The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-04-14
REPORT OF THE GRAND JURY

To the Honorable the Judge of the 18th
Judicial District Court, for Rapides
Parish, La:
The Grand Jury, empannelled and
sworn to inquire in and for the Parish
of Rapides, on Tuesday, the 9th day
of April, A. D. 1886, respectfully re-
port that they have concluded their
inquiry.
They have carefully examined and
inquired into IS complaints and infor-
nations presented to them, with this
result: They have found 80 true
bills, distributed as follows - Assault
with dangerous weapon with intent
to kill and murder, 2; Assault and
wounding less than mayhem, l; Lar
ceny, 4; retailing spirituous liquors
without license, 10; Carrying conceal
ed weapons, IL; Perjury, l; receiv-
ing money knowing it to be stolen, l..
PUBLIC ROADS.
We have examined and questioned
at great length, numerous witnesses as
to the condition of the public roads,
and we find the improved condition of
the roads as compared to the condition
twelve months back, is due to the fav-
orable weather of the Fall and Winter
and not to the diligence of syndics.
We have found many roads are with
out syndics, and. that many syndics
appointed by the Police Jury, have
not been commissioned or whose COM
missions have never reached them.
The worst condition ef public roads is
notably in Rapides and Alexandria
Wards, owing to distinctions to drain
age, placed there by individuals,
against whom we'll grounded COM
plants have been made to this in
quest. The matter of redress is be-
yond the province of the Grand Jury,
and the attention of the Police Jury is
called to this fact, as we'll as to the
deriliction in appointing syndics and
commissioning syndics when appoin-
ted.
PUBLIC SCHOOL HOUSE.
The public school property of Alex
andria we found well policed, and
clean and neat, except the building
and yard occupied by Mr.. Pardec.-
The fence posts in this yard have been
cut and hacked as if to get kindling
wood off Of them, and the benches and
desks will in very short time need
renewal if the pen-knives of pupils are
not kept in their pockets. The roof
of the building used as a white girls
school is in bad condition and new
roof needed. The roof of the build
ing used as colored school needs re-
pairs, and all of the buildings are
greatly in need of painting.
THE JAIL.
We found the Jail clean and as COM
Portable as possible for a Jail to be-
Sheriff Paul has eight prisoners in his
charge, all confined for minor offences,
and none of them had any complaint
to make.
The marked falling off in crime of a
grave and serious nature is a matter
for the heartiest congratulation, and in
proof of this fact we have only to re-
fer to our tabulated statement of the
cases laid before us for investigation.
PROHIBITION.
The good results of the prohibition
law continue to be marked and prom
Use to be permanent, Notwithstanding
the fact that men of influence, respect
ability and social standing, and pro-
fessional, are assisting to render these
results migratory, by Withholding the
facts of violations of the law, by CIV
ing evasive and equivocal answers to
the inquiries of the Grand Jury, and
in assisting to devise ways land means
of evading the law. This Grand Jury
has seen a prescription signed by
physician of this Parish and given to a
man of aggravated habits of in
temperance for as much as one
gallon of whisky at time; and
also prescription bottle with la.
bel so arranged that any one might
have it filled at any time, and also
prescription bottle to refill given by a
physician and directed to no particu-
lar druggist, or for no particular guam
tity. We would urgently ask the Po-
lice Jury to give this matter their