The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1886-05-08
Report orthe Grand Jury


ana, Calcasieu Parish:
We beg leave to present this our
written report Of the labors of the
Grand Jury for the regular April Term
Of your Honorable Court.
We have carefully examined and
definitely disposed of all criminal mat
tiers brought before us.
1t was recommended by the foreman
of the Grand Jury, and VIC repeat with
stress, that Justices of the Peace mnst
use a proper discretion and care in
criminal cases. A great deal of our
time was taken up in examining cases
which were in the end of little mo-
ment, besides the heavy expense the
cases entail, they cause loss of time
by the Grand Jury on subjects of more
Importance.
1t has been forced on our attention
that while the proportion of our popu-
lation who are colored people is small,
yet, of the cases examined by us, the
number against colored people was
out of all proportion to their share of
population. Believing many of our
colored people good citizens, we have
taken pains to impress on these the
necessity of making an effort among
themselves to reduce the number of
offenses, and to make themselves a
worthy part of our good parish.
The last Grand Jury declared that,
'The pistol must CO." and called on
all good citizens to help repress the
evil, we are pleased to report number
of good citizens have responded, and
we hope the action taken by us will
hasten this so much to be desired end
We are pleased to report that all
Offices are well kept and all officers
promptlyperformlng all duties required
of them.
The books of the Treasurer of the
School Fund have been examined and
found correct.
We have thoroughly examined the
Parish jail. We find the Sheriff is
performing all duties relating to the
jail in a manner to be highly COM
mended. The condition of the build
ing, however, we severely condemn.
The building is poorly constructed,
generally, and moro especially the cell
doors, front door, window grating, ETC.,
and the floor of the building is such as
to make communication with prisoners
quite easy.
Werecommend that the rolice Jury
appoint experts to examine the Jail,
and that they have promptly made all
repairs found necessary, and on failure
of Police Jury to act, that your Honor
order such repairs as are found neces-
ssry for safe keeping of prisoners.
We believe it necessary for safe keep
ing of prisoners, that a jailor be i'm
mediately appointed and employed by
the Sheriff to sleep in the Jail, and
that a room should be fitted up for his
accommodation. And we recommend
the Sheriff to appoint the jailor, and
when the Police Jury meets that they
make liberal appropriation for pay
of said iailor.
We find the condition of the public
roads, in the majority of cases bad,
and many navigable streams in the
parish Distracted; the mention of the
latter we hope will prove warning to
transgressOrs.
The following have been referred to
District Attorney, with orders to take
action thereon unless duty is per-
formed by proper party within thirty
days:
The repair Of bridges on Hamond's
and Holly's gullies.
The repair of bridges by Alfred
Baily, overseer, on sloughs in Bun
dicks swamp.
The opening of road through land
of Henry lies, as provided by ordi-
nance of Police Jury.
We find no oyerseer on road from
corporation line of Lake Charles to
John F. Clooney's.
We believe that proper admins
tration of the laws requires that our
juries should as far as possible be
composed of our best citizens. We
recommend as a step to this end, that
Jury Commissioners be chosen from
different portions Of the parish, and
that in their appointment preference
be given to men Of sterling worth and
wide acquaintance.
We recommend the law be so
amended as to allow to persons sum
moned before Grand Jnries reasonable
compensation, provided witness lives
over five miles from Court Honse.
That q law be passed making it
misdemeanor to sell or ship any live
animal or hide unless the same shall
have first been inspected.
Making Ward Constables the said
inspectors, providing reasonable COM
pensatioh for said inspector, say not
to exceed ten cents for each object,
provided said law not to apply to
transfers between parties not intended
for shipment or sale in open market.
That a law be passed to prevent set
ting fire to prairies and woods during
certain seasons, say September lst to.
March LIST.
Believing we have completed our
labors, we beg leave to submit this our
final report, and ask tobe discharged
from further duty.
Respectfully submitted,
G. N. GOSSETT,
Foreman Grand Jury.