Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1892-02-11
GRAND JURY REPORT.
Sickening Disclosures About the
County Poor House.
The SuuccrS Boarding House
EclipScd.
justices of the Peace Given Il Roasting
for Neglect of Duty.

justices of the Peace Given Roasting
for Neglect of Duty.
The grand jury for the second Dis
trict of Kinds made their final report
last Wednesday. after "a session Of s
days. The report states that 2lI wit
nesses were examined, IL true bills
found. a good many more ignored, and
several referred to the next grand jury
for want of time and proper evidence
The report then continues:
We have made thorough inspection
of the
COUNTY POoRHOUsE,
and beg to report that we feel panied
and Inundated when touching this
part of our report We hoped that we
might be able to say that our poor were
well cared for. but a visit to those un-
fortunate. suffering people, diSpelled
that illusion. Instead of cleanliness,
we found dirt. abominable filth and
! body-lice. The food we found to be of
+ the poorest quality, and insufficient or
deficient in quantity. y biscuit taken
! from the oven gave out an odor so of
/ fensiye that it made one sick at the
stomach. The daily diet consists of
+ fat meat. corn bread. biscuit and the
poorest kind of coffee. with cow-peas
added to the noon meal ; vegetables
are unknown in this poverty-strickcn
! home. The sick and weak have to eat
! the same nauSeating stuff. The thing
most prominent at the home is filth.
/ dirt. body-lice and immortality. There
! is no one on the premises to enforce
rules and regulations for cleanliness
and morality. Both sexes are allowed
/ to mingle freely: in short, all are living
/ in open adultery. We venture the as
sertion that in no other community
can such state of responsiveness exist.
1t tells against our dignity as a Chris
ton and humane people. and stands
against us a monument OF reprOach ;
and we urge the board of supervisors
to make an immediate investigation,
| for as it now stands it is blot on the
name of our good people and in fact a
disgrace to civilization.
And we would also report that we
specially and particularly call your
honor'S attention, and also all good cit
liens of Kinds county, to the fact that
OUR MAGISTRATES
are not discharging their official duties
as the laws contemplate, in our hum
BILE judgment. and failure and derelic-
ton of their duties works great
hardship on grand juries. as well as
makes it much more expensive to the
taxpayers of our county. We can say
with all candor and frankness that
none of them are strictly attending to
or using due diligence in enforcing the
laws. or in ferreting out crime and mis-
demeanors, happening and stalking
abroad in our county at large and it
is our opinion that unless said officers
are more vigilant as to the enforcement
of the laws and to their duties, crimes
and miSdemeanors will largely increase
and the evil effects will be felt by all.
We have examined their dOckets and
find them i'll rather deplOrable cOndi
ton as to the manner i'll which they
are kept. and would suggest and recon-
mend that they be required to perform
their duties more in conformity with
law; and we respectfully enjOin and
request all good citizens to see that the
laws are fully enforced.
The county Jail and county convict
farm are reported in good condition
and properly kept. The report states
that for lack of time, critical eXami-
nation could not be made of the offices
of the sheriff. circuit and chancery
clerks. and closes with thanks and com
plimentary mention of the officers of
the court. Mr.. J. ", Roberts was the
foreman of the jury. and the Raymond
Gazette says in dismissing the jury,
Judge Chrisman said it was one of the
best and most fearless he had ever