The Greenville times., 1889-06-08
REPORT OF THE GRAND JURY.


June tth icot.
To Hon. Geo. Winston.
Judge Of the Circuit Court Of the 9TH Judicial
District, Greenville, Miss.
Strive the Grand Jury, having
as far as practicable closed our labors,
beg to report as follows:
We have investigated So cases, have
examined l55 witnesses, and have found
40 indictments which have been hand
ell you, and have referred cases back
to Magistrates Courts.
We have examined the Dockets of
Justices Of the Peace, of this coun-
ty, as thoroughly as we could in
the limited time we had for that
purpose, and found the same prsc-
| tically correct. One of them however,
appears to have turned over $s.9S
more than he collected which, Of
course, leaves some doubts in our
minds as to the absolute correctness Of
his accounts. With one single excep- |
ton we find the business of the JUS
tice courts very loosely kept; the
dockets in some cases not showing OF
what the prisoner is charged, and in
several instances where he has been
committed to Jail, there is no mention
made of it so that in such cases they
can supply but meager details of the
case; we also find many Of their dock
cts kept on blank account books, and
in miserable condition, and that very
few Of them have filed any transcript
or report, leaving the Grand Jury to
check through each docket and arrive
at results as best they can in consid-
Grafton ofwhich, we the Grand d'Jury,d do
earnestly recommend that the Justices
of the Peace be required to use sproper
docket and fully record therein each
, case that comes before them, and fur
ther that blank transcripts IN proper
form be supplied to each justice, and
. he be required to fill out same and
hand In for examination to each future
Grandjury.
We have examined the books Of the
Sheriff, Chancery Clerk, Circuit Clerk,
Treasurer, and Levee Board and found
same correct as far as we could tell In
n the limited time we were enabled to
d devote to this part of our work the
Treasurer's balance showed $24,644,6
II on hand which was ON deposit al
r shown by certified check submitted
10 We beg to suggest that whilst thu
d books of these several offices seem tt
ID Ike kept in manner entirely credita
Mt BILE to the several officers, we find tina
Id the Tax receipts given out by travel
10 ing Deputy Sherifls are some time II
bad form. one having been given on
at piece of brown paper bag, this we de
Iic precate, and would suggest that tn
ny proper blanks be used always. Weal
he so suggest that the License book o
be Circuit Clerk showing medical licens
Is issued should be properly indexed, 81
ry that any license sought for could b.
p readily found, If issued, without hay
ing to look through tthe entire book.
H. We have visited the county farm ant
nd examined the books Of Mr.. Smitl
d, which seem to be properly kept; We
p- have talked with the prisoners wht
n seem to be well fed and clothed, AM
e. have returned 10 the Grand Jury room
ed fully impressed that system and goot
m. order prevail generally. We fount
l06 prisoners on hand, which Mr.. Smitl
explained, came from five difleren
counties; we found three sick In th,
90 hospital who seemed to have prop
% er attention, cleanliness prevailing
~ throughout.
M The Grand Jury have by unanimou
00 vote seen fit to condemn the presen
10 court house as being unsafe, the cell
70 ings of the lower rooms have had :
IN be propped up during this term Q
w court In order to render them tent
"a able. We further beg to report tina
81 the appointments throughout the er
tire court house and Sherif's oflic
70 are inadequate 10 the wants of tn
several offices, and reflect serlousl
" upon the progress Of this, the banne
! " " county of the Delta and strongly ure
Q % the necessity of providing such lcgi
Q % lation as will enable the county
. 90 erect new court house at an earl
y - day.
) 90 We find that the town Of Greenvill
|, % especially the business portion, al
: 90 also the closets about the court hou
s 70 and Sheriff's office, are in very bs
ex. condition and strongly urge upon Il
- proper authorities the great need
"oo having same corrected at once.
'me We find that the vault in the Cha
up Gerry Clerks Office Is inclined to
int. damp aud musty, threatening serio
~, injury TO the books and is quite mad
W quate to the wants of the county.
the We have been through the jail al
ness found il clean and in nice order, b
showing in many respects that 1t
succumbing to age. We found l6 pr
oners therein who say. so far as
asked, that they had plenty to eat, al
no complaint whatever to make
their treatment; we also noticed t
g. introduction of electric lights In I
corridors, which we commend.
ore We also have TO report that the 81
ence eral road districts, which have be
'nic, brought to our notice, each dema
cure greater vigilance and activity on |
part of the road supervisors, parti,
~. larly so In the case of roads leadi
from Greenville down Rattlesna
Bayou and from Silver Lake 10 Miss
,nes' sippi river.
.gest Having no further business Of n
.son ment before MS, we now respectful