The Forrest City times., 1893-03-31
Report of the Grand Jury.
To Hon. Grant Green, Judge of t

DfAR SIR. our UTdHu JuiN tthpdIi- neled for the March Term of NJ. Fran cis county circuit court. would respect fully make the following report:
 We have examined S2 witnesses and found 41 indictments.
 Nearly one fourth of all the lndict- merits were for hog stealing; also that neariy one half of all of the indict- ments were for some character of theft 1t IS greatly to be deplored that growing tendency to steal exists. caused either from laxity of the con vietion of parties charged with such crimes in the past or the result of the hard times in financial matters the past year.
 JAIL DELIVERY.
 On the night of February 10th. 1893. four prisoners, namely, Dempsey, charged with murder. Buchanan, charged with assault with intent to kill. Scott. charged with stealing mon- ey. Mcknight. charged with stealing horse. made tbeir escape from the county jail. under circumstances that do not commend the present jailer as having used that degree of caution with which prisoners should be guard ed We consider it our duty. however. to exouerate our present sheriff MT. w. E Williams from all complicity or even blame in the matter. the said jail CT having violated the express and re peated instructions from said Mir. Williams by permitting the prisoners the privilege of the corridors about the cells. thereby mak ng their escape pos sible
 EX-CoUNTY TREASURER.
 As to the matter Of the accounts of J. B. Wilson. as ex-treasurer of St Francis county. We would respectfully submit the following:
 There is now contest pending in this court as the title to said office be- tween ]. E. Wilson and J. w. Aven. Steps have been taken In the St. Fran cis county court to require q settlement by said J 5. Wilson, and in pursuance of proper powers he appeared in said court. on the l2th day of December. 1892. and filed q statement, which was not accepted by the court for the rea- son it failed to specifically itemiZe the separate accounts with the different school districts. Thereupon OH the l6th day of January, 1893, 1t appears that the said J E. Wilson came again into court, and presented his account more definitely setting out the various amounts due by him upon the different funds due school districts. etc, ill his hands, nnd the court allowed some minor exceptions to be fled and sus- tained thereto. and thereupon the court ascertained that the said J. B. Wilson is due the county and various school districts tine sum of 9.443 ,43 as follows:
 School fund. ........ SS 135 3S Railroad bond fund. ..... .... 1 255 II Estray fund. ........ 3l 3l Redemption fund. nd............ 2l GC
 Total. ........... S9 443 4a But from some cause, supposed to be an oversight. no finding of said amount SO due was entered of record by the county court, and no order was enter ed of record requiring tbe said Wilson to turn ever the said funds to his sue. cessor, J. w. Aven.
 This being the fact we are advised that we cannot find an indictment against said J. E. Wilson. The reten- tion by the said J. B. Wilson of the funds aforesaid in his hands has created much embarrassment and in convenience to the county and the Va rious school districts, and We urge upon those into whose charge the mat ter comes that they proceed. without delay, to adjust the affairs ot said eX- treasurer as speedily as possible.
 COUNTY JAIL.
 We have examined the county jail and find it in a deploIable condition; il is a two storied wooden structure, pre- senting more the appearance uf sta ble with ample lott accommodations thana county jail. 1t is d perfect shel with an autiquated appearance. The lower floor is occupied by narrow sctlls in which prisoners are confined. The upper floor is occupied as a residence of the jalor. The cells are four il number. quite narrow. scarcely ade quate for the accommodation of one person, in which. however, from tw- to three or even four and five are some times incarcerated at different times The cell accommodations were intend ed for the prisoners of this county when We had population ot about six thousand inhabitants. A present tht population of this county has increased to about fifteen thousand. making tn, cells entirely inadequate for our pres ent increased population. The floor o1 the corridor around the cells ls con structed of wood. through which al opening can be easily made, and since the building is elevated some three feet from the ground with no rail pro tection around the building. escape is easily secured whenever the opening i. made.
 The jail is absolutely without ven tilation (except such as periodically and incidentally occur when prisoner. make their escape) scarcely a ray o