The Opelousas courier., 1896-09-19
Final Report of the Grand jury.


nit their final report. We have bee,
confronted! with il large accumulation
or criminal matters, many of which art
OF serious character. We have re
ported true bills in 9G cases. and have
ignored bills in 81 cases We find tha
there Is disposition among a certain
element of people to use grand juries as
means of avenging their private
wrongs without any appreciation of the
expense which must necessarily fol-
10" ; not with Il view of yin1icating
the law, such presentation oftentlmes
coming from persons themselves under
accusation, and of alleged offenses long
since committed.
Another evil assuming proportions
which promises to hamper the grand in-
tles III their working is the disposition
which parties have to delay preaenta-
tons OF cases until such tine AS the
Grand Jury is actually in session.
1he witnesses are Oftentimes not pro-
cnrahle because OF the rush of work ac-
cumnlated in the hands of the officer,
ahd criminals justly deserving punish
ment go nnpunished We would there
tore suggest that all parties having
complaints to make to the grand juries,
do so, either 10y affidavits made prior
To the meeting OF such bodies, or by
complaints lodged with the prosecuting
attorney IN time to procure the attend
| ance or the necessary witnesses We
find that the law prohibiting the car
rying OF concealed weapons is openly
violated. This practice we consider the
direct cause of mneb OF the crime now
prevalent III our parish. Oftentimes
conflicts are pIeciptated between par
ties, who, in the heat of passion resort
to the use OF deadly weapons as
means of settling their disputes, termi-
mating too often fatally. We are of the
opinion that it the law prohibiting con-
ceated weapons was strictly enforced,
and sufficient fine imposed when con-
victions are secured to deter others
from II violation of this statute, many
OF the crimes now prevailing in our par
ish, would be prevented and our crimi-
nal expenses considerably lessened.
Another statute which is openly vio-
lated, and conducive to much evil, is
that forbidding the sale of goods,
wares and merchandise on Sunday. 10
the past the violation has not been so
open as it. is at present Those en-
gagged in its violation 10 longer content
themselves with opening their rear
doors, but throw open their front doors,
seemingly bidding defiance to the law.
Your Grand Jury believes that all laws
should be enfo, ced, that IA violation Of
the lesser criminal statutes, engeDders a
contempt for all laws, and calculated to
increase the extent of crime, it that be |
possible, now prevailing. We wonld,
therefore suggest that the Sunday law
he strictly enforced and that hereafter
the District Attorney file information
for each vi"latione Of this stathte, and
that the maximu.> fine fixed by the
statute be imposed = co!EA etK here con
victions are stcured7 "
We have examiueTL t.ulkassAle ulkassAle condi-
ton of the public r"ade'throughaRt the
parish, and with but ;sfew exceptions,
find them in very good dzhnnditipn. We
have likewise examined ''saJJt-.e condi-
Courthouse we find in a god condition
and we'll kept. The additnn, however.
comprising the Clerks otfic, and Police
Jury room IL, in our opinion, in a dan
gernus condition. From some cause
unknown to us the new building seems
about to rent in twain, the happening
of which would be dangerous to the
public records, and attended perhaps
with the loss of human life. We would
respectfully call the attention Of the
Police jury to the condition of each
building, and urge upon them the
necessity Of immediate action. The
pIIsuDtts hi6 wen CtIou loI anu Scotn
conteuted with the quantity and quail
ty of food furnished them. The Jail
building needs repairing in several
places and the windows should be pro-
yided with shutters to prevent the rain
from beating upon the prisoners con-
fined within.
1t had been our intention to examine
into the books OF all public officers, in
coming and out going, bnt for want of
sufficient data We have been unable to
do go. We would most respectfully
suggest that thorough investigation
of the books of all pnhlic officers be
made by experts aud their report snb-
mitted to our Successors as ii proper
matter for their consideration.
Your Grand Jury wnn4d consider that
they were dtreiict in their duiy were
they tn fail to call attention to the ex-
tent of Iawlessness throughout this
parish within the last six months.
Seemingly law was suspended in order
to afford an opportunity to the iawless
to carry out their nefarions schemes.
Private rights and private property
were no longer respected, and the most
sacred provisions of our Constitution
trampled under foot. Armed bodies
paraded our highways causing con
and terror wherever they
paSseu, iilpntenlDS Wonth anG cn1t- |
dren and disorganizing Iabofs-g No
country can prosper where such aSsnle
Of terror prevails, and no conmuIrrr,
can he happy and contented where law
secures not protection to life and prop
erty. We can fud no excuse for such
armed bodies who so disregard the val
ne of human life, as to fire the deadly
bullet into house crowded with women
and children. Unfortunately the ex-
ecutive officers made no attempt to
suppress this condition
W".trnst, however, that the sun of
law 1fs3ness has set forever, and we
nrge upon the present executive Off
GERS to suppress all future outbreaks,
no matter at what cost, to the end that
St. Landry may again occupy that
proud position she once held among her
sister parishes, and that the eye Of in
vestors may be again turned upon her
fertile prairies, and her people once
more made prosperous, c0ntented and
happy. Respectfully submitted,
S. L. HEBRARD,
Foreman.
The following are the returns of the
Grand Jury made Saturday last aud