The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-10
ABAD STATE OF AFFAIRS
GRAND JURY REPORT ON CHILL
DREN's GUARDIANS HOME.
Practically What Was Printed i'm the
Journal Yesterday-Philiips and
Harvey Cases Continued.

AS foretold in the Journal yesterday the
report of the grand jury made yesterday
in the Criminal Court was devoted large
ly TO the condition Of affairs
at the homo OF tie Board of Chill
dren's Guardians. The report does not con-
denim the matron and those in charge of
the home, but on the other hand. says the
grand jury, is inclined to think they have
done the best possible with the allowance
made. The brunt of the report falls on the
County Commissioners. who have failed 10
provide sufficient money to make the home
what ii should be. The following is the re-
port in full:
THE grand jury respectfully report that
we have visited the Marion county jail and
found the same in good condition. The
cells have been recently renovated, paint
ed and whitewashed. The new arrange
ment for dining the prisoners at COM
mon table is a great Improvement over the
old custom of feeding in the prison cells.
We would recommend that provision be
made for changing the bedticks more fire.
quently and that an additional supply of
blankets be furnished.
I'VE also report that We have examined
the Marion county workhouse and found it
we'll managed and under good discipline.
The walls of the cellrooms are being white
washed and the gr n painted as a rap
wholesome, well cooked and ample. The
jury respectfully recommends that bed
steads be furnished the cells OF the third
and fourth tiers of the mems department,
for the prisoners assigned TO the cells In
those tiers are compelled TO lie on straw
cots placed on stone floors. We also rec
ommend tEat covers be placed on all sinks
located in the cells, and further, that by all
means the prisoners should have daily
tasks at work instead of having forced
upon them confinement in cells and idle
We have also visited the home 90 pro-
vided for the care of the Board of Chill
1 drenS Guardians. The Jury cannot refrain
| from expressing surprise that this good
| ly city Of Indianapolis, in the capital
county OF a great State, such meager pro-
vision has been made for the care and
| comfort OF the unfortunate children who
| have become. through no fault of theirs,
| the legal wards of the county. These
| children have been legally given to the
said board, and the only provision made
for them is private dwelling house with
| out proper sewerage modern con-
| venience of any kind. We found the place
| anything but tidy; the bedroom entirely too
small; dining room planned to serve the
| requirements of private family, crowded
| with thirty-fve, and sometimes a larger
| number of children; the kitchen very small
| and with no conveniences. In the bedroom
| we found they are compelled to stow away
| two in bed-one at the head, one at the
| foot. We are inclined TO think that the
| management and the mftron are making
| the most of the meager allowance given
| them by law. it being. We are Informed,
| but 80 cents day for each child. besides the
| matronS salary. $40 a month. If the coun-
| ~ sees fit 10 become the guardian OF these
| unfortunate children she should see to II
| that they are provided with at least the
| plain comforts of life. We therefore rec
| ommend that suitable addition be made to
| the building. thus providing ample dining
| room. kitchen and modern laundry The
| room now in use for laundry was not
| built for such purposes, and never can be
| so used being entierly too small to do
| the work for SO msny.N
| I'VE further recommend that the yard
| be graveled 50 that the children may have
a playground and not be compelled to ex-
ercise I'm the mud. now Provision should
| be made for walks from the building
| TO the outhouses. The matron should
| have more help. and then the management
| should insist that the place be kept neat
| and clean. 1t is with the hone that these
| recommendations may be certified to the
| County Commissioners and receive the con-
| sideration the subject referred 10 so lust
| ~ merits that this grand jury thus speaks
| in behalf of the innocent unfortunate
| wards OF Marion coulty, who cannot speak
| for themselves"
| When the report was read in the court
| room Judge McCray said that he had called
the attention of the grand jury to this in
stitution at each of its monthly meetings
since he had been on the bench but that
this is the first grand jury that has ever
made a report on the condition of affairs
| He commended the individual members
| highly for what they had done and said he
| would Immediately have the report certi-
| fled TO the County Commissioners and the
| county attorney, with the request that
something be done.
With the final report the grand jury re-
turned seven indictments. on none of which
arrests have been made. There were no liq-
uor cases among them The cases of Ed
ward Phillips and Carl Harvey. held as ac-
ceSSorleS to the murder of Frank Red
mond. were continued until the next term
During the February term 14l witnesses
were examined. seventeen indictments were
charged for lack Of sufficient evidence &c
indict.