The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-06
GENERAL PREsENTMENT
OF the Grand Jury of the City Court
of Savannah for the July Term,

1896.
To his Honor, Thomas M. Norwood,
Judge of the City Court:
The grand jury of the city court, July
term, 1896, beg leave to submit the follow
ing report as it's general presentment.
In compliance with the instructions we
received from your honor, we have exam
ined the condition of the offices of the
clerk and sheriff Of this court, and find the
books and records well kept and the rec
ords filed for convenient reference.
We did not make any examination of the
county chain-gang for the reason that no
provision seems to be made for the ex-
penses necessary to be incurred.
We recommend to the county commits
sioners that electric fans be provided for
the grand jury rooms, as during the re-
cent hot spell the grand jury rooms had
to be abandoned and it was only by your
permission to use the court room that we
were in any way comfortable.
We recommend to the county commits
sioners that a reformatory be erected for
the purpose of trying to reclaim young
criminals. This is in accordance with
your charge to US as you have no other
discretion and the law leaves no other
course to pursue than to place these young
offenders with criminals who cannot ex-
pect to be reclaimed with few exceptions.
1t is a reflection upon the good name of
our city and county that such a reforma-
tory has never been erected heretofore;
and We cannot urge too strongly the inn
portance of this reformatory.
The history of one criminal was traced
through the years, and it was found that
it had cost the state nearly 100000.
Could she have been reclaimed all this
expense might have been saved the state.
In a smaller degree there cannot be
much doubt but what could the history
of many of the criminals of our city be
followed up, that they have cost our city
and county thousands and tens thousands
of dollars more than a reformatory would
have cost, many, many times.
To your honor and the solicitor general
and to the officers of the court, we desire
to return our thanks for their prompt
eourtesies, advice and help rendered us in
the performance of our duty.
Solicitor General Wallace w. Fraser de-
serves we'll of the people of this judicial
circuit. He has made a fearless and sue.
cessful advocate for the state. To a nat
ural aptness as a prosecuting officer, no
has the acumen which comes from wide
experience.
Joining the other grand juries of the cir
cult we earnestly recommend him to the
incoming legislature for reelection to +ha
position he fills 80 worthiy.
We recommend that these presentments
be published in the Morning News and
Savannah Press.
r. B. Reppard, Foreman,
c. L. Montague,
Charles f. Prendergast,
James McGrath,
John d. Robinson,
A. S. Nichols,
T. T. Chapeau,
w. F. McCauley,
r. H. Cornwell,
w. d. Simkins,
John Sullivan
A. L. Shellman,
W. 1. O'Brien,
Michael Carolan,
H. c. Morgan,
Clarence S. Connerat,
NJ. Byck.
Dissenting from the clause indorsing So.
licitor general, because we do not think
1t comes within the province of a grand
jury. John Schwarz. q
A. Vetsburg,
A. w. Harmon.
Ordered that these general presentments
be published as recommended.
In open court, this Sept. S. 1896.
t. NJ. Norwood.
Judge City Court, Savannah