Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-05-11
GRAND JURY REPORT.

Necessity for Increased Office RoOm-Jail
Improvements-Disgrac Condition Of
the City Station House-Excellent Man
sgement of the Different County ON
INSTRUMENTATION Etc.
The grand jury submitted its final report to
the district court at $50 yesterday afternoon
and. were discharged. Below will be found
the essential portions OF the report:
To the Honorable District Court of Ramsey
county:
The grand jury of Ramsey county summon
ed for the general May term, A. D. 1882, of
this court, beg leave to report as follows:
That in addition to investigation of crimi-
nal cases, they have visited the county Jail in
body. This visit was made at an early period
of their session, unexpectedly to themselves
and the officials of the jai. They found it in
cieanly and orderly condition, and the re-
suit OF this inspection has convinced them
that in quantity and quality of food, the
prisoners are well supplied, and in other re-
spects are as well provided for as is possible
in the present building, exception mentioned
fact that the Jail was built at
time when this was frontier city,
and in some respects without any reference 10
very largely increased population, the ac-
Communications, with perhaps one or two ex-
captions, are made the most and the best of,
but it Is the opinion OF the jury that the needs
| of the county are not met in the present
structure.
| Former grand juries have called attention to
| matter which has not yet been rectifed.
| The closets still remain entirely unenclosed,
| ignoring all privacy, and in a situation open
| to ally inmate, officer or visitor, who may be
passing around. The grand jury believe that
| this matter ought to be, at least partially
rectified, and that this could be done without
increasing any of the risks which may be ap-
pretended by the officials or employees. 1t is
the opinion of the jury that some meaus
should be used to obscure the lower part OF
| the windows looking out on to Fifth street,
In order to protect passers by, especially
ladies, from insulting remarks and gestures,
which it appears have been frequently made
| by certain of the prisoners.
| The large accession OF vicious and danger
GUS characters to the inmates of our county
Jail is calling for increased watchfulness on
the part Of the officials, and is an increasing
tax upon their fOrbearance. Therefore stern
eye and firm hand are constant necessities.
The reports of the visits to the aims house
and poor farm by I. d. Pollock, W. P. Payte
and j. c.. Bettinger, to the city and county
hospital by Messrs. A. s. Elicit, VIM. Welsh
and II. Meaey, and to the several county Of
fees by T. McCormick, Albert Armstrong and
A. l.. Knight, accompany and are made part
OF the general report.
The grand jury would further report that
they visited the city prison in the
absence of inmates, as there was but one,
boy. The prison was in as good condition
as it could be under the circumstances; and
yet the utter inadequacy of the accOmmoda-
tions, the close, contracted character of the
mere holes into which it is necessary to crowd
the large number which are, at night, and
almost every night, placed there; the
damp, unwholesome air, the pervading
sense of filth and stencil, which are almost a
terror to the officers, is little less than dis
graceful to metropolitan city like st. Paul.
1t appears that at times these three holes, and
the contracted lobby beside them, hold as many
as forty human beings, many of them in the
worst stages of drunkenness and unspeakable
filth. The jury can only call attention to this
matter, the remedy lies elsewhere. But I'M
less the risk is taken of an epidemic, with
this for its nucleus, something ought to be
done, and soon, in the opinion Of the jury
Without any disposition to transcend the
scope of its duties, the jury would allude to
one or two other important subjects: The
necessity that exists on the part of the police
to make special efforts to discover any parties
who may cell liquor to minors, or to confirmed
J drunkards, or who may sell at hours forbid
den by the law. The necessity, also, which
|. cAisbe loI DiluSiHS puuilC opiuiou " oooi vi
the reckless, or secret carrying of firearms,
especially by children and irresponsible per
sons. The latter is becoming a crying evil
and law and public opinion should alike be
invoked to lessen it. The enforcement of ex-
listing laws and statutes en- the various evils
which are patent amongst US, and yet which
apparent vigilance seems sometimes poweress
to enforce, this grand jury believes to be a
deep necessityi and feels constrained to give
expression to the opinion.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
R.MARvIN, Foreman.