The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-12-23

Rreseasnens er the 0raaA jUry.
The Grand Jury Of Leon cosaU for the nh
term OF the Circuit Court Tor lo06. make the
following general pscssntment:
The Luxurious duties Of this Grand Jury have
been greatly increased and its time n largo
measure consumed In the investigated Of cases
which should not have been brought before t.
Out OF the tiity-three cases presented for inves-
tigalion there were found To be only twenty
seven upon which true bills could be found. or
the remaining cases, three, namely: State OF
Florida vs. Joe Clemments, and State Of Florida
va 3D. Sherman, and State Of Florida va 0us.
Cooper, were adjudged 10 DO mere breaches OF
civil contracts and should not have been brought
before the criminal side OF the court Their
PRESENTATION has led the Grand Jury 10 the con-
clusion that they were cent up either 70 gratiiy
personal revenge ON the part OF the prosecutor,
or for the sake of the fees on the part OF the
Justice OF the Peace. In either Csc It was
manifestly the duty Of the Justice I'll the Peace
10 have dismissed these cases, and not TO send
them to the Grand Jury, thereby mourning un-
necessary expense TO the county.
Many other cases were % trivial. that had the
Justices of the Peace properly exercised that
discretion which iasrcposed 10 them BY the law.
and made that thonsugh examination which the
law requires of them, and weighed carefully the
evidence produced, taking into consideration
tuO SiOAuuiy " tu0 WITNESSES PtOooutCus tuo
Grand Jury cannot help believing that such
cases would have been speedily dismissed. No
tably among these were the following cases
| The State OF Florida vs.. Lee Jamerson, The
State of Florida Va William Jones, The State of
Florida vs.. Sheppard Trent The State OF Flor
| ida vs.. Profit Wilkins The State OF Florida vs..
Jesse Dennis, The State OF Florida va Munro
Brown, The State of Florida vs. Edward Headly,
| and the Grand Jury recommend that the County
Commissioners do not pay the fees charged
| against the county in the above cases, and as .
healhfnl warning for the future guidance of all
strictest Interpretation Of the fee bill he enforced
as to all bills presented by the county officials.
One other case, that of the State vs.. ]. w.
Bean, sent up by Justice Of the Peace A. r.
| Combs, deserves special mention. Bean was ac-
| cused of running of cotton which was, al the
and in charge of so-called Constable. The
Grand Jury find that this Justice of the Peace
issued his wrts OF attachment without first re-
quiring the bond specially made necessary by
law as prerequisite to such attachment. And
the Grand Jury dnd that 10 this case the Justice
Of the Peace in the service of the writ employed
n special Constable, but failed TO endorse on the
writ the appointment Of such special Constable.
required by law. In their further investigations
the Grand Jury find that this Justice OF the
Peace had never made such endorsement for
service OF writs by special Constable, thus
making possible by his own ignorance and omis-
sion, grave breach of the peace. The Grand
Jury further find upon examination Of his docket
| that he has been guilty of repeated overcharges.
In view of these facts, the Grand Jury recon-
mend the Governor 10 remove the said A. Il.
| Combs from the Office of Justice Of the Peace,
| and that the County Commissioners do not pay
| the fees charged in case Of ]. W. Bean.
The Grand Jury in the inspection of the public
property of the county find that the court house
is in need of some slight repairs, the absence Of
which has added greatly TO the discomfort of the
| Jury and witnesses brought before il.
At the county Jail the jury and the premises in
rs god order AS The character OF the building
| will permit, with the one exception of the small
| building in the yard of the JAIL and the
| jury recommend that the County Commissioners
require the proper removal of this building and
the erection of another more suitable for the pur-
| passes of its use. Some of the prisoners in the
jail appear to be insuffciently clothed and with
| out sufficient bedding, and while the jlry sug
| gest that the County Commissioners furnish such
means of comfort as humanity dictates they
| yet recommend that the Sheriff and his dep
uties in all cases, when it may be possible, when
arrests are made, to require prisoners to clothe
themselves sufficiently and properly before TAX
ing them 10 the Jail proper application of
| this rule will work no hardship and save un-
necessary expense The jury find the Jail build
| ing old, dilapdated and without the means Of
convenience, comfort and safe keeping of prison
the windows in that part of the building used
| for the keeping Of prisoners entirely without
| sash or other means OF keeping out the cold and
| winds OF winter or driving rains and there is no
| way of beating such apartments. And the grand
| jury recommend that the County Commissioners
| take such proper steps rs may be necessary for
the erection OF q new and suitable JAIL aud the
| sale Of the property now used for such purposes
At the County Clerks ONCE the jury find that
the papers ded in that Office arc not kept 10 such
order as 10 facilitate q ready reference or secure
| their safe keeping, and recommend that the
| County Commissioners authorize the purchase
| of suitable receptacles and require the Clerk TO
properly arrange them at the earliest practicable
| date, and the same might be said with equal
force of the office and records OF the Judge of
| Probate
The jury find that the account books of the
Comfy Auditor are not properly kept, and rec
ommend that the County Commissioners with
hold the salary Of such Clerk and Auditor until
such books and accounts are in satisfactory
shape
A thorough examination ofthe financial condi-
ton of the county has not been made at this
term, as the annual inspection is made at the
spring term Of the court. In view, however, of
the fact of the more rapid retirement and can
collation. of the county bonds than was contem-
plated al the time OF the issue Of the new bonds
and the consequent decrease of the require
ment Of the sinking fund, the grand jury
recommend that the County Commissioners,
in conjunction With the Trustees of County
Boards, take such steps may be necessary TO
secure the consent of the holders OF the county
bonds and the reduction, from time to time, of
the amount levied by taxation for such purpose
10 such an amount as will be necessary to ray
the bonds nj maturity
The Grand Jury ind the public highways in
satisfactory condition, with few exceptions.
The M,ccssukie road is reported needing at
tention.
The Gnni Jury respectfully tender their
thanks to his Honor. Judge David s Walker, for
his able charge and full explanation OF the duties
devolvng on Grand Juries and to the District
Attorney for valuable aid rendered, and also to
the Sheriff and Clerk for services during the ses-
sion.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD LEWIS, Foreman
Henry Bernreuter, W. Fl. veritt
II. H. johnson, W. H. Allen,
G. ". Edmo0dson, Zed Russell
]. T. Barton, Thos Har,s6elj,
r. r. Benedict, Jackson Moody,
T. p Bariueau, JG. ChAires.
l. T. RAiney, Jesse Atkinson.
Andrew Butler. J. B. Carter,
A GAllie. Jr.