The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-11-19
MEErrNa OF rHE cIRcu1r COURT.
In Charging the Grand Jury Judge Roberts Al
ludes to the Tramp Nuisance.

The November term of the Circuit Court
began on Monday last. The attendance was
larger than usual on the first day. and the
audience seemed TO realize the changed con
dition of the court room. The utmost deco
rum was observed, and the usual hustle, noise
and conversation was absent.
Judge Roberts was on the bench. He APP
pointed the following officers for the term
Gersham Huff erier, William H. Wilson mes
senger, William p. Stone bailitf to the petit
jury Benjamin j. Matthias bailiif 10 the grand
jury and Dominick Fowler and John Croft
court bailiffs.
DR.. j. W. Herring was appointed foreman
of the grand jury, and the other members
were drawn as follows: George Rupp, Isaac
Green, Jr., Ephraim Shearer, Frank Deinst,
John Shaffer Of r., VIM. Rinaman, B. Frank
Rawlings, Jeremiah A. Morelock, Frank A.
Eckenrode, VIM. H. Clutz, Harry l.. Cos
nell, Noah Sullivan, Thomas A. Barnes,
VIM. Y. Frizzell, Francis H. 0rendortf, ia
cob ID. Lester Frederick Green, Joshua l..
Smith, Marion Lester, Charles A. Myers,
Abraham |. Geiman, Christian Hunt. The
petit jurors are George w. Stephan, Albert
Crawford, George w. Lamotte, Samuel d.
Shipley, William Devries, Larkin Belt, Amos
Duttera, Jacob NJ. Folk, James Caltrider,
Arnold kletf, Amos Armaeost, Daniel f.
EoUElutIs IetAlu AOOhs 'bhu ~. "NhA-f u
Henry Knipple, William Jesse Roberts,
James Y. ICriswell, Henry Sharp, Aaron
Hoffman, Edward Stonesifer, John A. Mar
Tin, Michael Ham, Jesse P. Garner, Penn
berton Wood, David Il. Feeser.
In the charge to the grand jury the Court
said the peace of the county was u matter OF
eongratulation, and that there were no VIC
Iations, so far as the court had knowledge,
except in Westminster. There were "a per
sons in Jail for violations of the peace in this
city, all put there since October 24th, and
while the charter of the city permitted their
commitment to Jail, there was nothing IN the
law requiring Carroll county to pay for it.
The court then went on to say that the
iramn nuisance must be dealt with, and he
charged the grand jury to investigate the
matter. While there is no local law ade
quate TO meet the situation at this season of
the year, said the court, the general law was,
and the provision of the code was cited
wherein justices of the peace were empow-
cred to commit tramps to the House of Cora
rection. where the expense of their board
would be paid by the State. The court stated
that from December 1st, 1891, to May LIST.
1892. n period of six months, the cost of
tramps was about So, 500, nearly $1,000 per
month"; While the tax rate of Carroll is the
lowest in the State, there is no reason that it
should not be lowered, if it could be done.
TIE cost incurred for tramps was an inins-
tice to the tax payers, and if possible some
measures ought to he taken to abate the
tramp nuisance and save this large expense;
that these people were not citizens of the
county, and that the expense they entailed
was burden which ought not to be imposed
on the taxpayers of Carroll.
The court, as the law requires, called at
tention to abations and defauters, but said it
had no knowledge of any violations OF the
law.
The court cautioned the jury against cas- es
based upon private grievances.
After the grand Jury retired Col. Mckellip,
of the committee on improvements in the
Court House, presented the following report:
To the Honorable, he Judges Of The Circuit Court for
Carroll County
Your committee, appointed at the last February
term of court charged with the duty of making i'm
proyerlents IN the court nail ana IN tue sanitary
condition of the Court House, beg leave TO submit
the following report
David stoner, Esq, President of the Board of
County Commissioners was invited TO become a
member of the committee, and was made chairman
thereof and it gives great pleasure to say that
every reasonable and proper demand made upon
him was promptly and cheerfully acceeded to, and
that to HIM and the hearty cooperation of the other
County Commissioners, is due whatever of success
has attended the committee in carrying out the
Impressed with the fact that our county is the
committee felt and believed that its court room
should no longer be a reproach, but that such i'm
proVement should be made therein as would make
il credit to the people of the county as well as to
add such cOnveniences as would conduce TO the
comfort of all whose attendance at court is required
and facilitate the transaction of business There Is
nothing more certain than that public buildings are
taken and considered by the intelligent observer as
au index of the character of the people to whom
they belong 1t is not too strong Language to use,
when your committee says, that our court hail. as
known to your honors and our people for many
II in that inviting condition TO
which we could point with pride or even satlsfac-
ton.
little IL any more money than was saved TO the
county by the shortening of the last May term OF
court the court room, your honors chamber, AMI a
room specially designed for the exclusive accommo-
daiion ladies compelled TO be in attendance upon
court have been tastefully and even handsomely
Es.ished and fitted up 50 that our people we feel
assured, will take pleasure in their altered ana
changed appearance
In calling your honorS' attention to the work done
and in the opinion your committee, to the great
improvement made, we think it only necessary 10
point 10 your present surroundings. 10 the court
room as il is now and ask you to contrast II with
what your recollection of was before as the best vim
tliCaon of the work of the committee and their JUS
tiicaon for the expenditure of the money made. IL
is source of pleasure TO the committee, rs we doubt
not il is to your hono To know and to feel that We
have Il court room which compares layorably with
the best in this any other state, and that II Is So
arranged rs greatly facilitate the transaction of
business and thus lessen the costs incident thereto
Your committee express their regret that suitable
gas fixtures, in keeping with the improved appear
ance of the court room, have not Deen provided
therefor and that the grand and petit jurors rooms
have been left in the unsatisfactory condition they
arc but we are not without hope that the County
Commissioners in the near future Will see the ne
ceSsity of providing the one and 50 improving the
appearance and condition Of The others so that those
OF our citizens who arc compelled TO perform ser
vice therein viii find it pleasure rather than
burden.
In submitting this report it is but just to acknowl-
edge the valuable suggestions which the committee
secured from his Honor, Judge Roberts. and to en-
phssize il possible the obligation VIC feel ourselves
under to David Stoner. ESQ., President, and his as
soeiate commissioners, without whose aid and sup
port our efforts at improvement would have proven
futile.
Finally your committee feel il TO be due to the
Court TO the County Commissioners and TO the peo
ple 10 say, that now that the court room is hand
somely fitted up il should in the future be used
exclusively for eonTt purposes and none other. II
this suggestion is rgdy adhered TO there ought TO
be no difficulty in its always being kept in a clean
ard presentable condition.
We have the honor to be, very respectfully your
obedient servants,
JAMES 4. c. BOND