The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-02-07
A CREDITABLE REPORT.
A Coed Report From New Castle caunty's
Grand Jury-They Evidently Tried TO
do.

ftTIuE" tht Ahty "tfc p"uru ~
DO.
Before the grand jury was discharged
yesterday afternoon report of the work
done was submitted 10 the court. 1t was as
follows:
"The grand jury of the State of Delaware
would most respectfully submit the follow
ing summary of the business presented for
their consideration for the year commence
ing with the May term, 1894, and ending
with the February term, 1896 At the May
term slxty-one bills were presented, OF
which eleven bills were ignored.
"At the September term fifty-one bills
were presented, of which eight bills were
ignored. At the November term thirty
seven bills were presented, Of which FIVE
bills were ignored.
"At the February term twenty seven bills
wore presented, OF which nine were ignored.
Total. 143 true bills; thrty-three ignored.
'In one case at the November term the
youthful offender was recommended for
commitment to the Ferris Industrial School.
"On Wednesday, November 27, 1894, the
annual visit of inspoce,sn was made to the
county nlmshouse at Farnhurst. The jury
was unanimous IN expressions of praise for
those in charge. Everything seemed to In
ultHlt u CAREFUL, CdpdDle anu buSlHebS-llht
care. The buildings. equipments and
grounds all betoken a management that re-
fleets great credit upon the county in care
Of her unfortunate poor.
"On Thursday, January 10. 1895, the
grand inquest visited and inspected the
county Jail at New Castle. We were court
cously received by Sheriff Gillis and his
wardens, and found everything in the Jail
in as perfect order and as cleanly in appear
ence as it's over-erowded condition would
permit So much has been said and SO
much written upon this subject that 1t
would seem useless for the 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 inflicted may have tendency
to make better their future.
1.-The present conditions are such that the
youthful offender and the hardened Grim
inal of all ages and conditions are huddled
together in such numbers that the cell be-
comes a school OF vice with the worst GRIM
inals as teachers. In view thereof Of the
preparatory steps taken by those interested
in the prison reform movement and the
resolution adopted by the Levy Court on
January s. in regard to the purchase of
stone quarry, We can only recommend that
| NudlCNGT htllDH lS luhbH LuT pTibOu ISlicl,
| that 1t be prompt and well advised.
1.-The attention OF this jury has been
| called to the fact that prisoners are per-
mitted TO go upon the streets unattended
by n werden, Ia practice in which the pres
| ent sheriff is only following In lines estab-
| iished by his predecessors). The sight Of
! these men upon the streets in prison stripes
aceustoms the citizens to view the stripes
upon our streets. and In case Of an at
| tempted escape would operate against a
| capture by citizens; and in addition it is
distasteful to the public, certainly not
| part OF the sentence of the court, and should
| be abated. We were Hospitality received at
| the sheriff's apartments. This part Of the
county property is sure to be safe, for it is
under the care OF efficient hands.
'In our attendance upon the sessions of
| court one fact seemed apparent to all,
| which is that some legislation is needed to
| cover class of cases continually claiming
| Che attention of the court, viz: The buying
! and receiving Of stolen goods. We're 1t not
/ Llade so easy to dispose Of the plunder, very
| many thefts would never be committed
| We. therefore recommend that the attorney
general prepare bill requiring that IL
| cense Of at least 800 be required from DEAL
! srs making a speciality of second hand
/
! making conviction a possibility, and pre-
sent the same to the present Legislature.
| and urge It's adoption.
| THE grand inquest would call the atten-
| tion Of the Levy Court to the jury and
! sleeping apartments In the Court House as
| signed to jurymen. Upon Investigation we
found rooms cold. cheerless, dirty and
| poorly ventilated. and the furnishings not
at all In keeping with the demands of the
occasion. Surely when men are held upon
| public business 1t is the duty of the county
through her officials to give them as far as
possible comfortable accommodations"
In closing the court and all the officials
! were thanked for the consideration with
which they had treated the jury. The report
was signed by C. Watkins, foreman.
/ Chief Justice Lore made an address to the
| Jury and said that the statement could not
have been more business-lilse. He also
thanked the Jury for the business-like way
It went about the work before 1t.