The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-09-02
THE GRAND JURY.
AN EXHAUSTIVE REVIEW OF
COUNTY AFFAIRS.
The Condition Of the Various County
Institutions and the Books
of Offices.

day and made an exhaustive report
for which they deserve to be compli
mented. The two reports are present
ed below.
REGULAR GRAND JURY REPORT
To the Hon. A. H.. Douglass, Judge Of tn
Criminal Court of Shelby County;
SIR-We, the g n jury impaneleC
and sworn foe tho way term, 1886, o
the Honorable Criminal Court Of S1el
by county, Tenn, do make this, ouI
final report:
We had presented to US 1876 indict
ments DUNG our Term, upon which
we found 100 true b lie, iguoiine
twenty seven.
Most OF tie violations OF law coming
before US have been from a C ass VIII Gu
seems to increase as our Cosmopolitan
populat on increases. Nearly oae-
halt OF the indictments are EN- braced
under the head OF carrying concealed
weapons" and assault aud battery"
The Iemaiuder are embraced unde I
the list oil cruelty 10 animals, felony,
larceny, emnrzz ement, assault with
intent to commit murder and Two oniy
for murder. We c%onglatuiats our fel-
low c~itizens upon the light prevalence
of crime under the g aver otfenses. 1t
argues that our population is a re-
Bpecter of the Jaw, and that class
which constitutes the vicious, u ruly
and immoral are only az insignificant
portion OF 1t.
Your Honor instructed us to make
an examination of the books and bust
ness of the
VARIOUS COUNTY OFFICIALS,
81 well as those OF the Taxing District,
going back two years. You gave us
several 'spt cisl" jurors 10 assist in
performing this labor. You will see
from the reports, some Of which are
quite tolumin us, that your "regu-
lars" have discharged the most OF this
labor.
The subcommittee have performed
the duties assigned them promptly,
impartially aud faithfully, and where
there are, or have been, any abuses
or irregularities Oy cficia's, they have
not failed to report the same. We in
vite your attention to zach committees
repor', which we herewith submit and
present as a psrG OF this report.
~ OOhAlAlAotCOo hiuhD aAuDlUCI vi
~'suggestloDs' and Recommendation"
in their report concerning the various
county offices, all of which are timely
and to the point, The office of CnaiI-
man of the County Court is a very
responsib one. Tnis officer is the
financial agent of the county, and s
intusted with making Settlements
with the revenue collectors and other
officials, and it requires a man of
thorough qualiicat ons and pla.tical
sense TO perform the dut es OF the ofic4
efficiently. d. G. Slaughter, the pres
ept incumbent, is vs. lant and we
believe is dischareiog The duties faith
fully and promptly.
We cannot enumtrste in this sum-
mary Of cur labors all the
RECOMMENDATIONS" AND "sUGGEs-
TONS"
made by the subton m ttees. There
are teytrll, however, we will ca |
your attention to. Leaning out moneys
IN the courts, and Q pecislly in
the Chancefy Court, where you will
see the sun is now very large and
many of the loans ara unbelievable.
When a law is made it should be done
with every safeguard to secure its col
lection, aud the Clerk aud Master
sbou d be p ompt in collecting when
it becomes due, The practice of re-
firing county ,fiGials t,kiug out of
heir respective tfices books which
pertain 10 the business of the county
we would severely condemn.
Thess bienDia, grand iuiyinvestiga-
tione, inaugufated six years ago, have
been produc i've Of much good. The
taxpayer and all good citizens have
an interest in and a right to know
just how the county ofic! ais conduct
their Offices. The expenditure of sew
eral hundred dollars for this labor is a
saving Of thousands to the county.
Good officials have been known to
Ego wrong" but when any official
knows his official acts will be investi-
gated he will be more likely to
"HEw TO THE LINE"
and keep within the spirit OF
the law. When an officials attention
is called to irregularities in his office
by a grand ju Y it should be needed
by him, and not disre garded as it has
been done in instances heretofore, for
it is done for the public good. Thelaw
Is plain enough concerning the re-
QuiIements in the administration Of
every county Office, and when it is not
obeyed the county alto ney should
see that an official does conform to
he-law.
We would call Your Honor's e.
pecial attention to this matter. 1t
should be blrne in mind tina. it is no
sacrifice for men of business to
spend the better part OF three or four (
months in going over the affairs of a
county or ely like ours involving re- {
'eipts and disbursements aggregating {
millions annually. This work is a {
natter Of business and of vital import |
o u people to know just how their ]
public servants are conducting their {
1
r forms should be made when their t
necessity ia pointed out by such com s
'etent agents as the grand jury, or the .
Expense and labor q the jury investi- t
should ceass.N On the 18th of c
August we visited the L
PooRHoUsE AND INSANE ASYLUM. L
Jul hOurO dHu lubhnb hbyluu 4
We found in excellent condition. DR.. !
duncan, the superintendent and ply p
clan, is uuremittipg in his exertlons i
n discharging his duties. The wards L
nd apartments of the poor unfortu-
Iates are kept clean and neat and the
God is well cooked and served. There :,
we're rs insane and l0l sick and pau I
'ers; total, III. Dr.. Duncan u~tiiizes X
he labor Of all the inma'e s who are IL
BILE to wors. A bountful sup Y
ly Of vegetables is produced, a
Which adds very materially .
oward les ening the supply bill. 9
IN the LIST Of May he had Y
% inmates. During May, June and :.
uly there were admitted 100. There v
lere discharged 1l3 and died Is; total =
20. Leaving on hand August LET, 175. u
There are twelve employees named
pm the pay roll, at a cost per month
1882. The salary Of the Superin-
sudent is 5000 and the Commission
rs is $50. Total salary account, &447. v
A. O. Wellborne, the Chairman of &c