Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1896-10-08
Circuit Court Preesedinss.

synopizea. The evidence of II. Ford
Combs, Esqr. that he had tested the effect
Of q pistol ball fired through q tarpaulin
hat and found that it made jagged hole
was inadvertently omitted from the report
OF the trial.
Sept. %, 1896. The first called was
William T. Grinnell VS. Henry Clay
Clarke, No. Trials. Tried before jury.
II. @. Combs and ID. G. Hammett for plain
tin. and b. ii. Camai;er for defendant
Owing to sickness Of Defendants attorney
argument in case was postponed until 0 Q.
m. tomorrow.
Next case was No. % Trials, The r.
Daugherty Company Of Baltimore county
vs. Charles r. Lewis, trading as Chas. r.
Lewis & Co. Tried before Court. Judg-
ment for plaintiff for $1342 So. Messrs. d.
G. Hammett and B. II. Smith for plaintiff.
r. G.. Combs for defendant
Tuesday, Sept. 30. No. 0 Trials resum.
ed. Grinnell VS. Clarke. Jury return a
verdict for defendant for $35689. Combs
and Hammett for plaintiff, Camalier for
defendant. Case occupied day until 2 p.
m.
Wednesday, Sept. 80. State VS. Mitchell
Williams. Grim. apps. Indicted for rape.
Trial by jury. Verdict of guilty on third
count in the Indictment.
Thursday, Oct. /. Blair WALES exam
ined for admission to the bar. r. e.
Combs reported for the examining COM
mittee that Mr.. WALES had passed a most
excellent examination.
No. II Grim. apps State vs. Celia Han
son, was tried and held sub curis. No. 10
and II Criminal appearances. State vs.
Teresa Knott tried before Court. Judg-
ment Of not guilty and traverser discharg-
ed.
Friday, Oct 2. The case of John J.
O'Grady indicted for bigamy which had
been assigned for to day was called and
tried before jury. Evidence and argument
in this case occupied the Court for the en-
tire day. Ate p m. the jury in the
O'Grady case returned a verdict of mot
guilty."
At 4 p m. the Grand Jury having COM
pleted its labors came into Court and asked
to be discharged. The jury submitted the
following report
We, grand jurors of the State of Mary
land for the body of st. Mary's county, sit
ting during the Sept Term, 1896, beg to
submit the following report:
We have carefully examined into all vi
olations of the law, reported to our body,
and have found presentments in all cases
where the evidence before US was suffi-
Gent, in our judgment, to justify the same
Though we have examined 66 witnesses
and found 10 presentments, yet we are of
che opinion that there have been some in
fractions of the law, the authors of which
igent inquiry.
We would respectfully suggest that some
steps be taken by your Honorable Court to
compel witnesses, summoned by the grand
jury, to be prompt in their attendance, in
order to expedite its business. We could
have finished our work in six days had the
witnesses promptly obeyed the summons
Of the Court, and thereby lessened the bur.
den of taxation several hundred dollars.
We visited the county Jail, in which we
found five prisoners, who seemed TO be well
satisfied with the comforts incident to "jail
life" The cells were clean and tidy as
possible, and the building in good condi
ton, with the exception of one window en-
tirely broken cut, few broken panes in
another window and few broken places
in the walls where the plastering has fallen.
We recommend that the necessary re
pairs TO the Jail be made as soon as practi.
cable
Under the instructions of your Honora-
BILE Court we have examined the Court
House, and report that, in our judgment, it
is not safe; and we recommend that the
County Commissioners be urged to have
the same repaired at once.
We have carefully examined the books
of the County Commissioners and we find
no irregularity in the administration ofthe
affairs Of their Office.
We beg, however, 10 call attention TO
the law relating to the collection Of taxes.
The law provides that not more than $500
shall be paid in any one year for the col
lection Of the county taxes. The rate al.
lowed the collectors far exceeds this amount
We believe the amount allowed by law
$4,000 Is sufficient under proper regula-
tons, and we respectfully suggest that the
County Commissioners adopt such a sys
tenn as will reduce the expense within the
provisions Of the law.
We find some Of the roads in the county
in fair condition, especially the most pub
lie ones; many, however, have been very
much neglected.
This neglect in many instances is due to
fences being too near the road; but we are
glad to know that the County Commits
sioners have given notice that all such OBJ
structions be removed prior to March term
of Court 1897.
We beg to close this report by rendering
to your Honorable Body, the States Attor-
ney and Clerk our sincere thanks for your
courtesy and kind assistance.
Saturday, Oct. 3. No. 8 Grim. apps.
State vs. Celia Hanson, indicted for keeping
q house of iii fame was the first case called
Tried before jury. Pending this case the
Court at 2 p. m. adjourned for the day.
Monday, Oct. 5. The case pending
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