The Daily Texarkanian., 1897-06-18
GRAND JURY REPORT,
STATE OF ARKANSAS, |

III WV AZ hAN' 49,
Term, 1897;
Comes the grand jury of the
aforesaid county, who, being EN-
panelled, sworn and charged by
your honor, to enquire into and pre-
sent by indictment all violations OF
the criminal laws within and Tor
said county, beg leave to submit
this our final report.
We have investigated all cases OF
infractions Of the criminal laws OF
which we have had personal knowI-
edge, or Of which we have obtained
information, and presented the par
ties by indictment in all cases,
where, in our Judgment, the testl-
mony warranted it, and sanction by
the Affirmative vote Of not less than
three fourths Of our body, and have
refused to present indictments In
every case wherein we thought the
evidence not sufficient and when
one-forth or more Of our body yo'
ted against indictment, and while
we examined a large number OF
witnesses and presented a good
many true bill, we are pleased to
find that the higher grades Of
crimes n our county are diminish
ing in numbers, especially among
the white population, while the
greater portion Of the business
coming before us originated among
the colored population of the
county
We have visited and investigated
the condition Of the poor farm,
and the paupers thereat, and find
that the inmates are fairly and
wel cared for, but would suggest
to the County Court that some ad-
eQuate provision be made for send.
ing to some convenient public school
the two boys who are kept there,
aud within the scholastic age,
We have visited and examined
the condition Of the Jail, and found
large numbers Of prisoners therein,
and seemed as we'll cared for as the
condition Of the jail will admit and
we here reiterate the recommens
datIons Of the past grand jures
with reference to the improvement
Of the JAIN building, We find the
jail In a very bad condition, reek-
Ing with stencil, without yentIIa.
tion or light lis damp floors Il
breeder Of contaglou and disease,
until It seems cruel and barbarous,
II not criminal, TO place therein the
most deprayed transgressor of law,
The walls of the building are hardly
safe, and this grand jury rs Of the
opinion that the County Court
should at once take such steps 0H
will secure for Miller county a jail
building In keeping with her court
house building, and In accord with
the spirit Of progress aud develop"
mcnt 30 manifest throughout the
county
We commend the County Court
In Its determination to finish the
court house, on terms most adyana
lagcous to the tax payers of the
county, aud while contemplating
this much needed improvement we
recommend that a new fence be
built around the court house
square,
We aud the public highways and
bridges Of the county In very sat
lslttoy condition, as reported 10y
| the various Road OycrseerB eS.
eeptng the bridges In districts %,
20 aud 10, to which we call the at.
tcnlIon Of the County Court Of thl.
county
We have looked over the report
Of the Commissioners Of accounts
Of .hIs county and find that many
Of the eonslables are In arrears
with their settlement to which We
apam direct the attention Of lhc
County oourG that settlement be
usIaled upon and for failure IA
make such settlements refer the
Imalttf to the next grand jury
The various lustrcs Of the Peace
Have kept their dothcle aud ror
cords In aB good a manner as can
REASONABLY be expected, Aud we
point out with pride TO the efficient
land satisfactory manner IN which
the atlHs Of the tlcrksand Shcr00a
o1tos are conducted, more cppct
a0y as compared with past county
administrations,
Finally we beg TO thank your
honor the prosecuting attorney
aud other officials Of the court tw
assistance and tourtcalos eNleudgd
as, and beg to be discharged
10, w. FRosF, Foreman