The old Abe eagle. (White Oaks, Lincoln County, N.M.) 189?-189?, 1894-03-29

To THE HON. A. A. FREEMAN, Associate
Justice of the Supreme Court Of the
Territory of New Mexico, and Judge OF
the Fifth Judicial District thereof:
Lincoln, New Mexico, March "a, 1894.
The Grand Jury for the present term
OF the District Court for the county of
Lincoln, having disposed of such bust
ness as has been submitted to them, beg
leave to make this their final report, and
ask to be discharged from further serv-
ice.
We have carefully considered all cases
of violation of law that have come within
our knowledge, and whenever the facts
before us seemed to warrant have pre-
sented indictments against the accused.
We regret to note that very many cases
are sent to the Grand Jury by Justices
of the Peace, in which there is not suff
cient testimony to warrant the belief
that the accused could be convicted of
the crime charged, and in some instances
when there is not enough to even raise
a suspicion Of guilt, imposing large ex-
pense upon the public with no CORE
spending beneficial results toward the
suppression of crime or the protection
of lives and property.
While we, with all good citizens, are
desirous Of promoting the peace and
safety of our society, we do not believe
this can be best accomplished by and
through petty prosecution growing out
of personal hatred and factional differ
ences, which too often actuate complaints
both before local magistrates and before
our Grand Juries direct. We have en-
deavored to eliminate this feature from
our deliberations and action in every
case, and to present no indictments
against any person who did not, from
the testimony before us, appear to have
committed crime against the laws OF
the Territory, which, for the good of so.
ciety, ought to be punished.
When a Justice of the Peace, with the
facts for both the Territory and the de-
fendant before him, as is usual in pre-
liminary examinations, is disposed to
commit the accused to the county Jail,
or to hold him under bond to appear be-
fore the district court, and send an army
OF witnesses here at the public expense,
where the proofs disclose scarcely an in
timation Of the commission OF a crime
and with no apparent reason for such
commitment moro than an excuse for
the presentation OF enormous bills to the
county Commissioners for allowance
we are Of the opinion that there needs to
be some reformation OF the methods by
which such things are accomplished. In
few cases brought before us we believe
a reprimand, at least, is deserved.
From the large number of indictments
presented, we are induced to believe one
OF two propositions:
First-That the past year has been a
prolific one in crimes; or
Seeond-That the present Sheriff and
his deputies have been vigiant in the de.
lection Of crimes and the apprehension
of offenders.
We are not aware that crime is on the
increase, but believe it is growing less
year by year in Lincoln county. We
therefore conclude that the latter prop.
osition is true, and We congratulate the
people OF the county on their selection Of
so efficient an officer to perform the du.
ties OF that important official position.
1t is with regret thut we find ourselves
unable to give our commendation to
some OF the features OF our county's
management. Our investigations show
: that sureties on official bonds have. in
: some cases, boon accepted by the Board
OF County Commissioners who, while
iustifying In large sums, pay taxes on
little or NO property, and in fact are ir
responsible. Reports OF officers, through
whose hands the pnblic funds must pass
and who retain the custody OF such
, funds, are not required by the Commits
sioners at intervals OF such frequency as
the safety Of these funds demands; MOI
! DO these examinations. when made. seem
to have been as thorough and searching
as they should have been. From such
omissions the county is in danger of los
ing large sums OF money which the Ia,
payers have contributed to carry on III
: business.
We have made careful examination
OF the Court house aud Jail Of the county
and find that, aside from iriflng ropalri
needed, they are IN fair condition. W,