Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-02-14
REPORT OF THE GRAND JURY.
Fun Detail of Its Operations for the
Past Year.

Af FaSt year.
Visits to the County Jail and the Aims
house--A Gentle Admonition TO the
SherlH-PrlsOn Reinrin Touched Upon
Attention Called to the Miserable
Sleeping Accommodations for Juries at
the Court House.
The grand jury filed into the court
room AZ 4.50 O'Clock yesterday afternoon
week with, the following presentmeuts
Larceny, Alexander WarIenburg, Charles
Coleman, James Walker, all colorcd, and
William Carberry. The bills against
Harry Jacobs and Pusey Smith, gam.
bling, were ignored. This ended the
work of the grand jury, whereupon the
grand inquest submitted the following
report;
10 the honorable judges of the general
sessions court of the peace and jail deliv-
cry, and OF the court of oyer and terminer
OF the county OF New Castle aud State OF
Delaware.
The grand inquest of New Castle county
and state Of Delaware would respectfully
submit the following as a summary of the
business presented for their consideration
for the year commencing with May term,
1871, and ending with the February term,
1885,
AT the May term 81 bills were presented,
and, OF which, IL were ignored. At the
September term 81 bills were presented of
which : were ignored. At the November
term " bills were presented, of which
were ignored. At the February term y
bills were presented ard 9 ignored; total
true bills, l4S ignored, 50. One Youthful
offender was committed 10 the Ferris In
dustrial School. On Wednesday, Novem-
Der 9th, 1891, the annual inspection Of
the county almshouse was made. The
jury was unanimous in its expression of
praise for those in charge. Everything
seemed to indicate II careful, capable aud
Duslness-like supervision; tine buildings,
equipments and grounds all betoken a
management that reflects great credit upon
the county in the care of its unfortunate
poor
On Thursday. January 10th, 1895, the
grand inquest visited and inspected the
county jail at New Castle We were very
courteously received by Sheriff ellis and
his wardens, and found everything in the
jan IN as perfect order and rs clearly in
appearance us its overcrowded condition
would permit. So much has been said
and so much written upon this subject
that it would seem useless for this jury to
do more than recommend that some
speedy action be taken whereby those
convicted Of crimes against our laws may
be SO imprisoned that the penalties in
tncted may have a tendency to make
better their future The present condi-
lions are such that the youthful offenders
and the hardened criminals, of all ages
and conditions, are huddle together in
such numbers, that the cell becomes a
school OF vice with the worst criminals as
teachers.
In view, therefore, Of the preparatory
steps taken by those interested in the
prison reform movement, and the resulu-
ton adopted by the Levy Court January
sth, in regard TO the purchase OF stone
quarry, we can only recommend that
whatever action is taken for prison relief,
it be prompt and well advised
The attention of this jury has been
| called to the fact that prisoners are allowed
to go about the streets, unattended by
warden Ga practice, in which the present
sheriff is only following the lines estab-
lished by his predecessors.
| The sight OF these men upon the streets,
IN prison stripes, accustoms the citizens to
view the stripe upon our streets, and, in
! case of an attempted escape, would operate
| against a capture by citizens; and in al.
dition, it is distasteful to the public
certainly not part Of the sentence of the
court, and should be abated
| We were very Hospitality received IN
| the private apartments of Sheriff
ellis and Mrs. ellis and cheerfully bear
evidence TO the many evidences of neat
| and careful housekeeping. This part of
i county is sure to be properly cared for
under such efficient hands, In our
attendance upon the sessions Of the court,
| one fact seems apparent to ALL which is,
that some legislation is needed to cover II
| class OF cases constantly claiming the at
tention of The jury, viz The buying and
receiving of stolen goods. We're it not
made so easy 10 dispose of the plumber
very many thcfts would never have been
committed. We, therefore, urgently re-
commend that the attorney general pre-.
pare some suitable bill requiring that
license of at least 500 be required from
| dealers making Il speciality of secund-han
goods; and in case of violation of tue laws.
making conviction possibility, and
present the same to the Legislature and
urge its adoption.
The grand inquest would call the aLten-
| Ton OF the Levy Court to the sleeping
apartments for the jury in this building.
| upon investigation we find these rooms
cold cherries, dirty and poorly ventilated
and the furnishings not AZ all in the keep.
lug or needs Of the occasion. Surely, when
men are held upon public business it is
Jhe duty OF the county. through her
officials, 10 give them, as far as possible
healthy, clean and comfortable accommu-
dations.
In closing our report we desire to ex-
press TO the honorable Court our high ap.
probation OF their uniform courtesy and
kindness TO us during our entire attend.
ance upon our duties. Also, to the clerk
OF the court and his assistants, and TO all
other officials of the court. We desire to
give special emphasis to our expression OF
the services OF the attorney-general and
his most worthy deputy for the prompt
} courteous and able manner in which they
have responded at all times, and thus ren.
dered valuable assistance to the work of
the grand jury. COLUMBUS WATKINS,
Foreman.
Chief Justice Lore thanked the Crane
inquest for the busness-like manner in
which it had discharged the duties in
cumbent upon it aud said it was q
model jury. The Court then discharged
it from any further attendance at thi:
court. This grand jury has been d
record breaker, having disposed of al
, the criminal business of this term in !
/ period of thee trial days.
ENFORCING THE BLUE Law.
l r.