Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-09-30
Grand Jury Report.


c.I Court .tor 81. .Hd,ys CDUHty:
The Grand Inquest Of the State OF Mary
land in and for the body of ST Mary's
County having diligently enquired and
true prcSenimcnt made Of all matters and
things given us in charge, or that have
come 10 our knowledge touching this
present service, in ~ far as the facts pre-
scented for our consideration through the
many witnesses who have appeared be-
tore Us in answer Ia the summons of this
Honorable Court have enabled us to do:
beg leave Ia submit the following report
a. requiEed by law:
We have visited the County Jail and en-
quircd into It's condition, the manner in
which il j. kept. and the treatment II priS-
oners. We find the building in good con
dition and repair. IL j. neatly and clcanly
kept under the superintendent of the Jail
or and his family. The surroundings also
receive proper and careful attention. The
prisoners ale kindly treated bv the .Jailur
and well provided for. Our efficient and
worthy Sheriff i ever prompt and dilligent
in his supervision 1T the Jail and its in.
mates.
We have examined the condition If the
Court House and surroundings and find
som" repairs needed. \ portion of the
walls Of the Court Room is stained and de
faced 10y leak, which should receive
prompt attention. The pla>tcring in the
Grand Jury room and adjacent corridors
needs considerable repairs \ portion of
the ceiling has fallen. and other portions are
in such apFecarinus condition IA to endang-
or the comfort and salty If attending Jur,r>
and officers. We Therefore. respectfully
urge upon the County Commissioners Ia
have the necessary repairs made before the
March Term Of the Court We also find
many of the chairs in the Court room badly
broken and respectfully call the attention Of
the County Cnmmissi nncrS thereto. The
papcring on the walls Of the Clerks Office
we find Ia bc in bad condition and should
BE- renewed
The Public rrads throughout the entire
county are in fair condition. thereby testify
ing To the efficiency nfthc supervisors. We
however, recommend 10 the County Com
mlsSionerS the adoption Ofsnmc plan where
by the Issuing of script might be- avoided
As required by law, we have examined
the Levy List for the present wear; and
though the Items in some csIScS are large
We suppose they are Is small rs iudicious
management If the affairs of the County
would permit
We regret having 10 advert la the fact
that III some cases Justices of the Peace in
committing parties 10 Jail neglected to send
The papers tn the proper authorities. In
consequence. Wa found several parties in
jail and no record of the commitments APP
pearing on the docket To aid us in dispns-
ing Of the cases. We also found that in
many InStsnCes witnesses recognized 10 ap-
pear did not do ~, thus materially imped-
In II 81
fore respectfully urge upon Justices of the
Peace IN recognizing witnesses 10 hold
them to bail for their appearance At Court.
We have diligently inquired into the cir
cunlStances Of the murder Of Capt Robt
Dixon, ON the sloop Mary J., on or about
the 18th day OF August last, and from the
best evidence which we were able to OBJ
tain, il is cOnclusively proven that the muir
der was committed In the waters Of the Po-
tomac river, and therefore within the ju-
risdictior OF Maryland and of 81. Mary's
county.
We take pleasure in reporting that, in
stead of taxing our new members for the
purpose If raising fund for drinks, which
has been the practice heretofore, we have
acted upon the laudaOIe suggestion of your
Honorable Court and each and every one
subscribed the amount Of 81, and we also
hand ~ your Honors OIL collected from
each member of School Boarl, 90 = fund Ia
be forwarded, as Your Honors may direct,
IN the proper authorities for tho benefit Of
the sufferers by the recent earthquakes In
Charleston, 5. c. We hope that our exam
pie viii b. followed by NE Petit Jurors,
members Of the bar, and all officers Of the
Court, each subscribing his proportional
share 30 similar fund. We also hope that
the precedent which we have established
by discarding the custom above mentioned
will be rigidiy followed by succeeding ju-
ries, and the pernicious practice BE- for all
time aholishcd.
HaYing pow terminated our labOrs, We
smost respectfully ask to b. discharged.
In conclusion, We tender our thanks a.
your Honors, the States Attorney, Clerk
Sheriff, our Bailiff and other officers II the
Court for assistance and kindness extended
tn Us during the term of cur service
Respectfully submitted