The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1885-03-21

STATE OF LOUISIANA,
PARIsll or Sr. LANDRY.

PARIsti OF ST. LANDRY.
In the name and by tho authority of the
State of Louisiana, duly empanneiled, sworn
and charged TO inquire within and for the body
0f the parish of ST. Landry, State aforesaid
your Grand Jurors respectfully submit the
following report: We have carefully exanlin-
ed all matters submitted TO us, atti have re-
ported such matters to your Honorable Court
when in our opinion it was necessary to do so !;
We have presented such persons as We thought
should be prosecuted, and iguofed such accu-
sations as we thought We're not based on good
evidence to justify us in sending them before
petit jury and we regret TO say that dur
ing our session d great many frivolous and
gronndless charges have been preferred; that
while We carefully inquired iuto these charges
we were forced to ignore many OF them for
the reason that they were brought about
through prejudice and animosity.
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS. We have exanin-
cd our parish prison and conyersed with the
prisoners, and from all the information we
could obtain We find that the prisoners are
kindly treated, we'll fed aud cared for ) that
the building is kept i'll d cleanly condition and
all the necessary rales Of hygiene observed.
Ia order to keep tue prisoners III health aud
comfort We would. however, recommend that
fence be built around the jail about nine
feet in height III order TO keep outsiders from
approaching too near tue jail, ana that such
prisoners as are not considered by the Sheriff
to be of u dangerous character, De allowed
during the day to be removed to some room
in the upper part of the Jail, ia order to OBJ
tain fresh air aud have exercise; aud We fur
ther report that, with the exception OF a few
broken places, we find the Jail III good order,
and we recommend that the Sheriff as soon as
practicable have those places fixed.
COURT HOUSE
We further report that We have examined the
Court House building and found it very much
In need of repairs, and would recommend that
the Sheriff have these repairs made as soon as
practicable ut the expense Of the parish.
PUBLIC ROADS
There have been q good many complaints
made to us against the oyerseers of the pub.
lic roads, ana after diligent inquiry we have
found indictments against several road over
seeFs, aud regret that We could not examine
as closely into the matter as VIC desired, i'll
consequences of our limited time and press OF
business presented; and we earnestly call up
on all subsequent Grand Jures to t0inyestigate
matters on the subject to the best OF their
ability.
Wesswould further suggest that road be
opened leading into 0pelousas from the west,
on account of tbs constant travel over the OH
ly road now leading into Opei0nsas from that
direction, which has bec0me almost impassa-
bile from the reason that the road now ifuseis
situated on o low, fat section of country and
is insufficient for the amount OF travelling
that passes over said road, aud we would re-
commend that the Police Jury at their next
meeting give the natterits sdueconsidefation
PU Lie MEASURES.
Before concluding our report We will say
that it has been brought to our attention III
the able charge of the presiding Judge, that
on a recent occasion within the limits OF the
parish of st. Landry q couple of men have
been mobbed By a party of men unknown &c
your Grand Jurors; that we have diligently
inquired iato this matter, and have cited al
the witnesses from that neighborlIood that vi
thought could throw light upon the subject;
aud we regret TO say that we have not beer
able to discover WHO The parties Were wht
took part III and participated III the lynchine
of the aforesaid parties IH conclusion, We
tender our thanks to The officers for he as
distance which they have rendered us while
we haYe bee in session, and following tht
le4ter and spirit OF the charge SO carefully
confided to US by his Honor, the presiding
Judge, we have endeavored TO perform 0ul
duty to the best of our knowledge and belief
ALCEE DUPRE,
Foreman Grand Jury.
Filed March II, 1885.