Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-04-23
RErsRr OF rnE csAxD july.
To THE Hon. KoGK2 s. GREENE.


10 THE hon. IsOGE2 .. JKEkSk-
Chief Justice.
We, the Grand Jury, having acted
upon all the business brought before as
by the United States and District At
torneys, and all other business brought
before us, submit the following report,
and ask to be dischar- ed:
The transcripts In the case OF Payne,
which we herewith return. accompany
ing the dying declaration VI DAVID Sires,
have been carefully examined. and with
other evidence given before us, which
new evidence we herewith submit TO the
Court. has convinced each and every
one of this Grand Jury that benjamin
Payne murdered officer David Sires.
We have carefully considered the cases
Of Howard and Sullivan. and from the
testimony adducsd before the Justice,
we have no doubt they were the parties
who murdered George Reynolds.
Ihesparties charged met their deaths
in ths city of Seattle At the hands of an
outraged community on tie 18th day OF
January last.
This ends these cases and renders
further action Oh our part unnecessary,
except TO say, that upon the facts as
presented to us. IL would have teen our
duty at this term 10 have presented true
bills agains. the said Benjamin Payne
for murder IN the first degree, commit
tod upon David oirea on the io;h day OF
October. A. ID. 1851, at }he hour OF mid
night, while upon and IN the perform
ance OF his duty as poiice siticer OF the
city of Seattle. This jury wonld further
have felt bound. by the evidence brought
before it, TO have found true bills against
VIM. Howard and James Sullivan for
murder i'll the first degree, committed
upon the person of Geo. Reynolds. In
the streets of Seattle, OH the evening Of
January 18th, 1852, in the attempt 10
commit highway robbery.
Disregard of the law prohibiting the
selling Of liquor To Indians, has been
manifest to this jury. In all cases where
evidence was conclusive true bills have
been found az INST vioiaters OF the law.
We desire to express our condenna-
ton of the practice of Justices of the
Peace entertaining frivolous charges,
neediessly making costs, and forward
ing trivial cases to the District Court,
which must necessarily end either III
parties being subjected to needless ex-
Lense, or that the county and its tax
payers shall be burdsned by an entirely
unnecessary and improperly incurred
expense in the way of costs.
We wish TO express our disapproval
Of the practice of allowing parties to
shield themselves from consequences by
going into Justices Courts and pleading
guilty and paying n nominal fine. Wit
nesses within our reach have not justi-
ned us i'll finding indictments. although
satisfying as that there is real cause of
complaint, and necessity of improve
ment Ill this respect.
In examining official papers brought
before US we have been surprised at the
length of documents, whose principal
object seems to have been to multiply
words, where brevity would have ac-
complished the end sought for and
lesssned costs.
We have spent much time in investi-
eating violations of the Sunday law,
aud have found indictments in all cases
where sufficient evidence was offered.
The county buildings have been visit
ed by US. The new courthouse seems
to be able to meet its reqal rsments for
some time to come. The building i'll
which are located the Offices Of the sew
eral county Offices and Jail seems to be
III a satisfactory condition, with one ex-
ception-the inadequate provisions for
securing the records in the Auditors
Office against fire or other danger. We
found the large safe full to rspletion.
and valuable books and papers are no
cessarily left outside. either on the desks
or floor. The floor beneath the safe in
both the Auditors and Treasurer Office
has settled to such an extent as to show
that tho floor il inadequate to supper:
such great weights as large safes. We
cannot too strongly recommend the i'm
mediate provision Of suitable tire-proof
vaults, as recommended by the County
Auditor, to supply this pressing want.
Immediate attention to tins matter may
prevent irreparable loss to the county of
valuable records and papers.
10 prosecuting attorneys Evans and
Hanford we desire to express our i'll
debtedness. All their proceedings be-
fore this jury were conducted with dill
gence and iinpartiality. Our law-abid-
ing citizens could ask no better repre-
and parties against whoa
is made no fairer prosecutors.
Respectfully submitted.
A. s. MILLER,
Foreman Grand jury,