The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-16

The criminal court grand jury presented
their final report to Judge j. ]. DuBose
yesterday forenoon, and were discharged
for the term. 1t includes a majority and
minority report on different subjects,
and refers to the reports of subcommittee
on the investigations made Us to city and
county affairs and institutions. The doc.
uments are as follows:
MAJORITY REPORT.
To the Honorable J. J. DuBose Judge OF the
Shelby County Criminal Court
We, the undersigned members OF the
grand jury for the May term, 1885, would
respectfully report having during the term
found various indictments, which have
heretofore been brought to your honor's
notice, we hereby append reports from the
the different committees appointed TO in
spect and report upon the public institu-
tons to which our attention las been
called, upon the bonds of county officials;
and also to examine the books OF the
Shelby county Taxing District, to all of
which reports we respectfully refer your
honor for such information as they will
afford in regard to the subjects investi-
gated, We desire TO express TO your
honor, to the encouragement and his as
sistants, rs well as to the different other
officers of your court with whom we have
come in contact, our SINGERS appreciation
OF the uniformly kind and courteous treat
ment extended TO us during our term Of
service as jurors,
Z. ARMIsTEAD, +. d. FALLEY,
s. WILSON, GEoRGE =. Ellis.
A. 5. MCGHEE, JAS. S. ROBINSON,
i. NJ. Mills, G. w. MosBY,
NJ. L. SIMS, j. I. HOLLAND,
H. ;. TAILOR, A. ID. GwYNNE.
MINORITY REPORT.
There are some facts so obvious as 10 be
beyond the necessity of argument and for
tunately for us, in making a minority re-
port upon the investigation of the Taxing
District officials, the proof they have fur
nished us, is all we deem necessary to sub
NIT to your honor, as q full and clear vim
dication of themselves.
The committee who entered upon the
work OF examining the Taxing District
books and vouchers selected rs starting
point, the month OF January, 1889, and
ended with August l., 1855; during that
period they discovered clerical errors az
gregating a total OF S709.55, OF which
Sl99.55 was against the city, and S2l0 in
its favor; showing. we think, a total alb
sence OF Intentional error and degree of
correctness favorably comparable with any
exhibit of equal magnitude.
The examination developed the fact, not
generally known by ourselves at least, that
the disbursement Of this Office by the
clerical force charged with these errors.
amounted to the large sum Of g, 300, 900.
Coming back 10 the errors, your honor
will notice they have all been promptly
corrected and the money paid over 10 the
credit OF the city, or TO the party entitled
TO 1t, and all OF these errors we take pleas
ure lin recording were satisfied by the
parties at interest and not by the Taxing
District officials.
The examination Of vouchers In the
engineers department disclosed eleven
vouchers given by Maj. Mcriwether
city engineer, for work done
on the public streets, wherein the
distances and measurements set forth in
said vouchers. do not yield the results
claimed. In explanation of this, the city
engineer asserts that while there may be
an error in the manner Of stating the
voucher, there IL no actual error in the
total number Of square yards paid for, and
in proof submits surveys and maps Of the
particular street or part Of street for which
the vouchers were issued. These maps,
with surveys and measurements, were
made by l.. Engsfeld, engineer, man Of
pronounced ability in his profession, duly
sworn TO before p. j. Qugley, clerk. This
action on the part OF Mai. Meriwcther is
commendable, and the facts thus shown
, fully confirm the correctness OF the meas
nrements, as originally given by him, in
the vouchers referred 20.
Tho other matters mentioned in the ro-
port OF tho examining committee are not
referred 10 in this report We see nothing
recurring the consideration Of the grand
jury.
In making this report 10 your honor, we
beg to say, that We have not relied alone for
the data and figures, as furnished by the
examining committee. Personal inycsti.
CATION is the basis OF our conclusions, and
we make this statement in the discharge
Of our duties. aud under our solemn oath
as grand jurors.
As this will be presented, together with
all the papers submitted 10 the grand jury
~ whole. we leave the issues 10 your
honor's fairness and justice, feeling assured
that all interests, public a. well as private,
will he upheld by the strong arm OF the
law in even and equal balance.
A. u. GwYNNE,
JAMES 5. RomSsoS.
TAXING DISTRICT NATrEEs
The committee who examined the books
Of the Taxing District reported ~ 30 va.
Tious errors ia vouchers, etc. The memo