Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-12-02
GRAND JURY MAKES A REPORT.
FOR several Years Past indictments
Have Been Pied Up and the County
Attorney iIns Di-ntissea--nhhs
Evils Complained OF.

To the Hon. w. d. Harris, Judge OF
the Seventeenth District Court: We
the membtrs OF your grand jury beg
to report that we have diligently In
quir-d into all orenses against the
laws OF the state. committed in Tar
rant county. which have come TO our
knowledge.
We have found Sis true bills, Of
which sixty-fonr were felonles and 2s2
are misdemeanors.
We have visited the county jail. poor
farm and convict camps and find them
well kept as far as we have been able
to learn, except tliat each camp should
be Furnished with new sleeping tent.
We respectfully call your attention
10 the fact that It has been the prac-
lice OF the courts and prosecuting at
torney. where a large number OF in
dlctments have been returned by the
grand jury against the same person
for the same offensc committed at DIFF
fcrent times. to nolle pros a large per
cent Of the indictments. We believe
this to be wrong IN principle and
wrong in practice. discriminating
IN favor OF tire person who can and
does commit the greatest number of
violations OF the law. We recommend
that the practice OF compromising with
parties who make II business to vio-
late the law be discontinued We be-
lieve that when It IL understood by law
breakers that they win he prosecuted
to the extent OF the law. that they VIII
have more respect for the law, and
crime viii decrease in our county and
state. with due respect TO the courts
In our county we are Of the opinion
that the only juatifyable grounds upon
which to enter dismissal OF true
bill, found by a grand jury. II that
the evidence IL not sufficient tn sustain
the charge. II the prosecuting attorney
has not sufficient time allowed him in
the courts TO prosecute all the indlct-
ments found by the grand jury, let
them remain on the docket
with ample and cOmmodious public
buildings. TariTint county cannot AFFORD
20 compromise with criminals. IT We
have not sufficient court facilities, we
have our remedy through the legisla-
ture.
II is. in our opinion. very important
that uhe accounts If the county otti-
fcials be correctly kept. and as several
grand jurics, In the past. have recon-
mended the appointment OF commits
sluuers To audit the accounts Of county
officers. and report the same we deem II
| otIr duty to submit the following upon
this subject: First That under the
prcscnt law the commissioners court
| can only pay three men for i've days
work for tlds purpose. Second That
the work cannot be properly done In
| this time. Third. That the work should
be done by an expert accountant. We
suggest that our representatives III the
next Legislature ask Tor an act en-
| nbiing the commissioners court 20 pay
| for the work or creating tue oUlVe VI
| county auditor.
| Ii X with great regret that we call
your attention 10 the fact that public
gambling houses and houses OF nroStl'
| tuition are running In the city or Forl
Worth in defiance of law We believe
| that II the executive officers OF tht
county would faithfully and lmparuallN
without fear OF favor. discharge thcu
duties TO the county ana render all th'
assistance and information that thch
positions enable them To render Il
ihc grand jcries, that these house'
could be broken up and their inmate
driven from our town ana county. We
would further report on thiA auhJec
that we are informed that 1t mas beef
for several years, and now Is run
with the city administration OF For
Worth to allow prostitutes and gam
blcrs to plead guilty to fine, onci
each month. for the privilege OF plNlhi
their unlawful and demurallzins yoin
tous In our opinion this is In Fore
and effect n permit or license and re
suits In defeating the objects for wnicl
the state law forblddlng the llcensini
OF houses of prostitution and gambling
were Intended.
We recommend that the law ngains
hunting on sunday be 20 amended a.
to make Ii a misdemennor to nun
ON sunday. II il is wrong to hun
within half mile OF house, ii u
wrong tn hunt anywhere.
I'VE recommend that the gaming law
be amended making IL an onensc 4
bet at cards In public or private places
one game or more.
We call your attention to the act o
the legislature NJ 1898 regulating tn
ealc of wines and liquors and ilNlng
tax We believe thnt under this nc
all druggists that sell alcoholic stimu
lants ETan prescription of physician
are liable FOR the state tax, and recon-
mend that they pay said tax. As thi
law was not given in charge to us b.
the court aud us there seems TO be
wide difference Of opinion upon III
proper construc ton of this law, we ~
fwiu from making any preseutmcnt
l under this act,
We recommend that our representa-
tivcs IN the next legislature iptroduc
a bill requiring all peace officers VIII
are authorised To- make arrests upo
n warrant that when they have know
!, edge OF pr have good reason to believ
: thar an oflense Is being commtte
against public policy aud economy In