The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19
REPORT OF THE GRAND JURY
The County Jail Found in Good
Condition.
113 CASES WERE EXAMINED
Several Indictments Returned For Selling Col
ored 0leomargeune-Case of W. H.
Clark on Trial in City Court

been in session twelve days. yesterday sub
mitted its final report and was discharged.
The report was as follows:
To the Hon. j. j. Banks, Judge of the Cir
cult Court for the Tenth Judicial Circuit;
We, the grand jury empanelled by your
honor fof9ithe. fall term of 1897, beg leave
to report the following our final report.
We have been in session twelve days, have
doeketed and examined 113 cases, have SO
true bills, OF which 81 were for fellonies
and fourteen for msdemeanors. We are
glad to say, however, that a large majority
of the felonies are of the lighter grades,
and large percentage from among the
cQlored population. We are not of the
opinion thai there has been any Increase
in this class of crime in the county. and
that a vigorous action on the part of the
grand juries and prompt trials in the
courts will speedily lead to a marked de-
crease of crime of all classes.
We have examined the books of
the county officers required of us
by law and find the same to be neatly and
systema tically kept. 1t is impossible in the
limited time allowed US to make such an
examination as would enable us to state
with any degree of exactness the true con-
dition, but, so far as we were able to
judge, they are in good condition. These
examinations are of no value, and some
means should be taken to have all the
books examined at least once in every year
by committee of competent accountants
We have examined the bonds of the vari-
Gus county officers and in this connection
beg leave to say that we find the bonds OF
c. W. Austin constable of Beat 81. and of
A. w. Nichols. notary public and justice
of the peace, Beat 80, are insufficient and
recommend that they be strengthened.
The remainder of the bonds seem to be all
right
We desire to thank your honor for the
able and explicit charge given us at the
beginning of our labors and for the kindly
attention shown us during our sessions,
also to Clerk F. W. Mccarthy and his
deputy, Mr.. o. ]. Miles. for their kindly as
sistance at different times and in concu-
sion, we express our sincere thanks to our
solicitor, Mr.. c. w. Ferguson, who has so
ably presided over our deliberations, for
his uniform courtesy at all times and for
the valuable assistance rendered us; also
to Capt. T.. p. Brien, sheriff, and his as
sistants for valuable assistance, and es-
pecially for their prompt execution of our
papers.
We have also examined into the condi-
ton of the county jail. We find it in per-
fectly safe condition. and amply secure for
the confinement of prisoners. It's condition.
in sanitary point of view, is most excel
lent In fact, we did not observe single
point which objection could be based
in this respect. The reports of the jail
physicians show that there has been little
or no sickness among the prisoners for
some months past, and very marked de-
crease from what there was a year ago.
We made a thorough examination of the
kitchen and storerooms and find the first
well supplied with cooking apparatus and
attendants. and the serCnd we'll stocked
with an ample supply of sound, wholesome
provisions very large majority of the
prisoners testified that they were well cared
for and received plenty of wholesome food.
There were some minor complaints of triv-
ial matters. and we can best express our
opinion by quoting remark of one of the
inmates, who said "Where there are so
many different kinds of men shut up to-
gether. we are. it would be impossible
to satisfy everybody, and there will be some
kicking" On the whole, we do not hesitate
to express the opinion that the Jail as
whole, is in first-class condition in all its
departments. and that the county is to be
congratulated upon having its bastile in
the hands of SO capable set of officials as
the present sheriff and his efficient assist
ants Messrs. DAILY and Mclaughlin.
In this connection, we also desire to say
that the sheriff has had prepared and is
keeping a docket of all felony cases tried
in the inferior criminal court giving a sy-
nopsis of testimony. names. location of
witnesses. etc, for the assistance of the
grand jury. This, we think. is move In
the right direction, and will prove of great
assistance to the grand iuries of the county
Our worthy bailiff, Mr.. Dave Reeves is
especially to be commended for his kindly
attention to our wants during our session
Especial credit is due the members of
the Birmingham police force for their earn
est efforts in the suppression of crime.
Now, having attended to all the duties
entrusted to us. we beg to he discharged
A. G. MORRIS. Foreman.
The following true bills were among
those returned by the grand jury:
David Fox. selling or having for sale
oleomargarine. which was colored in the
imitation of butter.
j. j. Boggan, selling or having for sale
oleomargarine, which was eolored in the
imitation of butter.
Alabama Great Southern railroad failure
to erect a depot at Woodlawn, as required
by an act adopted Feb II, 1897.
City Court.
In the first division of the city court the
case of w. II. Cook vs. the Woodward Iron
company is still on trial.
large number of witnesses are yet to
be examined. and the case is likely to run
into the week
Criminal Court.
Yesterday sentence day in the Grim
inal court and the following prisoners were
sentenced:
John Sally, burglary and grand larceny:
two years.
Emma Clayton, larceny: thirteen months.
John Scott, assault and battery with
weapon; two months.
Sam Adams, abusive language; ten days.
Joe Thornton, gaming; ten days.
The. misdemeanor docket will be cleared
tomorrow or Tuesday and the court will
adjourn until the third Monday in jan
uary.
Circuit Court.
The case of Frank W. Mosby VS.. the
Louisville and Nashville Railroad compa-
ny is in the hands of the jury.
The testimony was concluded yesterday
morning, the arguments were made and
the case submitted at 4:30 o'clock yester-
day afternoon. At 10 O'Clock last night the
jury had failed to agree on a verdict and
were taken to hotel for the night
The case has been on trial since last
Monday and has been holly contested. The
plaintiff sues for $4,000 damages, alleged to
have been sustained at the North Birming-