The new North-west., 1885-05-15
REPORT OF GRAND JURY.
GRAND JURY Room,
DEER LODGE. Nav Term, 1886.


GRAND JURT ROOM,
DEER LODGE, May Term, 1885. J |
To the Honorable District Court Of the Second
Judicial District Of the Territory Of Mon
tana, in and for the County Of Deer Lodge:
We, the Grand Jury, duly drawn, impan-
nellsd, swsrn and charged in and for said
county, respectfully submit our report for
he term.
We have fully inquired into all offenses
and cases brought to eur notice against the
laws Of Montana Territory triable in this
county, and have already submitted true
bills Of indictments in all cases where IL ap-
peared to US that tho evidence sbtainable
warranted the same. We, however, desire
to call the early attention Of the Court to the
fact that the Justices Of the Peace are In the
habit of binding parties over to appear to
answe charges before the Grand jury In
cases where the offenses are toe trivial to
warrant such action by said parties and fire.
auently parties are held to answer before the
Grand Jury in cases of misdemeanors trisble
before such Justices. Out Of eleven charges
cases of this character. By such practices
the county is put to large and unnecessary
costs, and IL Justices persist in such a course
we urge upon the County Commissioners the
prspriety of disallo wing their bills.
We have visited the County Hospital, and
Jail and found them to be clean and well
kent. We beg, however, to call attention to
the limited capacity Of the County Jail, In
which there is accommodation for only six
teen pris oners, and these are confined In one
cage. There are no separate cells for insane,
violent, or newly arrived prisoners, no facii-
tiles for giving q necessary bath on their
arrival or afterwards, and we earnestly rec
ommend the County Commissioners to at
once have two cells constructed, enc on
either side of the present iron cage 0or
which there is ample room) for the confne-
ment of such prisoners and other purposes
specified.
We have alss visited the offices OF the
Probate Judge, Treasurer and County Re-
csrder, and in the Office Of the latter fnd
that the vaults in which the records are kept
are insufficient and insecure. We think the
County Commissioners have been very neg
ligent in disregarding suggestions OF the last
Grand Jury recommending the constructor
Of additional vaults for the storing and Sc
curity of the County Records. We therefore
recommend that the Commissioners con-
struct vault adjoining the County Clerks
Office on the East, Of sufficient capacity to
keep the records secure from fire, and De-
| lieve that such vault can be CONSTRUCTED ana
| fitted up at cost of about $1,000, and ye
protest against any further delay on the part
| Of the Commissi eners in this matter. The
roess in which the papers relating to the
past proceedings of the Commissioners, Pro-
bate Judge and papers relating to town-sites,
old lists Of assessment, &C., &c, are kept'
Tor rather thrown), We found in 0 scandalons
condition, and would suggest that the papers
which are Of ne value be destroyed, and thai
those having any value for future reference
bs properly assorted and filed in pigeon hsle'
to be put up for tbs purpose.
| We recommend the purchase OF hre
proof safe by the County Commissioners, o.
approved make, for the secure storage d
papers and books in the Office of the Probate
Judge.
We also recommend the employment By
the County Commissioners Of competen
accountant to examine the accounts OF tn'
| various county officers and make q sworn re-
port OF the results of such examinations II
the Commissioners, before such accounts arr
approved by them at their quarterly meet
ings.
We have been informed that in tho vicinit,
of Philipsburg there is stored a large guam
tity of giant and blasting powder, or eths
explosives, in violation Of the law relatinl
to powder magazines, and respectfully re
quest the attention Of the proper officers u
this matter.
A visit made to the U. s. Penitentiary b.
this Jury shows 1t to contain 8 cells In tn
penitentiary proper, each intended to accom-
modate one prisoner, but now occupied Il
many Instances by two, owing to increase
number of convicts. Some being men Q
bad dispositions, it has bsen necessary t
confne them in separate cells, and at pressr
onIy "a can thus be safely incarcerated. Th
remainder are confined In insecure log strut
tures In the yard. In view of the fact ths
an appropriation of $4,000 has been mad
by Congress, we recommend the early lettin
Of . contract fer, and completion OF, tn
South wing; also the necessity OF erectin
around the buildings and grounds a stem
wall sufficient to prevent escapes also, as
, measure of security against fire, that th
present log kitchen be detached from mai
. building. We found the guards, apparentl
diligent, at their posts. and an air OF nea
ness around the place, SO far as Its crsWds
, ,, csndi ten will admit. ..
We desire particularly to call the attsntio
of Justices of the Peace in the various pr
cincts to prosecute all sffenses against II
, game laws.
We extend our thanks to the District A
torney and his assistant fer attentions shew'
and also 70 Sheriff NcMaster for pronptne
and courtesies extended by him.
THOMAS AsPLING, Foreman.
LEW. COLEMAN, Clerk.