The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1892-09-24
Report of the Grand Jury.

dltldl DlStrlc'. court Oh Jiie Otdte VI
louisiana. 10 ling sessions in end for
the parish Of 81. Martin.
The Grand Jurors, impanelled at the
present session Of your Honorable Court,
having terminated their labor. before
asking your Honor to discharge them,
beg leave to submit the following report:
We have cOnscienciOusly examined all
cases brought to our notice, either by
way of newspaper publications by eiti--
zens appearing before us of their own
yolitiOn or by parties appearing upon
subpopnas from us. We have returned
in all eight true bills and have eXamin-
ed nineteen other cases in which we
have found no true bills. Among the
latter cases, i, that of Philomine Martin.
in regard which We have already report
ed recommending her immediate inter-
dictiOn and removal to the State Insane
Asylum for treatment.
We beg to report the public roads OF
the parish in tOlerably fair condition.
considering the wet season We have just
gone through. 1t is with pleasure we
make particular mention OF the good
condition and excellent work done on
the public road along the Keystone
plantation ani that If Mr.. Liable and in
| iacl up 10 our PARISH eat. Whether
| II no arfn
the Road 0yerseer of that district or by
the owners of the adjoining plantations,
we know not bat certainly the work
done is worthy of commentator we do
hereby so commend it.
We have found the Jail in fairly good
condition and apparently kept clean.
There are however three or four serious
leaks in the Jail, to which We call the
attention of our Police Jury. Unless
some action is taken at once in this,
the parish may soon be called upon to
pay for large and serious repairs in our
jail Immediate action in this, Oh the
part OF our Police Jury, would certainly
save considerable expenses to the tax
payers of this parish.
The Court House is loudly calling for
instant repairs. The inside walls are
covered with crayOn pictures and many
notices of mere or less doubtful import
above them. The wood work, such as
door and window, frames, benches, desks,
etc, are artisticallv carved, bearing liv-
ing evidences Of the genius of our peO-
pie liz the great art Of whiting. which
our court house yard bears evidence OF
two district ages of the history OF our
parish the yard being kept in kind re-
memsrance of the grand prairies of a
by-gone age and generation, which The
fencing bear witness to the American
improvements in manufactures, being Of
, barbed wire. We think the court house
ground as they are now kept are cry
: ing shame. The Police Jury should de.
vote some attention and moaey to RENE
dy this evil.
We recommend that u new fence bt
put up around, the court house be thor
Oughly Overhauled aud painted, that
new desks and chairs he secured. thai
, the Grand Jury room be furnished with
table and chairs and other things, pen
ink and paper for their use while per
forming their duty, that the old rags in
the court house and hail be Immediately
taken up and new carpets put in etc etc
We respectfully request your Honor
to order the Clerk of Court to serve an
extract Of this report, in reference tt
public buildings ON the President of tn,
Police Jury so as to directly call thes,
evils to the attention of that Honorabl,
Body.
We strongly recon- mend that justices
of the Peace, examine witnesses In case.
coming before them. The prevailin.
practice of Justices of the Peace is Il
send all cases before the Grand Jury
: without examination Of any kind: Tn,
result of this is that the District AttOr
ney, not knowing the merits of a case
cannot file information, thus lengthen
!, ing greatly the labOrs of the Grand Jury
, Another evil. result Of their practice il
that witnesses often appear before tn,
Grand Jury who, We dOubtnot have beef
tempered with, so that upon appearing
before that Body and finding their testi
mony is not down in writing. find i
agreeable to testify so as to have parties
brought before the Grand Jury released