The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1889-04-20

Final Report of the Grand Jury.

To E. r. Lewis Judge 18th Jud. Dist. La.
The Grand Jurors of the parish Of st.
Landry, respectfully submit the follow
ing rs their report on the questions INTO
which it has become their duty to IN
quirr :
PARISH JAN.
We have made a careful inspection OF
the parish Jail and have found every
thing clean and we'll kept in that lnstitn-
tion. The prisoners confined therein
say that they receive good treatment
and are hountifully provided with food,
against quality of which they lave no
ground tor complaint. Upon the whole
we have found the administration of the
Jail entirely satisfactory and highly
commendable to the Sheriff and depu-
ties who have it in charge.
Court House.
We visited and inspected the Court
House: we find this building neatly kept,
but it is now undergoing repairs which
are unfinished, and upon this point we
are not prepared to make any report.
RECORDERS OFFICE.
We have, Visited the Recorders once
and inspected theodocuments on record
thelcs, with their places OF deposit or
condition of records, shelving cases &c,
we would state that we found many val
liable records in very mutilated condl-
ton, caused both by the ravages OF time
and constaraa, handling, then we found
the facilities for putting and storing
away said records very meagTe indeed
there being an insut1iclency OF both sliel-
vi IL and cases. In view OF these facts
above reeited we would recomend that
the Police Jury make such appropria-
tions as may be necessary to have such
of these records as may reaHire it, rein
scribed and that they also nave such az
may need it rebound, that they have
constructed shelving or pigeon holes OF
cases with glass doors, SO as to protect
them from dust aud other species OF dirt
CLERKS OFFICE.
On visiting the Clerk g office we found
about the same conditions Of affairs ex-
listing there; we discovered that the
succession index was badly mutilated,
AS this is a very valuable and important
book the loss OF any part OF which could
be replaced with great difficulty we
would recommend that the Police Jury
make the necessary appropriation to
have said index Teinscrlbed in new
book.
Upon examination of the condition ol
the stacords fled in said Office we dlscov'
ereu that many OF them are devoid OF
the proper covering, to protect them
from dust and keep them tOgethert We
| would suggest that the Police Jury take
this matter under consideration and
provide the adequate remedy for It's re-
lief. ,
The furniture in said Office, though
wa boast that we are the Empire Far
| ish " of the State, iaattractable only fol
! it's primitive simplicity and crudeness
and in STYLE and mperial belongs to ar
age long since past, Ind might possibly
| be of value to some collection OF anti
duities, but is out Of keeping with tht
refinement, taste and e-cency OF thu
present time. We would recommend
| that the Police Jury, as soon as tht
Strengthened circumstances of the parlsi
| finances will permit buy set OF tables
desks, and chair etc, that will be NOR!
| becoming to the situation in Whicl
they are to be used.
STATEMENT OF PARISH TEAsURER.
/ We have also looked at the statemen
of the Parish Treasurer, now on lille II
the Clerks Office. As far as we hav
been able to investigate said statemen
We find it correct, presented IN nea
and business form, and we feel con
strained to compliment him on the eff
cient manner in which he is conduetin
the financial affairs of the parish.
i We were charged by your Honor t
examine said statement and ascertain
any management could be suggested o
which the witnesses in criminal case
might be paid off in cash On this poln
we would report that there is no none
in the parish Treasury to the credit 9
the witness funds, that all monies to tn
credit of that fund have been expended
| that the law provides that the expense
of q year must be paid out OF the rex
pues of that year, and that as the taxe
of 1889 are not yet collecte9sit will nj
be possible to pas the witnesses in cas-
before fail, unless the Police Jury WI
accept the following suggestion and II
commendationefrom Us. According
the statement of the parish Treasure
3 there is on deposit in his hands S345O.s
} of funds not otherwise appropriated q.
! cruing from the collection OF 1889. w
, have been informed that the approprli
, tions for witnesses in criminal cases
!, about $500 per annum, and that sa
appropriation usually falls short aD0l
$1,000 per annum of meeting the leglt
mate expenses of criminal court in Il
way OF compensation OF Witnesses, eli
: this deficiency then laps over, and fro
wear to year becomes part of the exis
ing debt. 81.
In order to avoid this condition OF o
fairs. we would first recommend that Il
y appropriations for the pay of witness
, in criminal cases be increased ut lea
!, $1,000 per annum, In order to provi'
s for the pay Of witnesses at this term
= court, we would suggest that the Poll
: Jury, hold called meeting at as ear
II a day as practicable, and that they co
! / slider at that meeting whether. it won
not be proper to take from tlre S3450'
of funds not otherwise appropriated
!. sufficient amount say $1,000 to $1,000 al
create therefrom fund for The purpo
of paying witnesses in criminal cas-
q until the taxes of this year are collects
There being no further business
fore us we would respectfully requ'
Y that we be discharged.
3 CD. THOMPSON,
}. Foreman Grand Jury
D.
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