Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-10-27
Report of Grand Jury.

The grand jury, having finished their
cases brought before them, were dis
charged on Monday. The following re-
port was presented and read in open
court:
We would respectfully submit the fol-
lowing report for the consideration of
this court
After.a careful examination Of 80 cases
we find six true bills ; one case passed.
After thorough examination of the
public public buildings we find the Jail
in fair condition, but not as clean as
| circumstances Justify we would suggest
| that the jailOr devote at least part of
| his time to the discharge of his duties,
and at his earliest convenience white
wash the walls, and clean the beds
We would also call the attention of the
court TO the present custom of retaining
a jailor to guard an empty jail, at an
unnecessary expense of several hundred
dollars per annum, and would suggest
that if it be necessary to retain this Of
| ficlal when there are no prisoners, that
he act in the capacity of janitor for the
entire court house, which seems badly
| neglected in that direction.
We would recommend that reason
able and uniform charge be made for
the use Of the court house hall, and that
all monies collected from that source be
promptly turned in the county treasury.
We would recommend that the proper
officials take immediate steps to procure
sufficient and suitable lands for poor
farm, locating the same as near the
centre OF the county as practicable, and
to erect thereon the necessary buildings
for the accommodation of such persons
rs are now, or may hereafter become
county charges, with view to render
them as near self sustaining as possible.
We find the registers Office in very
neat and orderly condition, and the
county records apparently well kept.
| We would recommend, as has been
done 10y grand juries IN the past, that a
suitable and secure lock be placed at
once on the door Of the vault containing
all the records Of Custer county, which
are now entirely unprotected.
We find the treasurers office in good
shape, and books balanced to October
lst, showing a balance of S79l0.SS on
hand which is now on deposit at Bank
of Custer; we would commend the
treasurer for his active work in collect
ing delinquent taxes, and trust the good
work will go on.
We would especially condemn the
growing evil of many justices of the
peace in this county in encouraging
criminal prosecution for revenge anC
spite, or as means of forcing settle
ments in civil actions, thereby creatin.
large expense for the county, and in
curing great ha. dship and loss to many
disinterested persons, who are unwi.lin,
ly drawn into these cases, as witnesses
; and thereby dragged oyer the county a
their own, and the already over-bui den
ed taxpayers expense, to testify il
T trivial neighborhood quarrels, that il
many cases they never heard Of
We would also call the attention o
: the court to the practice of causing larg,
; number of witnesses to come long dis
tances in cases of which they know
nothing, and would recommend tina
all officers having authority to issu,
subpmnas exercise more care and dis
cretion in this direction in the futur,
than during the past
We would state that some ten wit
nesses were brought from % to 40 mile,
at an expense Of 500 to $500 to Custer
county, and much more to witnesses, t(
testify before this jury in cases Of which
, they knew nothing, and in many cases
, witnesses were out of the county wher
act was committed.
S. M. BoorH,
Foreman Of the Grand Jury.