The Brookhaven leader., 1891-01-29
That Grand Jury Report.

much exercised about the rowdyism
that occurred in jackson during the
holidays, copies the report of the
grand jury relating thereto, and re-
marks that the city has returned to
McGillism. The Leader should know,
il it tries to keep truly posted on
jury met, and Immediately after the
Christmas disturbances, the city cOun-
ell demanded and received the resig-
nation of the entire police force
Ciarion-Ledger.
Yes, but the grand jury held its
session after the reorganization Of the
police force, and it says in its report,
made under the sanctity Of an oath
1--WE are impressed that Jackson needs
above all things, an efficient police
force, composed of men not them
selves law breakers. We have found
it necessary to indict one of the new
police force who has just been put on
the force at its last reorganization.
/. What is needed, i'm our
opinion, is radical change of the
whole force, by putting on it men eff
ficient, willing and courageous enough
to discharge their duties"
The report speaks in the present
tense and the jury indicts cone of the
new police force" Let the C.-L. now
rise and explain its explanation.
Since the above was put in type the
following letter has been received on
the same subject, to which we cheer
fully give space:
JACKSON, MISS, Jan. %, 1891.
EDITOR LEADER:-In a recent issue
of your paper You quote the report of
the grand jury of this district regard
ing the disgraceful affair of Dec. "a,
and speak of the present city admin
istration as McGillism under ahOth-
other name" do not think you wish
to do injustice to the present city
to make statement.
The Mayor and Aldermen of this
city felt the disgrace of the affair of
Dec. oath more keenly than any 9TH
ers, and on Dec. 9th, 1890, a meeting
of the Board was held and the resig-
nation of the the entire police force
demanded. If members of the grand
jury did not know of this it was their
own fault. The force was reOrgan-
lied with Mr.. A. G. Lewis as chief of
police. j. w. Cain, the one of the
new police force who was indicted by
the grand jury, was arraigned, and
after hearing u statement in his be-
half, the case was mol pressed by or
der of Judge Chrisman.
The city officials who were near the
sence of the killing, were left out in
the reorganization of the police force.
The present city officers have no
sympathy with lawlessness and have
never compounded with felony.
JOHN Il. Buck,
City Clerk of jackson, Miss.
The editor of the LEADER knows
Capt. Buck intimately and unhesitat-
ing accepts every thing he says as
true; we also know personally every
member of the Board of Mayor and
Aldermen of Jackson and just as I'M
hesitatingly acquit each and every
one of them of any sympathy with
the recent lawlessness in that city.
At the same time this does not re-
lieve them of measure of RESPONSE
bility, or alter the truth of what we
stated last week, that the Christmas
eve drunkenness, hoodlumism and law
lessness which eliminated in MUIR
der, and which was all carried on
right under the eyes of the city po-
lice, was substantially the same con-
dition of affairs that so justly precip-
itated the overthrow of the McGill
regime three years ago.
We were fully apprised of what
had occurred regarding the re-
organization of the police force, and
so was the grand jury, as thelanguage
of its report proves. 1t is equally APP
parent from that report, that the re-
organization was not as thorough and
effective, in the opinion of the grand
jury, as the situation demanded. We
have it from perfectly reliable author
ity that, as a matter of fact, only the
chief and two other members of the
old force were left out in the reOrgan-
ization, and that the place of one of
them was supplied by the man indict-
ed.
1t is pertinent to state in this con-
nection that the editor of the LEADER
is we'll acquainted personally with
Mr.. j. III. Morris, foreman of the
grand jury, and there is no citizen
of Jackson whose word or oath we
would more readily accept touching
this or any other subject on which
he assumed to speak. Therefore, max
ing full allowance for all claimed by
Capt. Buck, we are persuaded there
must still be large room for improve
ment in JacksOn's police force, though
the LEADER will gladly give due
credit should future developments
prove otherwise.
Trial of Blue and Applewhite.
The preliminary trial of VIM. Blue