The record-union., 1896-11-26
GRAND JURY'S LABOR ENDED.
Nine Indictments Were Found and Fire
Charges Ignored.
Change Recommended in the Jury
Law-City Jail Not Worthy
of Comment.

The Grand Jury filed its report yes
terday in Judge Johnson's court through
it's foreman, Thomas Mcconnell, ana
the members were discharged after be-
ing thanked by the court for their Ia
bor on behalf of the county.
The jury finds some acts to commend
on the part of county officials recon-
mends changes in methods in a few in
stances that would result in a saving
of expenses, and advises that the Con-
stitution be so amended that in GRIM
inal actions three-fourths of jury
may find a verdict.
Out Of fourteen cases submitted to 1t,
the jury found indictments in nine, and
in the other five the charges were lg-
nored. The jury was composed OF
Thomas Mcconnell, Frank Miller, Fred
s. adams, H. w. Bragg, Henry Ger
ber, NJ Hanrahan, j. L. Huntoon, Sam
ue. 4.avenson, L. l.. Lewis, A. Meister,
Herman Steinmann, H. X. Wallace, C..
a. york, G;llis Doty, William Johnston,
Amariah Johnson, II. D. Kercheval,
d. w. Taylor and w. c. Sheldon.
INDICTMENTS FOUND.
To the Hon. Matt. F. Johnson, Judge
of Department Two of the Superior
Court of Sacramento County:
We, the Grand Jury, beg to submit
herewith our final report. This jury
was impaneled in your court June !,
1896 Thomas Mcconnell was ap
pointed Foreman and F. B. Adams Sec
retary.
We had fourteen regular meetings.
We have investigated fourteen cases
and examined siXty-one witnesses. OF
the number Of cas- es brought before us
we have found indictments against
nine, and have ignored charges against
five.
The jury then explain that no expert
was employed, owing to the very full
report of the expert of the last jury, and
the law requires only that the books of
the departments be examined once a
year.
TWELFTH-ST BRIDGE.
In regard to the matter of the re-
building Of the Twelfth-s.ree bridge
ever the American River, the jury say
they appointed committee to investi-
gate the matter and the report was as
follows:
Your committee appointed to exam
inc into the work being done on the
Twelfth-street bridge report: We Wis
tied the bridge on the afternoon of Oc-
tober 1st and found that two temporary
bridges and a plank road had been built
across the river to accommodate the
travel There We're three o0O-toot spans
in the bridge. Two Of the spans had
been taken down and rebuilt, and the
workmen were taking down the third
span. We carefully examined the tim
bers that were being taken down and
discarded and found them rotten on the
ends and warped and twisted and un-
fit TO go back in the bridge The top
broken, and were being replaced by new
and heavier castings, strengthened and
reinforced where found defective in the
oiu ones.
''The piles, planking and braces in the
bulkheads and approaches were SO
rotten and decayed that the roadway
had caved in In several places. This
work being in plain sight, it's condition
was easily seen to be unfit for service
or safety
The committee reported that the
bridge was being practically rebuilt:
that the work was being we'll done, and
it was in the line of economy to
have it done at that time
The committee also examined the
Arcade Creek bridge and recon-
mended that it be improved by the use
Of material from the Twelfth street
bridge such as is in good condition.
The committee commend Supervisor
Curtis and Superintendent David Fall
coner for their close watch of the work
on the Twelfth-street bridge, and rec
ommend that the Supervisors have all
the county bridges examined twice each
year by Bridge superintendent.
HIGHER LICENSE.
The jury finds there are 2G7 places in
the county licensed to sell liquor, and
recommend that the license be raised
from $50 to $50 per quarter. There is
cne saloon to every thirty seven voters
in the county.
PRISONERS BOARD.
After inquiring into the cost of feed
ing county prisoners, the Jury recon-
mend that "a cents per day be allowed
for those employed on the rock pile, and
l6 cents for those not thus employed
These rates, the jury believes. would
furnish an ample supply of wholesome
food and allow the Sheriff ample COM
pensation.
1t is found that the cobbles purchased
for breaking cost % cents per ton, and
that about nine tons are broken daily.
The total cost to the county for the
broken stone is 81 1873 per ton--a loss
Of 9S15 cents per ton as compared with
that crushed at Folsom.
Still, the jury considers the rock-pile
a good thing, as 1t is regarded as a pun
ishment for crime, and has a good effect
in keeping down the number of prison
erS.
PUBLIC GAMING.
On this subject the report says: THE
sentiment of this city seems to be that
during the State Fair weeks gambling
should be permitted. 1t Is therefore a
more difficult matter to enforce laws
here on that question as strictly as in
other places where gambling is never
permitted"
HOSPITALS, JAILS, ETC.
The jury report having visited the
County Hospital and found PSI patients
there. The daily cost per capita of car
ing for the INDECENT sick is Is 40 cents,
or about 3l4 cents per meal. The build
ings and grounds are neatly kept, and
the patients expressed satisfaction with
their treatmen superintendent c. A.
White is regarded as highly efficient
and painstaking officer.
AS to the City Jail. the building is old,
the sewerage defective, and the loca tion
bad. Business in the Police Court is at
times impossible, owing to its proximity