The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1893-01-28
Report of the Grand Jury.

To the Hon. the Judge Of the 10th Ju-
dicial District Of the State Of Louisiana.
We, the Grand Jurors of the State Of
Louisiana. impanelled for the January
term of 1893 of your Hon. Court holding
sessions in and for st. Martin parish.
beg leave to make this our final report.
We are pleased to report marked de-
crease of crime in our midst. This is
really a matter for commentator to
our people and must indicate the CON-
mencement of an era of increased pros.
perity. The spectacle is presented Of
Grand Jury having but three minor in
dictments to return to this Court. some
thing perhap never happening in COM
munity az large as ours.
We are sorry to have to repeat, what
former Grand Juries have 80 often said.
Our Court House needs repairs and
paint, and the yard around is disgrace.
pure and simple. We seriously urge the
Police Jury to take some action In this.
The Jail is kept in excellent condition.
Praise be to the officer. But we think
some coal should be furnishes to the
poor wretches in carccrated therein,
that they may be- made warm.
We demand and humanity loudly de-
mands, that windows be placed in the
opening of the Jail. 1t is public out
rage and shame that those who are In
Jail are not even protected from the cold
wind, in seasons such as these. The
cost of these windows, which could DO
closed and opened at will. so as to pro-
tect the prisons when in Jail, would
hardly cost ten dollars and would be Of
incalculable good to those Of our people,
who are unfortunate enough to have to
suffer incarceration in the common Jail.
We urge upon the Police Jury the
appointment of Road Overseers
and tho appointment Of men
of legal age and that these be notified
by the Secretary of that Body to proceed
to carry out the mandates Of the land.
This only applies to certain localities, as
we are pleased to say 1t, the principal
roads Of the parish are in good order.
We also call the attention of the Po-
lice Jury to drains leading into Bayou
Teche. which are daily filling up our
beautiful stream, thereby rendering it
less and less fit for navigation. We
think the Police Jury can adopt mes-
sures to prevent this.
Having examined the Clerk and Re.
corder's office, we find the said Office
need boxes, in order to keep the archives
of the Parish in good order and condi.
ton; az it is, we are informed that the
attorneys experience great difficulty in
finding the documents they need and
the papers so exposed are being damaged
considerably. We recommends the po-
lice Jury to furnish to that Office, tho
boxes necessary.
We urge upon Justices Of the Peace. to
take the declarations Of parties brought
before them, charged with officens, where
the accused is willing to make such.
This, in order to save time and expense
to the Parish.
Finally we are proud to say that the
Sunday Law Is in fair way Of enforce
ment. We have accomplished more
than half the fight and 1t now only re.
mains for the officers Of the law, to fol-
low up this first success. by prompt and
firm action, to have this added to the
other laws Of this state, as one Obeyed.
OF course the officers cannot do all,
Petty juries must do the most import
ant part. and we urgently request those
Of our citizens who may be called upon
to act i'm this capacity to do their duty
rlessly that vindication may be done
to the great State of Louisiana. and
eternal justice to those Of us, who are
to the law-that one man
might enrich himself at she expense OF
his neighbor and by violations Of law.
Respectfully submitted.
L. c. GAUTHIER, Foreman.
Received filed Jan. 10th 1899,
Vim. B. EASTlN, Dy Clerk.