The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1893-10-07
Report of the Grand Jury.

Report of the Grand Jury.
To the Hon. A. c. Allen, Judge of the 18th
judicial District Court.
The Grand Jury duly empanneled and
sworn in and for the parish of Lafayette,
beg leave to submit this their final report.
We have examined the parish jail and
find it in good condition with the exception
of the sewerage in the principal steel cell,
where if larger pipes were used and crate
about two feet below the opening, the now
unsanitary and unhealthy condition caused
by said sewerage would he remedied. The
prisoners therein are well treated and cared
for but complaining IF not having
sufficient bedding.
We would recommend to the Police Jury
to take steps towards furnishing good wa
ter supply to the courthouse and to the Jail
tank be erected in the courthouse yard on
the order of the one owned by Mr.. vi
gneaux for his own
We also recommend to the Police Jury
to take some action towards erecting an
iron fence around the court house and Jail
We further recommend to the Police Jury
the necessity of having a full set of the
louisiana Annual Reports, a set of the acts
to keep said books in the court room of this
parish.
In view of the prevalence of disorders at
the public balls which are frequently given
| in the parish we specially recommend and
insist that the Police Jury require all par
ties who wish to give public balls to take
out a license from the sheriff of the parish,
the amount of the license to be fixed by the
! -. &l,,e
| from, the ball-givcrs to be used for paying
constable or deputy sheriff, whom, it shall
be the duty of the sheriff to appoint and
| send to the collation. ball. for the purpose
of keeping the peace.
! We furthermore call the attention of the
Police Jury to the necessity of having the
parish titles to public roads recorded ac-
cording to law. We have carefully exam
ned into the books of the office of sheriff
and tax-collec,or which we found to be we'll
kept and all moneys collected for by pro-
auctions of receipts from the parish treas
urer and State auditor required by law.
| The clerk and recorders Offices arc well
kept and public records we'll preserved. We
would however suggest that coat of paint
be applied on the porches outside and inside
the Office would greatly improve the general
appearance and at the same time pre-
serve from decay. We will also call the
attention of the Police Jury to the bad con-
dition of the windows of said Office which
suggestions have already been made by
previous grand juries.
We have also examined the books and
vouchers of the treasurer and after actual
count of the cash in the treasury fonnd the
same to correspond with the books and
vouchers.
The clear, able and impressive charge
of the court on our general and special du-
ties has materially assisted us in the perfor-
nance of duties. The wise reference
of your honor to the dangerous tendency of
the times to mob rule lynch law which
is gradually spreading in this and other
States has induced; to here state that no
disposition to public violence for the pun
ishment Of crime exist in our community,
but on the contrary the we'll marked and
prevailing sentiment of our people is to APP
| ply to and rely upon the courts for redress
Of all public wrongs, but in furtherance of
a healthy public sentiment which is neces-
sary to assist in the execution of the law.
We take occasion to condemn any DISPOSE
| ton to mob rule violence wherever i,
| may spring up, as destructive of the primary
cnOS OF government, "nlCn Is TOT Tue security
and protection of the person and property
| of man. The true basis of prosperity and
civilization Of any country.
We find the public schools of the parish
are steadily progressing will be shown
| by these facts. Three years ago there were
only one public school in the town of Lafa-
yette with a few others, under leased build
ings. To-day there are 1o school houses
belonging to the parish and two other
schools which leased, making II white
and I colored school in operation, also
high school building which is now COM
pleted, and which cost $1,000 and paid for
and which it is intended to put under the
administration of the School Board. The
thanks of the people of the parish are due
the Police Jury and the Town Council o
Lafayette for liberal contributions to aid
in the building of said high school.
| In conclusion we must say that the people
have a Jealous, able and fearless distric
attorney and to whom is due in large
measure the prompt and energetic execu
| ton of the law of this parish.
| L. E. COUVlILOE,
| Foreman.