San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-12-04
THE FAMOUS GRAND JURY.
THEY MAKE TREiR FINAL RE
PORT.
An Able, Temperate Review Of Tn Ir
Labors.

SoIc W press Jht ETdnu jury came INTO
court and made their final report to Judge
NoOnan, and were discharged.
The jury bore evidence of fatigue from
their long session, having been empaunel-
ed Oct 5th. No former grand jury in this
county or state had passed through the
trying experience they had encountered.
Certainly no other jury had so attracted
the public attention.
Composed OF business men and repre-
SPntatiVeS of the worth and intelligence
UF the community from which they were
drawn, their actions cannot be impugnPd,
and their short cOmingS will find abund
ant excuse
The report was read by the district
clerk in very distinct and clear voice
and listened to with intense interest by
the large audience in the court room. At
its conclusion Judge NoOnan addressed
the jury reviewing in m assure their
laborS, and approving their recommends
ions.
After the Judge concluded his remarks
he discharged the jury, and they quietly
withdrew, showing by their cheerful con-
versatiOn that they felt Immensely re-
liCved. Upon the request of the clerk
the eN-jGrymPn proceeded to his office
and received their warrants; afterwards
breaking up in parties of two and three
and going TO their places of business or to
their homes.
Thus has closed the career of a remark
able grand jury, made so by their fearless
inquiry into public affairs. and the re-
Sistance offered by public officials to
their demands. The report. which is
given below in full diSclOSeS to the public
an intelligent idea Of the magnitude Of
the labor performed, the industry and
business ability of the jury and also the
Of 40, f,r.,
q similar task so far as public officials are
concerned. 1t was a high compliment
paid by the judge when he credited the
jury with having unearthed the condition
Of affairs disclosed in the MARTINEZ case,
and that he would take steps to have all
the accounts of county officials thorough
ly looked into. The judge also adopted
The suggestion made that the attention Of
the governor be called to the abuses per-
petrated by the sO.called equalization
iOard of the city in tampering with the
assessment rolls.
Grand Jury's Report.
To Hon. Geo. II. NOonan, Judge 37th
District:
As fit conclusion to our laborS as a
grand jury, it seems but proper to add
supplement to our reports.
The grand jury was empanneled by
continuous session since that date, with the
exception of q few days interruption. This
long session has entailed heavy expense
upon the county and would be unjuStifi-
able unless necessary. and some explana-
ton is due the court Of the causes for our
lengthy session.
| TINE CONSUMED INVESTIGATING CASES
From JUSTICE COURTS.
Impressed with the gravity of the bust
ness entrusted to us by your honor in your
| charge, the grand jury went TO work
| zealously to discharge their duty.
| Several weeks of our time were
| consumed In examining into the cases
sent up to us from the justice courtS.-Of
accused parties either in jail or on bond
and in this connection the Jury take the
| liberty 10 call the attention of your
honor TO the loose and imperfect manner
1 in which much of the business is done by
| the Justice of the peace courts. Parties
| are committed upon complaints made Of
| charges involving felony, without thor
| ough examination of witnesses by the
| county attorney, the result being that in
| many cases, parties who are unable to
| give bond are imprisoned at the expense
| OF the county, and TO the great wrong of
the individual. When such cases come
| before the grand jury the facts do not
| warrant true bill in many instances
| and the cases have been dismissed. The
| jury must leave this subject to your
| honor consideration for Il remedy.
| SUMMARY OF LABOR PERFORMED.
The jury have docketed 1853 felony cases
! exclusive Of the gaming cases. and dis
| JOSed OF all with the exception OF of 10 re-
! terred. We have summoned and exam
| inHd ~ ~" c0nrS" Of our hnSinpSS over 800
! witnesses: returned 2l2 true bills, dismiss.
| cd TO cases and referred 10 cases.
| INVESTIGATION OF PUBLIC MATTERS.
| AT the time the jury were empanneleC
| yOUr honor charged us tn investigate the
| conduct Of the public affairs Of the county
and city governments; or the matter of the
| county roaus; the electric rapid transit
| roads; ana into The matters touching cIty
| government disclosed by our predecessors
| The scope of such an Investigation
! we have found cannot be cOmDaSScd b,
| a single grand jury and do Justice to the
pnbllc interests and TO the individual,
| and officials concerned, and if we have
| failed to embrace all of your hOnOr's
| charg" IL Is because of this reason, and
We hesitate TO enlarge upon this topic.
ather leaving it to your hOLor to eutrusi
1t to future grand jurieS.
| DAY LABOR AND CONTRACT LABOR.
One matter charged by your honor. Oul
county roads, and public works, we have
teen unable to thoroughly Investigate
but sufficiently to report that the plar
adopted OF employing day labor instead Of
contract labor is proving to be an eX.
penStye experiment to the county, and at.
tendant with abuses giving rise to much
complaint and criticism. inaSmuch A.
the officials of the county arc
thrown in direct contact with Tho
execution Of the public work, and person
al and politica advantage may be taker
In the use of the public patronage. ",
know OF no remedy for this condition o.
KsA go En wSyA