The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1897-09-25
Report of the Grand jury,
To the Honorable G. L. Dupr6, Judge OF th,
l1th Judicial District of Louisiana

10 the Honorable u. l.. Dupre, Judge OF th,
llth Judicial District Of Louisiana
Your Grand jury beg leave to submi
this their final report:
! We have attempted to give careful
examination to all matters submitte,
to our consideration.
| AT the beginning of our labors VT
found large number of atfidavits
many OF which were without merit, the
outcome OF revenge aud anger, and
| should never have been submitted tC
| this body.
| We have reported true bills in sucl
| cases only wherein we consider the la W
has been violated. In a number of mis-
demeanors we haze Tturned trne bills
because we are of the spinion that the
| nature of the 0tfense is calculated tu
precipitate the commission Of more Sc
lious crimes. The law prohibiting the
carrying of concealed weapons is OPEN
y violated, and we are of tho opinion
that this class OF law-breakers should
be severely dealt with, to tie end that
they might learn to respect the law
We appreciate the fact that Il heavy
fine imposed upon this class of law
breakers will. in nearly every instance,
be followed by incarceration in the par
ish prison, necessitatiDg the expendi-
ture Of public monies for the mainte-
nance of such prisoners. But we be
!leve that the Police Jury is empow-
cred by Act 80 of the regular session of
1895, to enact such an ordinance as will
make our parish prison self supporting.
Under the present system, sentence to
the confinement in the parish prison is
mere holiday to the ordinary criminal
and continual drain on the tax-pay-
ers. We would respectfully call to the
attention of our Police Jury Act No.
20 of 1896, and ask OF them some leg
lsiation in accordance Herewith.
During the course OF our investigA-
tton, we have in many cases been pre-
sented with atfidayits containing
charges with no foundation, in fact.
In yearly every instance, the changes
were of such Il character a. to permit an
examination b, the Justice ot the
peace IN lis capacity as committing
magistrate. And we believe that a
thorough investigation by the justice Of
the peace Of case coming within his
jurisdiction us committing magistrate
will greatly lessen The ls.bors OF the
Grand Juries aud greatly decrease the
expenses attending the sittings of that
body. We would, therefore, sug-
gest that the different justices of the
peace throughout the parish carefully
examine into ali cases coming within
their jurisdiction AS committing magis-
trdte and bond TO appear before the
Grand Jury such persons only as viii
appear to them to have clearly violated
the law.
Our attention has been. on several
occasions during our sittings, called to
the action OF persons holding comnfls-
s!ons as commissioners Of unbranded
stock. 1t is questionable With us,
the necessity for such offices |
still exist {; but be that as it may, we find |
that there is much complaint and much |
abuse of some who hold such commits |
sion. In order to make as much as pos
sible ont Of their Office, there are some |
Of these commissioners who have agents |
throughout the parish, riding the prai-
rles from early morning until dark,
driving before them all stock that hap
pen to be unbranded. Nine times out
Of ten the unbranded COW thus hurried
70 some distant pen, far from her range,
3 mjlcl COW, but recently turned out
20 Craze by tho owner. She disappears
md her owner ls at a loss to know her
until by chance he hears
hat size has been sold at Congress-"
Again, the stock thus empounded, in
leariy every instance, is sold far below
heir actual value, and even below the
minimum price tixed 10y law-the
commissioner. or his relatives, becom~
ng the adjudicatee. Particularly is
his the case, in one instance-where
he parish received the large sum of
s24 as the proceeds of the sale Of nine
lead of stock-l little less than the
market value of the hides, if sold.
We would respectfully ask the Police
Jurors to investigate these matters,
.nd il the necessity still exists for such
aw, to at least appoint as commission
,rs men who will not piifer their neigh
,ors, whilst shielding themselves be-
lind a commission.
We have examined the public build
ngs and find them all in good condi-
ion, and we take occasion to express
'uT appreciation to Sheriff DeshOtels
md Keeper Doucet for the neat and
leanly condition of the parish prison.
We believe that the fence around the
court House should be repaired, as we
lotice that in several places it has fall
u down. Again cistern should be
'nllt near the Court House, in order to
ford water to the large number of
urOrs and witnesses who are COM
,elled to be in attendance on Court.
We would call these suggestions to the
of the Police Jury for action
" them.
We desire to express thanks to the
heriff and his corps of deputies for the
lud treatment we have received at
heir hands, as also the other officers of
be Court
Having completed our labors, we
you'd now beg leave to be- discharged.
Respectfully submitted.
j. S. BUTLER.