St. Landry democrat., 1893-09-23
IlNtk JOPUs aVt ICOJs
Fl. L. EsToRGE, Deputy Clerk.
GENERAL REPORT OF GRAND
JURY.

To the Hon, tho Judge of the 18th judicial Dis
trlct holding session at Opelousas
The Grand Jurors respectfully report that
they fluid an increase Of crime ana laWsssncs,
the officers of the law to suppress 1t. We have
examined Ill cases, found 65 indictments, and
Ignored 46 bills. There remains At cases which
we have found 1t Impossible to examine, and
which 60 over to the next ensuing grand jury,
except as to those in which the District Attor-
ney may file bills of information.
While the increase of the crime of larceny
may be to some extent accounted for by the
str1ngency of the times and the low price of our
staple agricultural products, yet we are of the
opinion that the root OF the evil is in our ilnpel.
feet judicial system, aud especially our faulty
jury system, to which attention has been called
in a special report, IN which we have given our
opinion Of the needed measures OF reform. The
certainty and speedinGsS OF punishment follow
ing the commission of crime, il what makes
any system of criminal law effective and until
our criminal law is radically reformed We need
expect no reformation of the existing state of
laWlessncss.
We find the public roads and bridges in good
order, the good condition OF the former being
due to the dry summer and fall. We approve
ordinance appointing its members road COM
mssi0ners, as it involved q useless additional
expense to the parish. We think, however, that
the salary attached to the office should have
been at once stopped when The repeating ordi-
nance was adopted. Z" What it is well to do,
'twere well to do quickly" it seems should be
is to be taken off the people. We think the old
system of working the public roads the best, all
things considered. 1t has stood the test of the
courts, and all that is needed to make it effect.
i've ia to rlgidly enforce it,
We find the court building in good condition,
with the exception OF the Clerks Office which
needs some repairs to the ceiling. Our atten-
ton was called to the fact that there were not
sufficient boxes for the court records; and COM
plant has been made that the system OF folding
the records in the tin boxes where they are kept
is well calculated to I'M ure and deface them
These records have to be frequently handled
and should be so kept as to expose them to as
little wear and tare as possible. The fault is
not that of the employees of the Clerks office
but is due to the fact that the boxes and Inc
chancal Continuance for holding the records in
place art wholly unsuitcd to numbers OF sue
cession records and suits which are entirely
too bulky to be compressed within the limited
space allowed for them. AS the preservation
Of these records is of great Importance to the
public, we recommend that the attention of the
Police Jury be called to the Importance Of tax
ing proper steps in the premises.
We have examined the Jail and find it as we'll
kept aud in as good condition and the prisoners
as well cared for as it is possible to d. consid-
ering it's Oyercrowded condition. As has often
been done by our predecessors, we feel bound
to call the Police Jury's attention again to the
necessity of an enclosure around the jail It is
situated in the court yard with nothing to pre-
vent free communication day and night be-
tween the prisoners and persons outside. Whis-
ky can he easily handed in to the prisoners in
QuantltleS; ana II is done, the sheriff
and jailor having no power to prevent it, as the
must be left open to give the prisoners
air. The consequence is that the prisoners get
under the influence of liGuCr and make bolster
GUS noises so as to disturb the peace of the sur
inhabitants, of Which many COM
plants have been made to us.
1t is also easy for outsiders to hand in poisons
weapons, crowbars, etc, to the prisoners
through the grating of the windows, and the
Tailor 10 p0Werless to prevent it, though hold
responsible for the safe. keeping OF the prisoners
In order, therefore, to insure the safe-keeping
among the prisoners and abate the
great nuisance complained of by those who re-
side near the jail; and in order that the prison
ers may themselves have occasional relief from
their cramped and confined condition in the
Jail, which we think Indispensable to their
health, we urgently call this matter again to
the attention of the Police Jury. We are of
opinion that a wall of brick should be built, |
With strong iron gate thereto.
We also urgently call attention to the lack of
for washing out the Jail rooms
md fun nishing the prisoners with an abundant |
upply of clean, fresh water within their rooms, |
N order to supply this want VIC recommend |
hat an elevated tank be constructed with force |
Jump attached, and connected with the well.
With such an arrangement the Jail and prison. |
RS could be easily kept clean, a condition in
lispensable to health and dictated by every con.
liberation of humanity and decency.
We also recommend that coal box be SUP
'lied to the Jail, as much waste occurs for lack
In conclusion we desire to acknOw ledge tho
eceipt OF many courteses from the District !
Attorney, Sheriff, his deputies, officials of the |
Jerks office and the Court.
All OF which is respectfully submitted.
E. s. ANDRUs,
Foreman Grand Jury,
Filed September 20, 1893.
H. l.. EsToRGE, Deputy Cleark,