The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1895-06-07
Report of the Grand Jury.
Nav Term Circuit Court.

May Term Circuit Court. 1895.
To the Hon. Samuel II, Terral. Judge of the
Second Judicial District of the State of
Mississippi.
The grand jury empanelled for the May
Term, 1873 Of the Circuit Court Of Jackson
county having finished lis labors, beg leave
to submit the following report first, howev-
ef. we desire to thank your honor for the
clear and explicit charge delivered to us at
the beginning OF our session, whereby we
were very much enlightened, forcibly re-
minded of our great responsibilities and
greatly facilitated in the discharge of our
duties. We wish to state also another cause
of removing the difficulties which confront
ed us in our Investigations was the presence
when required and counsel Of our able. alta.
Bile and distinguished District Attorney,
We believe a la~w-abiding spirit pervades
our county; that the moral condition of our
people Is good, and improving, that lawless-
ness and immoral practices are condemned
and avoided by much the larger portion OF
our people. and this has its wholesome effect
upon the evil disposed element In every
community, we have nevertheless discover
ed that there are at large some persons who
have no respect for the law of the land. or
ths good name of the county. We have made
the utmost and best efforts that we knew
how IN all such cases to bring such parties to
Justice, and we regret that we believe thati IN
some such cases we have failed because some
witnesses wouldn0t give US the facts.
We have, however, returned True Bills of
Indictment where, to our minds, the proof
heard was sufficient to insure conviction.
we have examined lO3 Witnesses and return
ed into court 10 True Bills of Indictment. We
have examined the jail, and find that the
treatment of the prisoners and their fare is
all and more than the law requires, yet we
would not wish it understood that we rec
ommend any curtailment of or the taking
from the unfortunate persons confined there
in any of the comforts heretofore so geuer-
ously given then, by their humane keeper,
however, we would recommend to the Board
of Supervisors that q system'of sewerage of
some kline be adopted which will remove the
foul smells existing in and about the Jail.
We have examined the physician to the jail
whose opinion is that the existing condition
ct the jail is deleterious, and detrimental to
the health OF prisoners and the town of
scranton, and he also believes that it has
been the cause Of some of the sickness that
has heretofore been in the Jail, e~would,
therefore, most earnestly recommend that
the proper improvements be made to render
The health Of the prisoners and the town of
scranton generally more secure.
so far us we have been able we have cX-
aminod the books of the officers and believe
That they are perfectly kept.
We have earnestly endeavOred to do n
perform our whole duty as grand jurors. and
II we have failed to find a bill of Indictment
in any alleged cause presented to us, 1t was
simply, and only for the reason that we
deemed the testimony insufficient to bring
about II conviction. We are reminded that
it is unfortunately a fact that the testimony
of some persons as given before the grand
jury differ very materially from that given
by the same person OF the trial, and in the
presence of the accused; whether this differ
ence is caused by fear or u corrupt and de-
PRAYED desire to defeat the ends of Justice
and the law or from that sympathy. which is
II better part OF our nature for those in
trouble though it be brought on by their own
unlawful acts, or whether it be from that in
herent II commendable attribute (which
prompts one to abstain as far as possible
from saying dlsagreeable things affecting
their neighbor. and in his presence, we do
not undertake to say, yet we do say that
such q fact, recognized by every one, and we
have been to scne extent guided by our ex-
p%erienee In such matters.in making present.
meltS.
And now. having concluded ourlabors we
wish to thank the court and officers for
courtosies extended to us. and the prompt
and willing aid given when required and now
ask to be discharged.
Respectfully submitted,
+, NJ. JOHNSON.
.. Foreman.