Daily Texarkana Democrat., 1892-12-16
GRAND JURY REPORT.

We, the grand jury empannlled
sworn and charged TO enquire in and
for the body of the county of Miller
submit this, our final report.
We have examined and inquired
into ninety different crimes which
were brought before us, have exam
ined one hundred and sixty-tive wit
nesses, who were from all parts of the
county, and have returned fifty-three
bills.
Owing to the fact that there has
been no grand jury for twelve months,
there has been rather an unusual num-
ber of felony cases before us.
First-The public roads and high
WAYS of the county are as well kept as
is possible under the present road
law.
Second-The Justices of the Peace
throughout the county generally have
! filed abstracts of the criminal busi-
ness brought before them, as required
by law. However, in this connection,
we deem it our duty to say that some
Of the justices of the peace, who have
held and returned persons charged
with felony, have the recognizance
of an unnecessary large number of
witnesses; those witnesses are, in some
cases, in attendance upon the court
eight or ten days before they can be
brought before the grand jury. This
incurs heavy expense upon the coun-
ty, when often two or three witnesses
would suffice.
Third-From the Commissioners
report, six constables are found to be
short in their settlements. We re-
commend that the county court have
the settlements made as required by
law.
Fourth--The county officers are
found to be capable and efficient, and
have discharged their respective du-
ties faithfully, as required by law, ex-
cepting, perhaps, one instance; none
of them keep record Of their fees,
We find this in the Commissioners
report
Fifth-On examination, the jail is
found to be as well kept as is possible
for it to be kept with such large
number of prisoners therein; the pris-
oners are well fed, and no complaint
of any notice whatever has come to
our knowledge as to any sort Of mis-
treatment.
Siyth--During our session we made
visit to the poor house, scrutinized
the premises and made dilligent en-
quiry of the inmates as to their treat
ment; we heard no complaints, and 1t
is our opinion that the paupers are
well provided for, and humanely kept.
1t has been reported to us that there
are some paupers who are not kept in
the poor farm, but in private farms:
we recommend that the county court
order them to the poor house, or else
drop them from the list as paupers
who expect to be provided for by tho
county.
Seventh--We find that our county
convicts are not hired out as the law
provides; that there are some convicts
in the jail nearly or quite all the time.
This is great expense to the county.
The poor house and the county con-
victs costs the county about three
thousand dollars a year, which is one
of the heaviest expense items the
county bears. In view of this fact we
unanimously recommend that the
county dispose of the present poor
house and buy good farm some
where in the county on which to keep
the poor and work the convicts. II Is
tho opinion Of the grand jury that the
expense Of such an enterprise would
be but little more for the first year
than the present expense OF the coun-
ty for keeping its poor and its con-
vlcts as they are now kept; and the
present system cannot be made cheap
er as long as it is in vogue. The
change we recommend here, If proper
ly managed, would bring arevenuc to
to the county after the first year or
two.
/ Eightli--Considcnng the poor ac-
commodation our present court house
affords for the numerous require
ments thereof and considering
the further fact that we now
have in the county treasury about
ten or twelve thousand dollars as O
court house fund, we heartily recon.
mend that the county build u new
court house. The present court room
is too small to seat the court and the
lidgants; the Jail being Immediately
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