The Waco evening news. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 1891-1894, 1892-03-31
REPORT OF GRAND JURY.
UNHEALTHY CONDITION OF THE
COUNTY JAIL EXAGGERATED.
More Light and Better ventilation
Needed Faithful Enforcement OF
The Law Communicates OF In.
dictment Found are Mostly for
Misdemeanors-County in GOOD
Financial Condition
Hon. W. L. Goodrich, Judge.

Hon. W. L, Goodrich, Judge
The grand jury respectfully submits
the following final report
The number of bills of Indictment
that have been presented during its
sitting attest the fact that the county
is not free from law breakers.
1t will be found, however, that most
of the offenders charged are of the
grade of misdemeanors, and OF those
the greater number are for violations
of the laws against gaming, selling
lottery tickets, and trafficking on Sun
day. 1t is not probable that this class
of offenders Will decrease until there
exist much stronger public senti-
ments demanding its suppression.
offenses against the person and against
property have not been of more FIRE.
quent occurrence than is perhaps
common in all populous communities.
The laws, in these respects, appear to
have been observed and enforced with
commendable faithfulness, and the
grand jury believe that nowhere can
be found better protection to life, per-
son and property than is given in Nc
Lehman county.
COUNTY FINANCES.
The county is in good condition
financially. The report on this sub.
ject of the honorable county judge,
which is herein appended, is full and
explicit, and is of especial interest to
the taxpayers of the county. The sug-
gestion therein in regard to roads and
the means whereby greater improve
ments of this character may be secur-
ed, are commended to the public at
! tentlon.
| COUNTY JAIL.
Complaint having been made that
prisoners held in the county all had
suffered greatly in their health from
being two much crowded, careful at
tention was gwen thereto. A com
mittee from the grand jury exam
ined carefully the condition of the
prison wards, heard reports of the
county judge, sheriff, jailers and
county physician and found that said
complaints have been somewhat ex.
aggerated. There does not appear to
have been any serious sickness except
in cases of disease contracted prior to
incarceration. The prisiners gener-
ally have been remarkably healthful
1t is true, however, that the prison
department is not sufficient in capac
ity for the county's needs, and it is
not as well lighted or ventilated as j,
should be.
One deplorable evil growing out Of
lack of proper prison accommodation
is the fact that young boys and also
persons suffering from mental derange
ment are obliged to be confined in
company with old and hardened
offenders, because there is no othel
safe place in which to keep them
No fault is found with the officers il
, charge. The inmates of the Jail have
been we'll fed and made as comforta
BILE as the condition of their safekeep
ing would admit. The grand jury
. offers no suggestion as to the proper
remedy for this existing prison def
cheney, but refers the matter to the
, honorable county commissioners, t
whose jurisdiction it properly belongs
, POOR FARM.
The home provided for poor and in
digent persons was carefully inspected
by committee from the grand jury
and found to be in all respects in gooC
condition, There are at presen,
twelve beneficiaries therein, all o.
whom are most kindly cared for anC
made as comfortable as their physica
condition will admit.
CONVICT FARM
The county convict farm being
some miles out of the citY, was moi
inspected.
1t has recently passed under new
management and is believed to b.
properly and legally administered.
Thus having finished the worl
given us in charge, we ask of you
= honor to be discharged.
Respectfully,
d. r. GURLEY,
: T. @. TIBBs,
JOSEPH SMITH,
T. H. KNIGHT,
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