Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-08-23
\ COUNTY SCORCHER.
The Grand jury Makes its Report and is
Discharged-No Funds.

The grand jury made its final report
and was discharged yesterday afternoon.
Its business was not wholly completed.
but it IS claimed there were no L. $.
funds on hand with which to foot the eX-
penses OF this body, and after session
of twenty-five days the members were
called in and discharged, Following is a
copy Of the report
Hon. ". II. Whiteman. Associated justice SUI
preme Court, list Judicial District.
The grand jury for the lst judicial dis
trict, in and for the county OF Santa te.
beg leave to submit this report relative
to its work and inquiry into the violation
OF the laws of the territory and OF the
United States, that We have diligently
and faithfully inquired into and examined
all matters brought before us, and when
in the estimation Of the jury the facts
warranted such action indictments have
been found
Especially have We examined into the
official conduct of the minor officers Of
this county, and this examination shows
that their conduct, in the line OF official
duties, has been lar from exemplary.
Particularly has this been 50 with the
justices of the peace and cOnstables.
In some Of the justices courts OF this
county one kind Of Justice is administered
to certain people and an entirely different
kind to others. This is notable in the
imposition and collection of fines. In
some instances offenders have been fined
and no attempt made to collect the fine,
or mprison the offender until paid, the
only desideratum being the payment of
costs. These are always paid. In our
opinion summary action should be tab en-
against several OF the justices OF the peace
Of this county looking to their remOeal or
suspension from office.
We further report that, from lack OF
time, We have been unable to thoroughly
examine the financial affairs OF this
county such an investigation, to he prop
erly made, would take several weeks, and
an expert summoned by us stated that
he could not make thorough eXamina-
ton OF the books Of the sheriff and col
lector within two weeks, the accounts be-
ng kept in such a loose and irregular
manner. The collector OF the county, aC-
cordng to the books kept by the probate
clerk, stands charged with upward Of
$780, 900 unsettled balances, due to the
different territorial and county funds
For this state of things the blame GER
tainiy attaches to the board of county
commissioners, inasmuch as during the
entire period OF incumbency OF the pres
ent sheriff no final set lement has been
required or had by the board, and run.
ming account with the sheriff has been
permitted to exist.
There is no question but that the sEer-
if does now owe the territory and county
that sum OF money, but unless Il thorough
investigation is had from the day he went
into office to the present day, no man can
tell how much or what funds he indebt'
ed Tor collections made, and it is the i'm
perative duty OF the present board o.
county commissioners to order athOrOugt
investigation and to employ competent
person for that purpose.
An examination Of Il G present collect
or's bond shows that one OF his bondsmer
is the present assessor OF this county anC
the amount for which he has qualified is
one-seyenth of the amount of the whole
bond. This is forbidden by the statute
and it seems to us as ii the sheriff has moi
properly qualified as collector
Owing to the reported lack OF funds fol
the payment of mileage and compensa
| lion of witnesses on the part OF the UniteC
States we have not been able to thorough
| ly investigate reported violations of thu
| United States laws.
The treasurer's books OF the county
show that the justices of the peace Of this
county have not paid over any OF thu
| fines collected by them.
We examined the penitentiary of thu
territory and found that under the presen
management the affairs of this institution
are conducted in an efficient and salts
| factory manner.
We also examined the county Jail 0
Santa Fe county, and found the same il
! very poor and unsatisfactory condition
The cells are damp and poorly ventilated
and in such poor repair as to render il
necessary to be strongly guarded to pre-
vent the escape of prisoners and the
health OF those imprisoned is endangered
by the bad condition of the place. This
not owing to the neglect of the officers il
charge, but is owing to the location anC
lack of repairs on the building.
Thanking the court and the different
officers connected Herewith for their kline
and considerate treatment, we report tina
we have concluded our work OF investiga
ton. d. B. ABRAHAMs, Foreman.