Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1889-03-29
Report of the Grand Jury.
TO the Honorable Judges of tie Circuit Court
for Montgomery County,.

TO tie Honorable Judges of tie Circuit COur
for Montgomery County,.
Gentlemen The Grand Jurors of Mont
gemery county for the March Term, 1899
beg leave to submit the following report:
We have examined 100 witnesses and
found 80 presentments. We found only a
few persons who have violated the Local
Option law, and we are disposed TO believe
that its requirements are being better OBJ
served We were very glad to find there
were very few cases Of larceny, and those
of very petty character, and only one case
OF attempted arson, which we think speaks
well for the advancement of morality in ouI
county.
We visited the jail found eight prisoners,
six white and two colored they were in a
clean and healthy condition, and the build
ing was as clean and comfortable as its
present condition would admit of; although
we found it in a very unsafe condition for
the keeping of prisoners, as has been re-
ported to you by former Grand Juries.-
We were pointed out the rapairs which the
County Commissioners have contracted to
have done for the better security of prison
ers, and as we feel that this is an acknowledge
ment on their part of its insecurity, we
recommend the reimbursement of Sheriff
w. w. White for the expense incurred in
the apprehension and re arresting of the
four prisoners who escaped from jail, and
would recommend that in the future they
pay more attention to the recommendations
of the Grand Juries.
The committee appointed to examine the
Aims House report the sanitary and moral
condition as being poor, and not up to the
standard Of the we'll known morality and
intelligence of the people of our county !;
the ventilation Of some of the rooms is very
nd nntl thn hnott h af
the inmates occupying these rooms is put in
serious jeopardy. The number of children
begot and born in the house is regret
as well as source OF expense to the coun-
ty, which is increased by the necessary fee
of the medical attendant. From the opinion
OF the physician in attendance the unhealthy
condition of the house is the cause of the
death of the children. To remedy these st
rious and criminal defects, we agree with
the statements of three physicians who
have made our Aims House study, viz
That there should be wards running through
the house This will insure thorough ven
tiation and sunlight, and will more eifec.u-
ally prevent intimate relation of the sexes.
This ward system would make two large
rooms on the lower floor, with hall run
ming through one room for the white males
and the other for the white females
On the second floor the same plan, with one
room for the colored males and the other for
the colored females The insane paupers
should not be left with the other inmates to
terriy and annoy them. If the ward system
should be adopted there should in our opin
ion be "A building built for the accommoaa.
ton of the sick and insane The danger of
fire from the furnaces in the house is great,
as the top OF the furnaces are only about
one foot from the ceiling, and they are other
wise out of order There are 80 inmates
10 colored and Ia white, 8 of which are col
ored females and IL colored males, and
white females and 10 males. The cesspool is
too near the house, and should be led off by
suitable surface trough so as not To stand
near the house. We think the matron
keeps the house rs clean and healthy as she
can with the present plan of the house. We
found the farm in good condition. and il
was our unanimous opinion that the Super
intendent, MIR. Best, is an excellent farmer.
We found 30 acres in wheat and so in grass.
The income from the farm for the past year
was about 5000, and the expenses for run
ming the institution are about $4,000.
We further recommend that the wood in
the halls of the Court House be removed
therelrom to some secure place outside of
the building, rs a precaution against fire.
There being no further business for the
transaction OF this Grand Jury, we ask to
be discharged.
THOMAS WATERS, of s.,
Foreman.