Montgomery County sentinel., 1888-03-30
Report of the Grand Jury.

1
To the Honorable Judges of the Circuit Cour
for Montgomery county, sitting March Term
1888.
The Grand Jurors for the March Tern
beg leave to report that having been sworr
and instructed by the Chief Justice as t
their bound and duty, repaired to their room
and at once proceeded to discharge the ardu
GUS duties imposed by their oaths.
The witnesses summoned and presented
to the Grand Jury by the Sheriff numbered
one hundred and six, Of which four or five
did not appear on account of sickness, as Ger.
titled to by their physicians. The evidence
from those examined was sufficient in the
judgment OF the Grand Jurors to find forty.
one indictments against parties violating
| law to the detriment of the peace, property
and life of the peaceable and law w-abiding
citizens of the county and State, and did
further obtain evidence, at the fountain head
that twenty of our citizens engaged In mer.
camille business do held Government license
for the sale OF whiskey and other spurious
liquors. A list of the same is subject to your
order.
We would further present that but one
day for attendance was claimed by witnesses
except in three instances and they were Of
f1cers OF the county, with one exception.
1t gives us pleasure to say that the Sheriff
and his deputies were untiring in their ef-
forts to discharge faithfully their official
duties.
The Grand Jurors in a committee of the
whole visited the Jail, found it in its usual
cleanly condition. Inmates for crime num-
bering nine, eight OF them negroes, one
white, all males. The witnesses against the
inmates of the Jail were the first examined.
The Sheriff called the attention of the COM
mittee to the back porch or shed, which is
so constructed as to render it an easy mat
ter for escape by access to its roof from the
ground and thence by the bars of the win
dow to the roof OF the Jail. This porch pro-
tects the entrance to the cellar. The Grand
Jurors decline making any recommendation
inasmuch AS a closing OF the entrance to the
cellar would interfere with the ventilation
thereof. The committees attention was alse
called to the condition of a certain box. The
Sheriff suggested the getting rid of the waste
from the backyard by tube through the
wall to box on the outside to be conveyed
away from time to time by wagon as now
from the inside The Grand Jurors recon
mend that the County Commissioners au-
thorize the Sheriff to make the above change
under their supervision and charge the same
to the county.
The committee appointed visited the Poors'
House, and report that they found the farm
in good shape, indicating system in its man
agement, as well as industry and economy;
seemingly under fine state of cultivation,
the proceeds arising therefrom on the in
crease, We suppose, from the fact that but
$4,000 was furnished from the treasury of
county, the past year, instead of $4,000 the
previous year. The buildings are in fair
condition. The house occupied by those
seeking refuge there, ample for their COM
fort, walls, floors, &C., indicating cleanli-
ness. The person and clothing OF many of
the inmates could and should be greatly i'm
proved, within the scope OF the expendi
ture, and would add much to their sanitary
condition, and would call the attention of
the Trustees to that feature, believing that
a more rigid but mild discipline might be
brought to bear upon those that are able and
cause them to render aid to those who are
not. And we are of the impression that the
bill-of- fare might be improved for the
amount now expended. There are thirty
six inmates, eleven colered men and eight
colored women, eleven white men and six
white women and one white infant.
The Grand Jurors, having had the benefit
of the information in possession of the Trus.
tees of the Aims House, do recommend that
the County Commissioners give special at
tention to the bull ling now occupied by the
inmates, and if possible render it more com
Portable and healthy by proper renovation
and ventilation.
The Grand Jurors refused to recognize
anonymous communications.
Respectfully submit this, our report, and
ask to be discharged
March ss.A, 1888. Isaac fS"as; Foreman.