties trading horses or cattle, which are
not driven out of the county or slaugh-
tered, should be exempt from the cost
OF inspection and certificate, and a
transfer of such stock only requires q
Witnessed bill Of sale. The inspection
af hides is 50 uncertain and expensive
we would recommend 8 repeal of that
section Of The law. We, however,
think that the law requiring horses
that are driven or shipped out of the
county, snd cattle that are slaughter
Cd, driven or shipped out Of the, coun-
~ be inspected aud recorded in &C
cordaDce with the law, and the officers
held TO strict account should they fail
to enforce the law.
We have visited the iail snd found
that perfect order and cleanliness pre-
vail. The prisoners are all well cared
for, taking into consideration the num-
Der confined.
After due consideration ~ grand
jury believe the present system sssaL-
ishIng misdemeanors and petit larceAy
by confinement in the county Jail Is
really punishment 70 the taxpayer as
well IS the violator Of the law, and q
speedy punishment is believed to be
the greatest preventative to crime. We
respectfully recommend such change in
our law as will punish by whipping in
stead Of confinement IN jail for all
MINOR olfenses. Instead of the death
penalty for the crime of rape We would
recommend castration, the OF ject Of
sill law being 10 prevent the commits
sion of crime as well as TO punish. We
believe that living monument in the
person Of one castrated being continu-
ally before the eyes OF the vicious will
90 further 10 deter and prevent the
commission Of this crime tiSp the
hanging OF many soon to be forgotten
IN the clay, Of people most apt to COM
NIT this crime.