The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1888-03-28
REPORT OF THE GRAND JURY
AT the Regular March Term of the District
Court for Choteau County.

We. the grand jurors of the grand jury
duly empanneled, charged and sworn at
the regular March term of court A. d.,
1888, for Choteau county, Montana terri
tory, to inquire into, and without fear, IA
vor or affection, true presentments make
Of all offenses brought to our notice,
would respectfully report:
We have examined and looked into all
criminal business brought before US, and
where evidence was sufficient to convict,
have found indictments, and when the
evidence was not sufficient have acted ac
cordingly. Two cases have been brought
before us, where parties have been impris-
oned and bound over by a justice of the
peace, without making good and sufficient
bonds for the appearance of witnesses,
and in consequence no witnesses have ap
peared for the prosecution, and this
grand Jury we're obliged to find no true
bills. It is the opinion of this grand jury
that when Justice of the peace commits
party to await the action of the grand
Jury, or binds him over he should be held
personally liable for the appearance of
the proper witnesses, whose testimony
bound said witnesses over.
We visited the Office of the county clerk,
and upon examination of his books and
records, find them kept in neat and or
derly manner We find full and COM
plete record Of the proceedings Of the diff
ferent commissioners meetings, and moth
ing from our investigation would lead us
to think there was neglect on the part Of
these officials.
We examined the books, papers and ac-
counts of the probate judge as thoroughly
as our limited time would allow, and find
the books of the present incumbent writ
ten up to date, but find that estates that
have been settled prior to his term of Of
fee have not been entered on the official
records; and furthermore, learn that said
work remains unwritten on the records
for a period of 12 or Is months previous
to his entering upon the duties of probate
Judge. We would recommend that the
honorable board of county commission
ers authorize said books to be written up,
and, if necessary to order the probate
Judge to procure a clerk to do said work,
at cost not to exceed fifty dollars.
We have also examined the books and
papers of the sheriff's Office and as far as
our limited means would allow found
them kept in proper manner.
We would Recommend that the district
Judge appoint an expert to examine the
books and papers of all county officials
since March, 1887, and that the duty of
said expert shall be to examine the
amount Of work done by the several of
fcials and see that the proper fees, as au-
thorized by law, have been collected and
turned into the county treasury.
The treasurer's office we find in good
condition for the transaction of the pub
lie business and the books kept in neat
and systematic order. On inquiry of the
county treasurer we find that the amount
of indebtedness due from Cascade county
to Choteau county, amounting to $4,000,
as provided by the act creating Cascade
county, has not been paid nor any pro-
visions made by the county commission
ers of Cascade county for the payment OF
same. We would, Therefore, earnestly re-
commend to the proper officers of Choteau
county that immediate steps be inaugur-
ated looking towards payment of this IN
debtedness.
We find the present room assigned for
the use Of the grand jurors lacking in
many respects the conyeniences and ordi-
nary comforts for the grand jurors to
properly transact the business. coming be-
fore that body. We find the room too
small and without any convenient furnl
ture, and also lacking in heating proper
ties We would recommend that the two
rooms on the north side of the court
house and facing east, be arranged and
thrown into one, and that proper furni-
ture, consisting Of chairs of ordinary com
fort, cuspadores, lampand desk, be provid
ed for same.
We have visited the county court house,
giving the same very careful examina-
tion, and find the foundations of said
building to be in very bad condition.
We recommend that the county com
missioners supply the different officers in
said court house with proper ''wood
boxes" in order to save the plastering on
the walls. 1t is our opinion that the said
building should be properly supplied with
water and electric light placed on the
premises belonging to the building.
We have visited the Sisters hospital,
where the county poor are being taken
care of, and they could not say enough in
praise of the Sisters care and attention
paid them, and we congratulate the coun-
ty on their success in obtaining such
treatment for their county sick.
We have visited the county iail and