Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1892-11-25
Report of the Grand Jury.

To the Circuit Court for Montgomery coun-
ty, Maryland, now in session for its No
vember Term Of 1899.
The grand jurors, having been duly sworn,
have finished the arduous labors assigned
them and submit the following as their final
report:
The witnesses appearing before the grand
Jurors, by summons and request, number
1874, two witnesses have been excused by
request Of attending physicians, one could
not be found and several others have not
presented themselves
From the evidence before us we have
found and returned TO the Court true bills
against thirty three offenders of the law
We have earnestly endeavored 10 bring be-
fore the court of justice all persons suspect.
ed Of violating the "local option law" and
respectfully ask the Court to do all that lies
within its power to convict and sentence
such guilty parties.
We also ask the appointing power in our
county 10 select sober and trusted men to
fill the various offices through which the
dignity Of the law is maintained.
The grand jury visited the Jail in body.
There are Cow confined therein sixteen per
sons, oil of whom are males, and all arc
colored except one. Two are charged with
murder, two are insane, and will soon be
removed 10 an asylum, several are held for
larceny, and one has been imprisoned for a
year on an appeal case from Frederick
county. Two small boys are serving thirty
DAYS each for minor offences. We regret
that boys of such age should be compelled
TO associate for even that short time with
more hardened criminals. A term at some
reform school might be more expensive in
the beginning, but cheaper in the end
The prisoners expressed themselves as sat
isfied with their fare, and the interior Of the
cells appeared as clean and comfortable as
could be expected. Seven of the prisoners
occupy one room during the day, but they
are separated at night, only two or three be
ing In each cell We think seven TO many
to occupy one room at any one time, as
health, both moral and physical, may suffer
| thereby We visited the kitchen and in.
ouired into the cooking, and are satisfied
with the variety and quality as well as the
manner of serving the food.
We recommend that both floors Of the
Jail be repaired with cement; that the kitch-
en- floor be laid with cement, or the material
used in the halls Of the courthouse that
the living rooms occupied by the jailor's
family be heated by registers from the Jail
furnace. The register that regulates the
heat from the furnace upstairs needs repair
ing. The mortar in the chimney above the
roof has been destroyed by coal gas. The
chimney should be carefully examined by
a mechanic, as It's condition further down
may also be bad. These repairs should be
made with cement mortar. From what we
could see and learn the conclusion was that
both TAILOR and matron are we'll suited v
their positions. The waste and sewerage ar
rangements In the back yard are not in per.
feet sanitary condition, but we are unable
TO make a practical suggestion with the
meager supply OF water now available.
The committee from this body visiting
the aims house and farm report 20 inmates
white IA, males IL, females 3 colored 10
males z, females Z, and child. Crops raiset
on farm the past year, $40 bushels Of wheat
14O barrels OF corn, 200 bushels OF potatoes
l8 extra fine hogs, 25 pigs and shoats. Stool
on farm, 8 mich cows, horses, 2 colts
Four or five Of the inmates do little jobs o
work around the place at all times, inmates
appear 10 have on good clean clothes, be-
rooms and other parts Of the house in gooC
order. The garden fence is out Of repair
but will be rebuilt next spring. The roo
on old stable Is in bad condition. Farm
and fencing in good condition, the land il
q high state Of cultivation.
We most earnestly request the authoritle
Ia charge OF the court house property 10 re
auIre their janitor 10 keep the same In
more cleaniy manner. The condition o
the halls and steps as well as the two cour
rooms themselves are poor return 10 tn
citizens of our county who furnished th
means 70 erect this fine new building.
We also remark the comparatively poo
accommodation for the women witnesse
who appear before the grand jurors-a pri
yate retiring room would be great con
yenience.