The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1894-03-17
4 JURY REPORT.

the 18th Judicial district, court, in
and for Vermilion Parish, La.
We, the Grand Jury of the State
Of Louisiana, for the Parish of Yer.
million, impannelled at this March
term of your honorable court, beg
leave to make the following report
of our Investigations.
Fully approaching the RESPONSE
bility, importance and high aathor-
ity of our Office and believing in the
undeniable correctness of your
honor's charge, that upon officers of
the law all blame must fall, if justice
is left undone and crime unpublished.
We have made a faithful inquiry
into all matters coming within the
scope of our duties.
AS to crime, we are happy to re-
port that there is a marked decrease
in the violation Of the statutes of
our state, in Vermiifou parish. The
gravity Of several cases coming be,
fore US, are not to be, however, un-
noticed. . l...-.. -. -
We discover that the justices of
the peace, through the parish, with
some exceptions, arc to he censnred
Cor receiving frivolous Complaints
brought Through prejudice and
spite. Therefore, we call attention
of the magistrates to this evil of fos.
tering malice and perpetuating
hatred between their fellow men, by
receiving counter charges and Aft
davits in cases Of prosecution. and
strongly demand Command if We
could that this practice be ended.
There are cases to our knowledge
which deserve deep condemnation.
We lay stress On this matter, to the
end, that if our discountenancing
these proceedings, does not avail
our next Grand Jury, may know the
abortiveness OF a frowuing remedy
and apply another.
Our public Offices are we'll kept
and we fud no matter to urge
against any one.
SCHOOLS.
Our public schools are prospecting,
and there being 20 schools open
with a total enrolment of 1852 pu>
pills and daily average of6l9.
FINANCES.
There IS about $500 in the
school fund, and the Parish treasury
contains about $4,000.
THE JAIL.
We have visited the Jail and found
complaint made by the prisoners,
but to the contrary, they all ex-
pressed satisfaction of their treat
ment. ..
We found the Jail in a very clean
but upon due investigation
we found that some of the prisoners
have been allowed to roam at large,
even to the extent cf becoming in
toxicated while out, and having
opportunities to escape i'll
they lclt so disposed, which oppor-
one did take advantage Of and
has escaped and is still at large,
which practice can not be too
strongly condemned.
PUBLIC ROADS.
We ind no special report to make
upon our public roads, beyond this
that the present overseers maintain
the good name of the parish for her
highways. AL roads have been in
as good a condition as the rains per.
mitted. The several known bad
holes on certain roads surely are not
to be the cause Of praise 10 the over
seers, yet we find no open neglect
on their part.
We note with pride the rapid i'm
provement of our section produced
by the railroad and commend the
railroad officials and our citizens in
their efforts to secure emigration aud
permanent prosperity.
= In conclusion We beg to express
our commentator of the fidelity of
our officers with exception of those
referred to in this report in the sup.
preston of crime and wrongHH feeling
that for the peace and undisturbed
prosperity orr country ENJOYS, we
owe no little to the ability and IN