The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-09
THE GRAND JURY OF PARK
Three Murders Within Three Months
and No One Punished
as Yet.
Unfavorable Situation Of the Coun-
ty Poor Farm of That
County.
Urgent Need of a County Court House Sci
Forth-Why the Proposition
Failed.

LIVINGSTON, Jan. S.-[Special. Urban
Mosier, the alleged murderer of Fritz Bet
finger, at Cokedale, last fall, was brought
into court and pleaded not guilty to an in
dictment for murder. His case was set for
Monday next. The grand jury made it's
final report Wednesday afternoon and were
discharged. The report is considered q
good one and has attracted considerable at
tention. AS haze former grand j%uries, they
condemn the poor farm and touch on other
matters of interest to all the taxpayers of
Park county. Following is the report in
full:
LIVINGSTON, Mont, Jan. 7, 1591.-To the
Honorable Frank Henry, Judge of the Sixth
Judicial District:-Sir: Your grand jury,
having completed it's labors, respectfully
submits the following report: We have in-
vestigated all cases brought before us or of
which we could obtain any knowledge, and
have decided them without bias, according
to this best of our Judgment. In view of
the fact that three murders have been con-
mitted within nine months, within this
county, without the perpetrators being
brought to justice, which is not
only an outrage, but a disgrace to
ahy > community NO "OuIu
suggest that the county commissioners Of
fer a liberal reward for evidence that will
lead to tho conviction Of the party or par
ties who committed the crimes. We rec
omnend a rigid enforcement Of the laws
relating to minors frequenting 8 aloons and
their employment therein. We have visit
ed the rooms Of the county officers: also the
Jail and poor house, and find them in COM
mendable order, except the poor house,
which fails to meets our approval.
We find that Park county is the owner of
a poor farm. and a home for The dependent
poor; which farm Is situated some fifteen
miles from Livingston, the county seat:
that to obtain the visits of a physician once
a week (which in some cases is not sniff
Will cost in the neighborhood of 81, 200
per annun. Therefore We would respect
fully suggest that the poor farm be sold and
one purchased nearer to Livingston, where
the inmates can have proper medical at
tendance at much less cost to the public.
Human feelings for the poor, as we'll as
sound financial policy would seem to indi-
cate TINS as the most advisable course to
pursue.
While we find the rents paid by the county,
reasonable, we learn that they are sufficient
to pay the interest on $1,000 which sum.
in our judgment, would erect a substantial
and c~ommodious court house ON ground
tnat PARTIES are WiilinR 10 Donate to the
county, provided the court house be erected
thereon within q reasonable time. We
can see that the looms now in use by the
several officers are not conveniently ar.
ranged for the transaction of public bust
ness, and that in case of FIRE the public rec.
ords would be in danger of destruction
from the fact that the vaults are not FIRE
proof nor even storm proof. Public inter.
est demands the immediate action of the
county commissioner on this subject
Hence it seems desirable that Park county
have a court house of its own, with nothing
less than an entire block of ground