The daily gazette., 1883-02-08
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II
Esaview of the Past Years WorlE-A Azo-
buko to Rufaanly OfIlcers.
At tho session Of court this morning, the
grand Jury, having finished their labors,
presented their report for the year, as fol.
lows
IA the present term Of court completes |
tie labors Of the grand jury now sitting, |
they take pleasure In submitting to Your |
HonoFs the following report
During the year for whichit was appointed |
the Grand Jury has acted upon So bills, Of
which 81 have been returned as true and |
seven ssignoramus." The true bills were as
follows, viz
Murder, rape, l !; bigamy, /; setting
fire to a dwelling house, assault and bat
terry, 8 /; carrying concealed deadly weapons,
is / lareency, 81 house breaking, 5 high
way robbery, 2; assault with intent to commit
murder, 2; keeping gambling house, 2; re-
sisting public officer, l; maintaining
nuisance, 1; sellin e Intoxicating liquor to
minors, 3; selling liquor to habitual drunk
ards, /; selling liquor without license, 8.
The grand jury take pleasure in reporting
that the number of bills acted upon during
our term shows O considerable decrease. In
the year 1881 there were 1869 bills acted
upon by the grand jury and in 1882 there
were 150 bills acted upon. The decrease In
great measure Is due to our late Liquor
DAifEU w liflAi1t IL DfNuJy w tho AAAhhAAA
performance OF the duties of his office pre-
venting great many persons from selling
liquor without license.
The grand jury also desire TO call your
attention TO the fact that some of the peace
officers of the county who are authorized by
law to make arrests, and particularly those
composing the police force of
the city of Wilmington, are In the
habit of exercising their power in a very
out any occasion therefor, the arrests
sometimes being accompanied with kicks
or blows from the officers, and most
always, so far as we can learn, with oaths
and other abusive language. We regret
that such is the case, and can only recon-
mend to the Mayor of the city, or other
appointing power, the immediate dismissal
of such men from service as wholly un-
worthy to act In the capacity of peace
officers.
The Almshouse has been visited by the
grand jury and carefully examined in its
several departments. Its general condition
is good; cleanliness meets the eye through
out, and feeling of contentment appears
to prevail among It's inmates, The sick
have the advantage Of skillful physicians
and kind attendants, while those who are in
health find sufficient comfort within the
house TO make them speak in terms of praise
of the superintendent and his family.
JUNK SHOPS.
We would call the attention of the court
to the fact of the means afforded to thieves
by keepers of junk shops and other places
for the disposal of their piunder. They
afford the facilities of encouraging more
theft than would be committed were there
not such places to dispose of stolen goods.
We present this fact to the court for the
purpose of informing the stolen goods mer-
chants that they are liable to arrest and
punishment for purchasing goods which they
cannot help but know were stolen. Cases
have been before the grand jury in which it
became almost self-evdent that goods
purchased were illegally obtained, and the
purchasing party were cognizant Of the
fact. Junk shops, as rule, are not essen
tial to the mercantile or moral health
of the community, but are very damaging
to the proper formation of character Of the
youth and older persons who frequent them
as customers.
COUNTY PRISONS.
The county prison was also visited by the
grand jury, and found in clean and credit
able condition, and the prisoners as well
cared for and provided with as good and
substantial food as in any county or State
prison in this country.
HOUSE OF CORRECTION.
1t is to be deplored that the want of a
house Of correction for Juvenile offender,
makes 1t necessary, at nearly every term oi
court to send boys to prison, where at the
least they can learn no good, and
are not improved by Incarceration
with the hardened criminal from
whom they quickly take lessons in
crime, which must eventually bring them to
severe punishment, and deeper disgrace.
The common prison is not the proper school
house in which to educate the youth of any
community to become honest and respect
able citizens, and a house of correction
is preferable to the whipping post and pill
loFy.
In concluding this report the grand iur1
beg leave to return TO your Honors, tbs
Attorney General and his deputies, it,
thanks for their uniform courtesy and
valuable assistance during its term o
tarvirn WIIIIAM q HERRERT FOREMAN