The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-05-26
The Grand Jury,

The grand jury, after session OF sew
eral weeks, returned titty-nine true bills,
Of which twenty were for felOnies and
thirty-nins for misdemeanors. TWAS the
most intelligent. careful, painstaking jul
nv that has been empannelled In the
county for long time, aud they per-
formed their duties. well. The following
is the official report made 10 Hon. A. S.
Walker, district Judge;
GRAND JURY ROOM,
AUSTIN, TEXAS, May %, 1881.
To Hon. A. S. Walker, Judge Sixteenth Dis
trict: .
In concluding our lPIOrs as a grand
Jury, we find pleasure in being able to
state that Travis county is enjoying an
unprecedented period OF observance OF
the lave. The constant efforts Of So
eiety through the officers, appointed
for that purpose, is TO reduce the VIOLA
lions to a possible minimum.
We have made diIigent inquiry through
out the entire county. We have patiently,
though with diligence, examined into al,
legged and supposed violations of law, and
the result of our labOrs has been an
agreeable surprise to US, and may well be
a source of profound satisfaction 10 the
people.
3
been taken up with misdemeanOr cases,
which need not go TO grand jury If the
county attorney employs the power vested
in him by the laws, and pursues Wlth
proper diligence this class of offenders.
Statutes, article 1851, chapter 3, Code,
gives to the attorney such power, that II
be employs it diligently these misde-
meanoFs can be punished as they are com,
mitted, and never appear before grand
jury, ,
1t may he said that the county attorney
can not be IN attendance at all of the
courts all the time. Neither does he at
tempt il, nor is il necessary that he
should, His assistants at the various
eourts should be held to a strict account
ability "a to their duties not only 70
prosecute, but to diligently seek for Of
lenses, and where these assistants are
found Indifferent they should be promptly
removed, and fearless ones substituted.
More than In any other hands, rests the
peace and quiet of the community in the
hands of the county attorney. Ana
wherever is found the minimum OF yio-
lations, there is found an efficient county
attorney and efficient assistants. Travis
county may well be satisfied with her at
Gorney, and we believe that before long
misdemeanor cases will almost entirely
disappear from before her grand juries.
We find the Jail well kept, and the pris-
0uers as we'll cared for as appears to be
practicable.
The offices of treasurer, clerks OF. the
county and district counts, assessor and
collector are managed in a manner credit
able to the officers and useful to the peo-
pie.
We believe that in thus putting on rec
ord the results Of our labOrs, We are
but doing justice to a growing spirit
on the part of the people Of Travis coun-
ty to require and exact from all her citl-
zens faithful observance Of the laws, 10
the end that all may enjoy peace and
quiet, and every persons labor bring the
highest price. t.. $3.50.
To your homo we beg to express our
qualification at the kindly relations which
have,existed between yourself and US and
to express the hope that you may be spared
for many years Of exalted usefulness TO
your fellow-citiZens. -..a.. amaze.
Respectfully, .I.-. b.
| JOHN W. GLENN,
w. A. PITTS,
JOHN C. RAYMOND,
K. S. CAPERTON,
JoHo X. DoNNAN,
-..... j. j. HAMILTON,
JOHN P. KIRK,
j. j. DAVIS,
f. c. BARTHOLOMEW,
. r. A. HoRNSBY.
f z. NORWOOD.
JOHN BROWNING.