Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-14
GRAND JURY REPORT

Condition of tho Public EnstitU.
r1OuB and bonds OF Onicers-Stx
Hundred lndfSHmeufH ana POrtV-
FOar Insane Persons.
The grand jury of Shelby county this
morning made the following report:
MEMPHIS, Tenn. May IA, 1878.
Hon. ]. E.. R. Ray, Judge Of the Criminal
court, sitting by interchange;
The undersigned grand jury of the
term OF your honorable court now about
to close, would respectfully report that
during the term they have visited the
various public Institutions of Shelby
county aud find them all now in excel.
lent condition. The work house we have
heretofore reported. The ~pest-house,
under charge of W. H. Hogel, with Dr.
Ess as physician, is we'll conducted.
There are at present two patients, both
marines, and the expense is borne bv
the United States government. There
has been but seven inmates since jam.
airy LIST of the present year-fve colored
and two Whitehall males. One Of these
died, and four have Seen discharged. 1t
would be a measure Of great economy if
the county would supply them With a
COW, as the cost OF keeping one there
would be trihlng, and the benefits great:
there.ls also needed a wagon and harness
for the use of the place in lieu of one
entirely worn out, We would also recon-.
mend that some fruit and shade trees he
set out at the proper time. The county
p%oor-house, in charge OF DR.. G. K. Dun
can, is we'll managed, and the expenses
have been reduced from $26, 900 in 1874.
to about $4,000 for the past year, and
the number of inmates for the came ne.
RODS we're nearly doubled. There are
at present seventy.ive sane aud FORTY
four insane inmates, and the cost of each
per day is only about twenty.oue cents.
II the present superintendent could have
the continuous management OF the place
for i've years, no doubt it could be made
self.sustainlng, and the jury respectfully
recommend that if possible some such
provision be made.
The jail, in charge Of John Leslie. ia
well managed, and we think Sheriff An
derson, in his selection of taller, has the
right man in the right place, At the
time OF our visit there was ll9 prisoners,
l09 male and 10 female.
The books aud papers Of the several
officers of the couRty are in excellent
order, OF these we would specially
mention Sheriff G. L. Anderson, Trus.
tee and Tax Collector J.. j. Rawlings.
Chairman Tom Holman, jr., and County
Court Clerk James Reilly, in all of whose
Offices we found everything 10 the most
systematic order. and full vouchers and
receipts for settlement up to the latest
date in which they could be made. On
examination of the bonds of several of.
fcers we would recommend that a new
bond be given by A. d Hunter, Justice
OF the peace, district No. 2, the sureties
having recently become insolvent.
To Judge 7. Il. Logwood and the Off
GERS Of the court the jury return thanks
tor courtesies extened and prompt at.
tention to performance Of the duties re.
quired to facilitate their Investigations.
The number Of true bills found NEARLY
60O), showing the duties of Attorney
General l. E Wright aud his able as
%sistant, Sam R Cannon, to have been
most arduous, Notwithstanding which
they have always been prompt to answer
all calls upon them for advice or assist.
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