Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1890-03-14
The Grand Jury, the Court, and
the Co. Commissioners.
The following rresentment oi The "iAhd
Jury. order ol court, aud card from the Co
Commits lioners explain themselves


repTesent. That we visited the county jail,
Lniler honse and all the departments oi the
court house and found the pnblic property
in a reasonably fair condition, but make
the following recommendations
Ist. That the inside Of jail he painted,
thoroughly cleansed and d bath tub erect
ed for the use OF prisoners.
"a That the ceilings Ol the Kitchen aud
upper hall of the County Sheriff dwelling
be replastered.
Sd. That the iron shutters of the win
dows on first floor be repaired and placed
i'll proper position.
ith. That the window in the front Of
fee of the Clerk OF Courts be placed "n
pivots for the purpose nt ventilation.
9TH That we renew the recommends
tious of the two former Grand JnIlri "a I"
iron screens on counter in County lreIsm
er's office
9Th. That the table IN County sheriff :
Office be reftted with drawers ana addi-
tional shelves in the Commissioners. Office
be erected.
7th. That the window and seats III Wit
ness room be rep aired and replaced.
Sth. That the Grand Jury room be cal
oimined and q new table he placed IN said
room.
9th. That the iaafng and drinking oi
Intoxicating liquors in the halls and differ
ent departments Of the Court House he
prevented.
10Th. That the County Commissioners
unite with the property owners adjoining
Court House, and with the Borough nt
Butler to make arrangements for the PaE
ing of Diam ond Square.
.llth. That the floor in front of bar and dill
ferent aisles be covered with rubber mating
in Court Room No. l, also the noslng on
step leading tn seats in said said room be
removed and the foot rests Of the seats be
fastened so as to prevent noise and inter
ference with the business of the Court.
Sl2th. That each of the water closets III
jury, Judges and Attorneys rooms be re-
paired.
18th. That the stairway leading from
the County Sheriff office To Court Room
be cleaned up on snut up.
18th. That the newell knobs on main
stairway be repaired and securely fastened. !.
18th. That doors with locks be placed
on vacant vaults in cellar of Court House.
10th. We further present that the pub
lie road leading from Butler to Watterson' )
Ferry is in close proximity to the 7. W.
Railroad at point in Donegal Twp, near
Danville at which place there II high
embankment descending from said public
road to railroad; that the absence OF pro
per guards along the road at said point
renders public travel over said road dan
gernus 10 life and limb, and We
therefore recommend that the
proper authorities OF Donegal Twp.
widen and place sufficient guards along
the road at said place
18th We further recommend that the
proper authorities of Oakland and Donegal
Twps. repair and widen the road leading
from Mrs Mary Reeds farm in Ookland
Twp. To point at John 0'Donnell farm on
Butler and Millerstown road in Donegal
Twp. as said road is dangerous To travel.
18th. We recommend that the County
Commissioners widen the sidewalks of the
bridge leading from Butler To Springdale
and across the Connoquenessing Creek and
to erect wooden partition SIX feet high
between sidewalk and carriage way-side
walks to be double their present width, a.
said bridge is now not sufficient for the ac
comodation of public travel.
18th. We further present that We he
heye from common report and ifom The
press of the County that there has been
fraud committed in the County Commission
ers' Office and that the guilty party is like
ly to escape punishment through the neg
lect Of the other County Commissioners "a
faithfully perform their duty, we therefore
ask that such action be taken by this Hon
orable Court az to compel said COmmis
sioners to faithfully perform their duties in
this matter.
21th We desire to extend our thanks
tn the Court for his able charge aud in
structions given to us also to the District
Attorney and Tipstaf McCandless for cour'
tesy shown us Respectfully submitted.
j. +. p. McGELET, Foreman
ORDER OF COURT.
Now, March 1th, 1890, it IS ordered, Q)
| that this presentment, except items Nos
&c" nj" "l8," and 900, be certified Il
the board OF Co. Commissioners Of thl.
County, for the purpose of informing saiC
board concerning the matters therein con
tanned, and with the hope that said board
will be swift to carry into effect said sug
gestions; (2), that rule issue to the roaC
| supervisors of Donegal township 10 show
cause against placing proper guards alon:
| this public road at the point named Ii
item No "l6" of this plesentment, return
| able tn April 9Th, next; 81, that rule Is
| sue to the road supervisors OF Donegal an,
! Oakland townships, respectively, to sho"
| cause against repairing and widening th'
| public road mentioned in item No. 'lI," q
| this prcsentment, returnable to April I'll
inst; a., that this presentment be pub
lished in the county papers as matter O
! information to the taxpayers OF said coun
| ty. By THE COURT
| CARD.
| EDITOR CITIzEN:-The Grand Jury u
| this term makes n pTesentment in whicl
| reference is made to the Commissioners
office, casting reflection on the presen
L q 4 -
| Ordinarily we pay no attention to cnti
cism, but this presentment is so mislead
ing we thought short reply would Civ
the people the facts. In the irregularitie
in the COMMISSIONER office We did wha
| was considered best for the interests OF tn
people whose money we disburse. W
discovered some warrants Irregular
drawn by one of the board, ferreted thel
all out and at once took measures to hav
the money refunded. This we accomplish
ed, every cent improperly drawn was re
turned, demanded and received the resie
nation of the one who did it, and when tn
money was returned, the party ont of oI
fee, We considered the interests Of tn
people were properly cared for. The &c
counts of the Commissioners office had
thorough overhaulmg by the Auditors, eS
erything reported by them TO correct, wit
| q bulduct VI uDoul F..bJVou dfulluDlt dSStt'
When We came to consider what iurthe
duty, if any, there wa! degolving on u
We were ddrised that the Commissioner
were not prosecuting officers and did NJ
then feel justified in putting the county I
expense when nothing was to be gained b
it for the people. If the gentlemen Of III
Grand Jury desire prosecution of the %
tenders, aS they seem to, any one of thel
if taxpayer can step in, the facts are az
cessible to all, make information i'll I'll
regular way, set the machinery of the or
minal law in motion, and follow the cas-
| through the courts. 1t is AS much hei
duty as ours. Had the peoples money
wrungfully drawn, not been returned, v
would have been swift to take measures I
have it done That would have been Or
duty. But having secured the money, "
did not feel it our duty to institute procee,
r ings, a3 there was nothing in it, except I'll
expense that wOuld have been put on lii
county for the people to pay.
A. j. HUTCHINSON
l.. N. DUNCAN.
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