Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-02-11
GRIND JURY,s REpokT.
CrimiaRl business for the Year--The
Recommendation.

Recommendations
During the session of court, yesterda
afternoon week, the grand Jury came i
and presented the following report:
To the Honorable, he Chief Justice an
Associates; The grand inquest for the bod
of New Castle county, having completed it
labors for the year, respectfully submit tn
following:
Number of bills acted upon, 80; of thi
number 81 were found true and wer
ignored.
We can justly compliment the attorney
general and his efficient deputy in thei
energetic efforts In bringing the eases com
ing to their knowledge to speedy hearing
before us.
In our opinion, crimes OF high character
| are alarmingly on tue lnGreils seven true
bills in capital cases having been returned
by us since the May term. In all capita
cases we think that as speedy trials as pos
| sible should be the rule: while this would
not be remedy we think il would prove
salutary.
The practice OF carrying concealed deadly
weapons seems to be on the increase. In
i view of this TACT, and of the terrible tragedy
in this city, whereby good citizen was
shot down while In the performance of his
| duty-a direct result Of the cowardly habit
we would suggest that your honors call
the attention of the next general assembly
to the necessity OF so amending the law that
| the punishment OF future offenders may be
such that all men may know that 1t is the
purpose Of the authorities TO root out this
evil.
We would also suggest that your honors,
In the case soon to be tried before you,
clearly define tho law In relation
to the right OF citizens, in cases
where, by an act of Providence, public
highways become obstructed or rem
dered impassable, and If there is no
statute governing such matter, that you
recommend to the general assembly the
enactment of statute covering such cases.
In the matter of conveying the accused and
those guilty of crime between the Jail amt
the courthouse, we are constrained to say
that we unanimously condemn the mode
now in practice. We think that II Is nui
only degrading to those who mny provo t
be innocent, but 1t is q severe nrieai I,
those who are young in crime aiil has II
tendency to harden them, and to i:iake any
attempt towards their reformation much
more difficult; besides, It familiaii ICES tn,
people with crime, or rather with the sight
of those accused, and as natural conse-
quence, crime to many becomes less revolt
Ing. We would, therefore, suggest that the
county commissioners be requested to have
made suitable van, and that they enter
into contract with some one OF the livery
proprietors to convey in said van, at each
term, the prisoners between the jail and
courthouse.
We find that the attorney general is put
to much Inconvenience and sometimes on
account of the delay the county
is put to additional expense by the
mitting magistrates have fallen into OF
not sending up within the time prescribed
by the law the bonds, recognizances, &C.,
taken by them. Some OF them fail oven to
get them In by the first day Of the term,
which, in one instance during the year,
made 1t necessary for the grand inquest to
remain another day. We would suggest
that your honors In some way impress upon
these derelict magistrates the necessity OF
strictly complying with the law in this
matter.
We paid the customary visit to the jail
and almshouse. We found the Jail in excel
lent condition, and the prisoners well cared
for. In the new almshouse, the unfortu-
mates of the county are comfortably housed
and we'll taken care of. There seems to be
one oversight in the management OF those
who are but slightly demented-that is CON
filming them in one large room during the
daytime, white and colored together. We
think it would be much better-as there is
| ample room-to separate the two races.
With this exception we find nothing to
condemn.
We also made an inspection OF the court
house, and are sorry to say that we fail to
find that same degree OF cleanliness now
existing as heretofore. We would suggest
that the matter be brought to the attention
of the levy court, and that they also have
the burglar alarm-which seems from some
cause to have been allowed to become
utterly useless-put in complete order and
kept SO. -
We congratulate the people of this county
that through the generosity OF the late John
Ferris we have now a reformatory school,
and understand that 1t is now organized and
ready for occupancy. And we sincerely
hope that 1t may be the means Of reforming
many of our youthful criminals.
WILLIAM II. BRIGHr, Foreman.
Attest: WILLIAM l.. WIER, Secretary.
After the reading of the paper, the
chief Justice said the court considered il
an uncommonly good report, superior to
any that had been presented since he had
been member of the bench. He said it
would be copied on the records of the
court and copy sent to the levy court.
He hoped the levy court would attend to
its recommendations. He then discharged
the grand jury, with the thanks of the
court for faithful services rendered, from
apv furthar atfan1anca