The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1879-05-21
REPORT OF THE GRAND JURY.
STATE OF LOUISIANA, PARISH OF RAP
IDEs, DISTRICT COURT, MAY
TERM 1879.

ADA-S1 LAO AnlSl SOoRl1 NAL
TERM 1879.
10 the Honorable, the Judge Of the Dis
hict Court, OF the Ninth Judicial Dis
trict:-
We, the Grand Jurors, duly i'm,
pannelled. sworn and charged to in.
qnire in and for the Parish of Rap
ides, having concluded our labors
beg leave to submit the following
report:
On entering upon our duties we
found a mass of unfinished business
which could not be acted upon by
the last Grand Jury, at the May
term of Court 1873, for the want OF
evidence, and an accumulated
amount Of business on account OF
there having been no Grand Jury at
the December term of Court, appall.
ing to an inexperienced Jury, for it
was found that there was but one of
our members who had ever served
upon a Grand Jury previously, but
we entered upon our arduous task
with a firm and earnest desire to
discharge our duty to the State and
Parish, without fear Of reproach or
hope Of reward to the best of our
ability.
We have acted upon 134 cases, and
presented for the action of your Hon.
Court only such as in our Judgment
merited prosecution-to a fuller ex
tent many Of these are for the small
est offences known to the law. We
have examined them carefully and
believe that few convictions will
operate as healthy moral effect up.
on the evil disposed, when they
find that violations of law and order
will be followed by swift and certain
punishment. Altogether, we think
there is cause for congratulation in
the very decided and continued i'm.
provement in the criminal condition
of our Parish; better feeling of Sc
curity for both life and property pre-
walls, and but for the failure of hav.
ing Grand Jury at the last Decem-
Der term Of Court, our docket would
have presented but few cases for
action.
Having finished the docket, the
Grand Jury proceeded in a body to
inspect the Parish Jail and premises,
and are pleased to be able to record
a marked change for the better in
the appearance and condition Of the
Prison and its surroundings, under
the present administration. We
found about twenty prisoners in the
Jail awaiting sentence or trial-the
building itself can never be made
anything else but place oftorture
TO its inmates, especially during our
|ong hot Summers.
Had tho architect been called upon
10 present a plan Of a prison which
would not only secure the prisoners,
but intiict great physical suffering
upon item, he could not have sue.
cee'led more admirably than in this
instance. The deficiencies in ligh,
and ventilation, two qualities essen
bial to health. is at once apparent.
In other respects the prisoners
seemed comfortable and expressed
themselves we'll satisfied with the
quantity and quality of their food.
The premises under The management
and direction of our efficient Sheriff,
D. G. Paul, have been much i'm
proved; additional outbuildings have
been erected, the old enclosures have
been replaced, and a neat and sub
'tantial fence placed around the en-
ire Jail square, to which buildings
las been made liberal application
If whitewash. A portion Of the Jail
square has been appropriated to
vegetable garden which is worked
~ details from the prisoners, most
excellent idea, ana one which must
much to the health and en-
oyment of the prisoners, and at no
expense to the Parish.
Enquiring into the condition of
The Public Schools, we find that they
Ire at present suspended, in conse-
luence of a want of funds. Tue fu,
ure is more hopeful and it is antic-
pated by the School Board that
when this tax, which they are to re-
'eive from the Parish has been real.
zed :hey will in future be able to
Seep in operation the schools for at
east ten months in the year.
We find that the School Board,
trough its President, has leased a
'ortion of the school lands belong
ng to this District. We do not see