The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1883-03-22
To the Public.

NV attention has been called to an article ad-
dressed to you by Messrs w. F. Groves, l.
Black and A. n Simpson, Trustees, appearing
i'm the last issue of the Marietta Journal.
As Foreman of the Grand referred 10, and
in behalf of its members, of whose action those
Trustees are pleased to say
at is passing strange that the grand jury
should recommend the discontinuance of the
only public ~ school in town, in total disre-
gard of the noble purpose of the distinguished
donor whose sole object was for the public
good"
respectfully ask Mr. Lemuel Black, wheth-
er he was not one of that Grand Jury Wheth-
er he was not present and participating with us
when we deliberated and &C ed in the matter OF
that academy and it's premises Whether he
did not inform us that it was used as a private
schoolf | would further ask whether he and
his associate trustees are not unfortunate in at
tempting, as above, 10 place the members OF
our grand Jury in the attitude of opponents to
the cause of public school education and the
public good And whether the following are
not facts
Ist. We had evidence before our grand jury
of the grossest and vilest pr actices carried on
upon the grounds of that academy.
ID. We diligently enquired into and endeav-
ored to inform ourselves, how to remedy the
evil
Sd. The ownership of that property was
discussed, and we were informed by authority
We could not question, that the title came from
the State, not from an individual. That it was
he property of the county, with a possible re-
camation By the State that it was then and
had been used as private school. and no reve-
nue. had ever accrued therefrom 10 the county.
4th Having reached the foregoing concIus
ions. and failing to discover any other way to
abate the nuisance, was there anything pass
ing strange" in our determining TO recommend
the sale OF the property, and the return OF the
proceeds therefrom into the county treasury =
9Th. Neither the management of the proper
tv by the trustees, nor the conduct OF the school
bv the estimable lady who taught there, was
questioned or called in question, nor was any
reflection in any way made upon either the la
DIV or my friends, the trustees, in our dellbera-
tons. Are not these the facts 7
The Trustees are willing to raise a sharp
contrasl-between The action of our grand jury
in presenting the property as a nuisance and
the public benefit sccruing from the academy
as public (sicl SCHOOL, my recollection is
that Mr. Black gave us an Indifferent potion OF
its value as an institution of learniEg.) l can
not however be wrong in the strong impression
left on my mind from the evidence adduced
and our fail discussion, and that was that all
the instruction ever given at that academy,
with the best of teachers, could not have a
feathers weight when cOunterbalanced with
the vicious, lewd, riotous devilish practices,
perpet. atrd on the premises night after night,
week and month after mOnth-its peculiar To-
cality and surroundings-yes that very good
fence" as wel-furnishing a convenient cover
for just such pestiferous nuisance as grand
jury, if pretending to do it's duty, should do its
best to abate.
If the Trustees have found way to correct
the evil complained Of an inference permissa-
BILE from their card-no citizen of the county
congrstulates them more heartily, nor can the
trustees receive more earnest sympathy In the
furihering any and every effort TO foster the
cause of education, whether by public or pri-
vate schools, than the members of our Grand
Jury. la conclusion permit me to add that
the members OF that grand jury eudeavored IN
the discharge of their duties TO live up to the
measure of their oaths and with such light as
could be bad upon ever matter bro ght before
them, their action was conscientious and with
out fear. envy or malice
G. w. BENSON, Foreman.
Having given both sides hearing, fur
Their discussion Of this subject through our col
umuns. will have TO be as paid advertisements
-EDIToRs.1