National Republican., 1884-06-16
GRAND JURY WORK.
The March Jury Presents Some Interesting
Facts and Pleasant COurtesies,
An Infant Combined in the jail Charged
with Larceny.

The final presentmont Of the March grand
Jury states that in its seventy-six days Of
service IL has found seventy-eight bills of
indictment and examined l57 witnesses. But
a small number of the indictments were for
heinous crimes, tho most of them being for
minor oiIonsos. Human life and the rights
of property tho jurors conclude, are nowhere
moro safely guarded than in Washington.
Thejurors compliment the officers who served
subpnnas for them upon their diligence.
OF their visit to the Jail the jurors say:
"Therc are at present confined in the jail
tSi prisoners. OF these only four were found
to be under medical II Treatment This very
satisfactory sanitary condition is the result
of tho remarkably cleanly condition
in which the building is Kept
by tho efficient warden. We deem
it proper TO say that the institution, in
all its arrangements and with the means
provided for the health as well as the safe
keeping of those therein confined, may be
considered unsurpassed. In this connection
one improvement suggests itself The portion
of the Jail in which female prisoners are
confined is not as well ventilated as IL should
be. This defect may be rcmcdicd by the
substitution of grated door for tho solid ones
with which the cells in this portion Of tho
Jail arc secured.
Among the female prisoners wo found
Rose Taylor, n colored girl, nero child of
the tender age of 8 years, committed ON the
4th day of June for thirty days, upon
charge OF petit larceny. Believing that
punishment in the common Jail of ono so
young can have no good effect, We would
respectfully recommend, if the power of the
court can be exercised in that behalf, her
discharge. While it is rare that offenders of
either sex of such tender years
are held amenabe to the criminal
law, there are many who commence their
vicious career at an age in which character,
for good or bad, according to the surrounding
influences, is formed. While wise pro-
vision has been made for the proper care aud
correction of male juvenile offenders in our
reform school for under the age of 10 years,
il appears passing strange that similar pro-
vision has not been made for the reformation
of female juvenile offenders. No moro om-
barrassing question presents itself TO tho
Judge presiding in the court before which
these delinquents are brought than that of
how to dispose of such cases. If a feeling of
loniency prompts a discharge, the delinquent
goes out to be controlled by the same vicious
influences If committed to jail, upon the ex-
piration of the term of imprisonment the
delinquent comes out, certainly not morally
improved after association for given period
with those furtherkadyanced in vice and
crime"
Referring to their visit to the Washington
asylum the grand Jurors speak in the highest
terms of tho management of that institu-
tion and of the school for young inmates, of
the intendant who established it, and Of the
lady who teaches in it,
The presentment closes with the thanks of
the jurors to the court, district attorney, and
his assistants.
Judge Wylie ordered that the S-year-old
colored girl confined in tho Jail for theft be
brought before him this morning. "a child
8 years of age can't be a thief" he said. 1T
can't do anything to be sent to Jail for"
The grand jury before being finally dis
charged presented indictments against the
following parties
Hugh O'Neill, embezzlement; Henry F. J.
Brown (three cases) violating section 5i9S,
Revised Statutes, in prosecuting a pension
and receiving q fee while a government
officer; James L. Rodgers, obtaining money
by false pretenses; Brooke Mackall forcible
ortry and detainer; Peter Fischer, man
laughter FrenChy Ross, murder; Albert
t.,seman, obtaining money by false pretenses
tnorod Arthur Clayton and Samuel Clay
ton, charged with housebreaking.
The grand jury presented Foreman Hutch
ms with q gold cameo double locket; w. C.
Harper, secretary, and John b. Thomas,
assistant secretary, each with gold-headed
cane. They also passed a resolution of thanks
and assurances OF regard to the foreman.
After the grand jury adj iourned some of the
members escorted Mr.. Hutchins to the Ma
tional hotel, where he was presented with q
silver.plated trowel, emblematic of his pro.
fession.