Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1881-04-01
Report Of the Grand Jury.

The Grand jury for the present Term o.
this Court respectfully report,
That during their sessions they have ex
amined all matters brought to their atten.
ton have examined all witnesses brought
before them and have found presentments
in all cases which, in their Judgment the
testimony before them would warrant. and
have to the best of their ability disposed OF
all business claiming their attention, EXCEPT
one case in which il seemed impossible to
get the witnesses before us, either bv sum.
mons or attachment
A committee from our body visited the
Aims House and made thorough examina.
ton of that institution; found there &c in.
mates, Is whites and 81 colored; and re.
ported the inmates generally as comfortably
provided for rs could be expected They
would, however, respectfully suggest that
some better system Of ventilation should be
devised, as the air in some of the interior
rooms was very impure, not from lack Of
cleanliness but from detective ventilation
One Of the rooms requires special mention
Upon opening the door, the interior was SC
dark that il was some time before we could
SEE that it was occupied by coorcd man.
who, VIC were informed, was deaf, dumb and
nearly blind; there appeared to be no open
ing except the door, and absolutely no ven
tiation except that obtained by opening said
door
Something should certainly be done tu
improve this apartment, or it should be
abandoned rs an apartment for "A human
being.
The farm and buildings seemed to be well
kept and showed evidences Of good manage
men on the part Of the overseer, Mr.. Con
nell. We would, however, suggest that the
lot used as a burial ground should be fenced
and that the graves should be rounded up
and kept in decent order
Another committee of our body visited
the County Jail and report that institution
scrupuously clean and admirably kept, OK
cept the sewer pipes Of which previous Grand
Juries have complained, and which is still
a source Of offensive odors, and unless il is
rectitied may be the cause Of death to some
of the inmates.
We would call the attention of the County
Commissioners to the condition Of the light
ming rod upon the Clerks office; one of the
insulators is torn off, and at another point
the rod is severed, the disconnected ends
lying upon the roof, thus endangering in
stead of protecting the building.
Understanding that it is the duty of all
deputy sheriffs and constables to appear be-
fore the Grand Jury, we obtained list OF
these officers from the Clerks office and
find that several Of them have failed in this
duty.
At his own request Mr. 5. X. White, Sec
rotary and Treasurer of the School Board,
appeared before us, exhibited his books and
explained bis system Of accounts, which ap-
peared TO be thorough and exact; he ex-
pressed the opinion that by the beginning of
the next school year the board would be
free from debt, and BIO enabled 10 conduct
IFS business upon cash basis, and with
the amount at present levied, could, with
economy, conduct the schools successfully
for nine months in the year.
We would respectfully cali attention Of
the CouF; 10 The unsafe condition Of the
papers and books in tho Clerks Office and
Orphans Court and recommend that some
action should be taken, and that promptly
10 insure their safety from accident by fire
or otherwise,
The cost Of tie county printing also
claimed our attention, and II was the imam.
atOB opinion Of those present that under
the present system the expense Is too heavy,
and we recommend b. the County Commits
sioners that in the future the printing be let
after due notice, 10 the lo,oet responslble bid
der or bidders
In concluding this report we feel impelled
TO unite with the Judges of this Court and tho
members Of the bar in the expression Of oul
sense Of the great loss that has hefallen not
onl{ this county, but the entire State, in The
death Of Judge Bowie. Beloved by his neigh
bors, those best acquainted with his many no.
bic qualities, IN degree which falls to the lot
Of few, be has passed from us, leaving behind
him The perfume Of well spent life, and
the conviction In the minds Of all Of the los
Of that "Nobest work Of God, an honest
man. o. II. T.. CLARK,
Foreman