St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-03-17
Placed on File.

The charge of drunkenness against
Supt. Matt Gross, of the workhouse, by
the grand jury, wasupresented. The
precious document, which has been SO
carefully kept from the press, reads as
follows:
TO the Honorable City Council of the City
of Minneapolis: The grand jury of the
county of Hennepin and state, of Minnesota
respectfully represent to your honorable body
house, by reason of his habits of drunken
ness, is totally unfit for the position he
holds by your appointment. This fact
was made painfully evident on Wednesday
last, Feb. 90, on which occasion MI. Gross;
having been summoned before the grand
Jury to give testimony in an important case,
was unable to do so on account of his condi-
ton, he at the time being i'll state OF 1ntoX1-
cation and lying In the ante-room at the
court house. The matter is respectfully re-
ferred to your honorable body for such &C
ton as the Importance OF the case demands.
BY order of the grand jury.
March 2. j. A. WoLvERToN, Foreman.
The Democrats, at their caucus for
police commissioner Thursday night, it
appears, had discussed the matter and
decided to vote solidly for placing the
communication on file. The aldermen
had generally investigated the matter
and concluded that the superintendent
condition was chiefly due to sickness,
and that the grand jury's action had
been influenced in measure by partisan
political motives.
When Aid. Mills moved the cOmmuni
cation be accepted and placed on file,
Aid. Lawrence offered an amendment
referring the communication to COM
mittee of five for investigation. He
thought that courtesy to the
grand jury and justice to Supt.
Gross demanded this action. Aid. E.
M. johnson theoretically seconded the
amendment, saying that cOgniZance of
the communication should be taken, al
though he preferred to believe that the
cause of the superintendent unfOrtu-
nate condition was sickness.
Aid. MillS-I differ from the alderman
from the Second ward.
Aid. Johnson am proud that you do.
Aid. Mills-Thank you. l shall be
glad to meet you. This grand jury sys-
tenn is a relic of barbarism. Any man
can be indicted upon the statement of
irresponsible parties, and the papers
herald the fact far and wide.
When the trial comes the irrespon-
slble parties do not show up, and
the county attorney moves to dismiss
the case, and that's all there is to it. l
don't think the grand jury has any bust
ness to dictate to the council in this
business. No direct charge has been
made, simply complaint against a
mans habits in general way. A SINH
lar attempt to besmirch Mayor Ames'
character was made last year, and l do
not believe in this star chamber dicta-
ton.
Aid. L'Herault-As chairman of the
committee Oh work house | have seen
Supt. Gross nearly every day for six
months and never noticed that he was
under the influence of liquor. Why
didn't the grand jury indict him for
drunkenness?
Aid. Johnson-This is the first time I
ever heard man could be indicted for
drunkenness. Hele is specific charge
that a certain city official was drunk on
certain day. Isn't that specific
enough. Mr.. Alderman from the Third
ward?
The amendment was defeated and the
motion to place on file was carried by
vote of Is to 16.
Aid. Dwyer, of the Democrats, voted
for an investigation, but the absence of
Aid. Stoneman and Clough, of the Re-
publicans, operated as an offset. When
the vote was announced Aid. johnson
snarled, "Now you'll get your specific
charges" and Aid. Mills amiabIy
growled, "Come ON and bring Old Noah
with you" "Old Noah" was the alder
mans graceful allusion to City Attorney
Smith, to whom Aid. johnson is fond of
referring all questions OF dispute.