Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1883-03-18
Grand Jury Report.

The Grand Jury met in adjourned
session yesterday and filed the following
report:
TO His Honor. the Judge Of The Superior
Court,
SIR-We, the Grand Jury Of the
March session, 1883, for the county Of
Los Angeles. State of California, beg
leave TO report as follows:
That five cases have been brought
before us for examination, two for per-
jury and three for grand larceny. -Four
were dismissed. In one case we found
true bill, which was verbally reported
to your Honor in a partial report,
namely-The People of the State Of
California VS.. Aurelio Villa and Angel
Urquides, grand larceny; also one case
Of bribery, which was dismissed.
THE COUNTY HOSPITAL AND JAIL.
We would further report that we, as
required by law, have visited the several
county building, and. as far as possible,
have investigated their condition and
management.
The County Hospital we find kept in
perfect order, both inside and out Of
the building, and the management con-
Quoted in an efficient manner.
In the case of the County Jail we find
the premises kept in as cleanly condi.
ton as is possible under the circum.
stances and the food furnished the pris-
oners of good quality.
THE OLD STORY.
We can but repeat the complaints Of
former Grand Juries regarding the
building itself and endorse their recon-
mendations. We find the accommoda.
tons SO poor that it is necessary to
place juvenile prisoners among more
hardened criminals-which naturally
tends to have an immoral effect on the
children and does not lead to that
proper correction of young criminals,
which should be expected from such an
institution.
JUVENILE CRIMINALS.
Our attention was called to two such
prisoners, aged respectively ten and
thirteen years, so hardened as to be
almost constant inmates of the jail, and
it was found necessary to confine one of
them in solitary cell to keep them
from fighting. 1t is but reasonable to
suppose that the association with the
grown criminals would but aggravate
this propensity, when not under the
watchful eye Of the jailer, which, under
the present management of the building,
would be impossible.
REFoRMAToRY NEEDED.
We therefore recommend that some
action be taken at once by the proper
to correct this outrage, for it
is not only disgrace to our common.
wealth, but crime against nature for
which our county government is respon.
sible.
ACCOUNTS OF COUNTY OFFICERS.
The committee appointed to investi-
gate the aocounts Of the county officers
employed an expert accountant for
twelve days at S. per day, whose sworn
report is annexed and made part Of this
report.
NEW COURT HOUSE NECESSARY.
We would also report that we deem 1t
necessary for the safety OF valuable
papers. in both the County Recorders
and County Clerks offices, that new
fre-proof Court House should be built,
as in case of fire but few, if any, of the
books and papers belonging to the
county could be saved.
We have examined the bonds of the
various county officers and find them
correct and the sureties good.
THANKS TO COUNTY OFFICERS.
We wish to extend our thanks to the !
District Attorney and the other officers
of the county for their courtesies and |
kindly attention during our session.
GEORGE KINDS, Foreman.
The expert who examined the books
of the ounty officers, to which reference
is made above. reports that he found
them correct. with the exception of a
few clerical errors, which suggested their
own correction.