The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-10-02
Of JUSTICE.
The Identity Of Julia's Murderer
Not Known to the Grand
Jury.
Instructions to the Omcials to
Continue the Search
for Him.
Same Pertinent Suggestions with Regard
to the New County Jail and the
Poor Farm.

The grand jury brought their labors to an
end yesterday and were discharged by
Judge Hunt during the afternoon. Before
handing in their report they brought an in
dictment against Nick Williams on the
charge of "resorting to an opium resort"
and another against Edward Chambers for
grand larceny.
As was the case with the last grand jury
they investigated the much-talked of Julia
Dowd murder but found no true bill against
her slayer. They brought all the means at
their disposal to throw light upon the sub
iect. No expense was spared; witnesses
were brought from all parts of the state
and subjected to rigid examination. It
has been estimated that it has cost the
county.at least 3d. 800 at this session Of the
jury in the Dowd case alone. The report is
given in full below:
To the Honorable William H. Hunt, judge
of the first judicial district court in and
for Lewis and Clarke county, Montana;
purpose of inquiring into offenses commit
ted in the county of Lewis and Clarke,
Montana, having performed the duties
which devolved upon Us while acting in
that capacity, herewith submit our report.
We have examined all of the cases brought
Nolan, and have returned our findings in
each of the cases, excepting that Of the
Julia Dowd murder case.
From the fact that this case was investi-
gated by grand jury heretofore empan-
elled, and, likewise at the coroner's investi-
CATION, We nevertheless, entered into
the investigation Of the case with the
determination of following up every clue
which the evidence in the case disclosed.
We have examined q large number of wit
nesses and have again traversed ground
had previously Investigated the case. We
did this in order that our investigation
would be thorough and complete, and while
the conclusions which We have reached are
not of character to justify the entertain
perpetrators of the dastardly crime, still
from the evidence which we have heard in
the further investigation of the case, their
movements can be directed to we'll defined
channels, and we have instructed the
proper officers whose duty it is to prosecute
1 ~ direct their efforts in the future.
We have visited the county Jail and have
found everything in proper condition, and
. tho inmates apparently satisfied with the
\ treatment which they receive. We have
\ only to reiterate tho Recommendations made
A by preceding grand juries as to the neoes-
Y sity of more commodious quarters, and
\ heartily recommend the adoption Of the
proposition of submitting to the people this
/ coming fall the expenditure of the amount
N necessary for the construction of a new Jail;
meanwhile we recommend that better ac-
n commodations be provided for female pris-
y oners by building separate cell for their
/. use.
We have visited the poor farm and found
= the inmates we'll provided for and the sur
I roundings in good order. We find the
county in possession of q valuable piece of
\ land which at present is unproductive and
I valueless, and we recommend that steps be
: taken to place the ground under such a
I state Of cultivation as we believe can be
4 done rather than under the present arrange
i ments, and thus bring a revenue to the
\ county.
We likewise visited all the county Offices
\ and found them properly managed. We
found the county treasurer's balances in
Y the various Repositories to be identical
( with his book balances.
Your grand jury have been ably assisted
I in their labors by Prosecuting Attorney G.
y b. Nolan, and We desire to- thus place on
/ record our appreciation Of his services and
\ ability. JOHN S1EDMAN,
I Foreman of Grand Jury.
( JOHN w. THOMPSON, Clerk.
| Helena, Montana, October LIST, 1880.