Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-12-04
GRAND JURY REPORT.
Condition of County Affairs-Some Good
Suggestions

Tuesday. November Is, 1886, the Grand
Jury was sworn in and Christopher Green
appointed Foreman by his Honor, w. c.
Van Fleet, Superior Judge, and after listen
ing to the exhaustive instructions of the
Court, proceeded to the juryroom and COM
pleted our organization by electing S. B.
Smith Secretary.
CRIMINAL CAsEs.
We have investigated six criminal cases
and examined thirty-two witnesses in rela-
ton thereto, and the cases were disposed of
as follows: Found one true bill for burg
larry; one for assault with deadly weapon
with intent to commit murder; one for as
sault with a deadly weapon one, the case
of All Dock. charged with the shooting of
Yee Ham, the injured Chinaman cannot
be found, and but one witness produced,
he a Chinaman, who admitted being an
eyewitness, but he would not or could not
testify TO any of the material facts; we were
therefore forced TO pass this case for lack of
evidence Two bills are ignored.
In connection with criminal matters the
following was unanimously adopted:
Resolred, That we do hereby recommend to
the law officers of this county the vigorous
prosecution OF ali persons found carrying con-
Gealed weapons in violation OF the law.
INSPECTIONS.
November 10th, accompanied by Deputy
Sheriff Karcher. visited the City Prison and
Police Court We were received by Jailer
officer Charles Farren, who rendered US
such assistance as was required. Number
of prisoners at date, u. The building in
and out the cells is clean and orderly, and
the prison record is kept in good shape and
easy of comprehension.
There is in this Office a cash book, show
ing small amount of monthly receipts
and expenditures, and while it is shown
that the Chief of Police makes monthly
statement to the Board of Trustees of the
condition of this fund, still we believe and
suggest that all moneys collected by this
office should find their way into the City
Treasury, the same as moneys collected in
other city offices, and expenditures, how
ever small, be audited and paid by draft
upon the Treasury
POLICE COURT.
None of the officers of the Court were
present, and, therefore, but little could be
learned. We took the liberty of examining
such books as were upon the tables, and so
far as seen were neatly kept and self-ex-
planatory.
COUNTY JAIL.
November 18th visited this institution
and were courteously received bv Sheriff
Wilson and deputies, and rendered every
assistance in our examination. We are
gratifed to report the fine condition of all
parts of the jail, neatness prevailing every
where. We heard no complaints from
prisoners as to treatment and the general
appearance of all would indicate that moth
ing is left undone which would tend to
make them comfortable and contented.
COUNTY HOSPITAL.
November 10Th, accompanied by Deputy
Sheriff Karcher and District Attorney-elect
Elwood Bruner, visited the County Hos
pital was disappointed at not being re-
ceived by the Superintendent, DR.. G. A.
White, but, upon learning that the doctor
was confined to his bed from injuries re-
Ceived, each member of the Grand Jury
visited him in his room, was courteously
and graciously received by his good wife,
and, after paying our respects to the doctor,
left him, with good wishes for his speedy
recovery. Supervisor McMullen, Chair
man of the Hospital Committee and
Supervisor Bates being present, in addition
to officers of the institution, rendered US
effective service in our Investigations A
thorough examination of the Shone pneu-
matte system of drainage was had, and the
Grand Jury is unanimous in the opinion
that this system is not only peculiarly
adopted to institutions similar to this. but
by its adoption the heretofore vexed ques-
ton of drainage for the hospital has been
entirely overcome. We shall not pretend
TO estimate the value of this system upon
the hygienic condition of the hospital, but
the outlay of less than 81 600 in its cree
ton will, be believe, be amply repaid in
the enriching of the lands of the county
which surround the hospital. A close ex-
animation of all the wards was made, in
Guiding closets, bathrooms, etc, and there
is positively nothing to complain of and
no suggestion to make in this respect We
found one patient whose injuries were re-
ceiyed in another county, and is here treated
at the expense of this county. We
call the attention of the Board of Super
Visors to this fact, and we cannot but be-
lieve that some way could be provided
whereby each county might take care of its
own INDECENT and unfortunate. There is
also a case of an injured Chinaman. Upon
his own statement he was injured while in
the employ of the Central Pacific Railroad
Company, at or near Redding, and for
warded 10 the Railroad Hospital in this
city, and, being refused admittance, was
taken to our County Hospital. He states
that while in the employ of the railroad
company he was taxed fifty cents per
month for hospital purposes. We do not
Vouch for the correctness of these state
ments; but if there is any truth in them,
not only has this Chinaman been wronged,
but this county grossly imposed upon.
We would call the especial attention of the
Board of Supervisors to this case.
The number of patients at this date is
l60, of witch IA are males and 16 females.
A great deal OF time was spent in ques-
tioning inmates as to the general treatment
and quantity and quality of the food. We
heard little or no complaint as to the treat
ment, none as to quantity of food. and but
little as to quality. A few cases complained
of the food, but upon further and closer
examination the Grand Jury became con-
WINGED that to furnish food for the 100 sick
people without any disaffection would be
a matter of impossibility. We therefore
feel free to say, without fulson.e praise to
any, that all concerned in the manage
ment-and the committee of the Board of
Supervisors having control of the County
Hospital-are not alone doing credit to
themselves, but comforting honor upon this
county.
BUILDINGS.
We shall make but one reference to the
condition of buildings, and that is with re-
gard to the very imperfect condition of the
flues in the Hall of Records building.
From various officials, and from personal
observation, we find that a great deal of
smoke gets into the buildings from Joints
in the shelving and around the window
castings. We believe this matter should re-
ceive the earnest and earliest support of
the Board of Supervisors, and recommend
that such be done.
OFFICERS, BOOKS AND ACCOUNTS.
This branch of our duty has been at
tended to with considerable detail. and in
the outset we desire to make this one gen
eral acknowledgment, that in every in
stance we have been met cordially and
frankly, and general desire has been man
ifest to assist where assistance was re-
quired.
COUNTY CLERK, COUNTY AUDITOR AND RE-
coRDER AND COUNTY TREASURER.
We examined the finance books of these
officers, and were struck with the sim
pIcity of the system, and much gratifed
with the perfect uniformity existing be-
tbarYo Tins rauderiuu haiiar-a