The Wichita daily eagle., 1895-12-18

As United States Grand Jury They Inquire
into Perjury Cases Growing Ont of Land
Contests and Find a State of afairs-As
Territorial Grand Jury They Complain
OF lack of Time and the Dinicuity of
Securing Wftnesses-As TO the County
JaiI and Insect Powder-C Court Adjourns
atEI Eeno.
Perry. o. T, Dec. 17.-tSpecial)-The
following is the report OF the grand
fury submitted TO the court today i'm
mediateIy prior TO their final discharge
by the court for the term:
."To the Honorable A. G. c. Bierer.
iuaga of the district court Of the Fourth
judicial district of the territory Of Ok
Iabona. held in and for Noble county.
in said territory:
I'VE the members Of the United
States grand jury. having been duly
selected. impaneled and sworn by this
court 70 investigate all offenses (of
which Noble county is the proper 1u-
risdiction) Of which we had or could Oh
tain leyal evidence, and having also
been duly selected, impaneled and
sworn as a territorial grand jury TO
diligently inuuire into and true pre-
sentiment make Of all public offenses
against said territory OF Oklahoma
committed or triable within said county
of Neble.' beg leave to submit the fol-
lowing report:
UNITED STATES GRAND JURY.
"O1r work as a United States grand
Jury has been attended with many diff
fcuItles and has involved a great deal
Of Daf;ent labor When II is consider
ed that We have passed upon fifty-four
cases. and have examined over 400
witnesses: and the greater number of
these being perjury cases growing out
of land contests. we were compelled to
examine thousands Of pages of manu-
script from the United States land Of
fee and the townsite board. some esti-
mate OF the labor performed by the
United States grand jury may he OBJ
tanned In connection with this the
members Of the grand jury have been
appalled, al tIhe criminal carelessness
Of practicing attorneys in preparing pa
pers and permitting their clients, with
out personal examination, to sign the
same. And while the labor Of this
grand jury has been very great we
feel that we are compelled to leave to
the next jury impaneled a terrible labor
TO perform II the same criminal disre-
gard Of the sanctity Of an oath contin-
ues to govern contest cases in the fu-
ture. IS Il has In the past
TERRITORIAL GRAND JURY.
"'In its investigation Of territorial Of
fenses. this jury found itself hampered
First. by want of time.-our legisla-
ture. whether wisely or not, seeing At,
hsarE 10 h9
crime, TO allow but eight days in which
10 gather it; and, second, by the almost
utter impossFbility. under existing laws
Of getting and holding witnesses. And
this jury cannot find words strong
enough in which to express its condem-
nation of law that compels poor men
and women to either beg. or come be-
fore this court and humilate them
selves by making an affidavit Of power
", when their evidence is necessary to
convict the criminals of the territory.
We submit that such a law tends more
70 the growth than to the suppression
OF crime
This jury inquired into TWEEN nty-eight
territorial cases and examined some
$50 witnesses.
According to the instructions Of the
court, we investigated, 50 far as time
would permit, a part Of the county Of
fees covering a period from the COM
mencement Of this county to the pres
ent time. And Will report great ire
gularities in every record We have as
yet examined. in the matter Of fees. not
authorized by the statutes Of Oklaho-
m2.
I'VE earnestly recommend that the
neXt grand jury take Up this work
where we have been compelled to leave
off
COUNTY JAIL
The jury. in a body. visited and
made investigation of the county jail
and interviewed the prisoners, etc The
prisoners seemed we'll fed and no COM
plaint was heard. except as regards
the beds Of the establishment. AS a mat
ter of economy. as we'll is humanity.
We would recommend the purchase OF /
blankets and mattresses for the pris- 4
oners.
I'VE find the sanitary condition Of .
the building very bad. the lowness Of
the roof making II very dark and .
gloomy in the winter. the heat Of the .
summer almost unbearable and pro- /
per ventilation simply impossible.
I'VE would recommend the raising of
the rocf sr0m three 10 five feet; the
opening Of vents for the admission of
light and aair. and the attendance to
proper drainage; and then. II the COM
miSSl0ners can spare little more mon
ey for the relief Of the prisoners, let
them use 4 for insect powder.
GENERALLY.
In conclusion. we are under many
obligations and desire 10 acknowledge
our appreciation.
First. to the court for his untiring
patience in his dealings with US.
Second. 10 the officers Of the court
for thegr courtesy and kindness; and.
Third. TO the officers Of the United
States and office and tcwnsite board
who have never failed TO respond when
ra1led upon by this jury for the records
Of their offices.
''All Of which IS respectfully submit
ted,
E. a. MACKEY.
Foreman
J. V. KOOGLE.
Clerk
The celebrated divorce suit OF Moffet
vs.. Noffet. on trial for two years be-
fore this court. -t@minated today in a
divorce being granted the husband.
Motion for a new trial in the case Of
the Territory vs.. J. c. Sewers. charged
with rape. was overruled and defendant
was sentenced 10 the penitentiary at
Lansing, Kan. for the period of nine
years.
COURT ADJoURN> AT Ell RENO
Some Account or the Wore Interesting
a>"S II Si'oSed of There
Fl Reno. o. T, Dec. 17.-CSpecial)-