Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1897-09-30

We have examined ali violations of
law brought to our attention and made
presentments in all cases where the evil
dence justified the same.
We regret TO state that many viola
tions of law, principally, that of keeping
stores open on Sunday for the purpose
of selling liquor and other articles have
come to our attention, but owing to the
great unwillingness of witnesses to tes-
tify in such cases, we have not been able
to make presentments which we thought
could be sustained in Court. I'm this
connection, our attention Las been par
ticularly directed to the numerous dis
orders resulting from the violation of
the Sunday law at store located at the
Cross Roads in the 4th district
This violation of the Sunday. law i'm
respect to the sale of liquor, is crime
against society which should no longer
be tolerated and we hope the attention
we call to it may help to develop a SEN
timent which will no longer permit its
existence
We have examined the books and ac-
counts of the Clerk to County Comis-
sieners and find them correctly and
neatly kept. There have been sold by
the County Commissioners under Act Of
Assembly 1894, bonds to the amount of
$4,000, $1,000 of the LIST series of which
has been redeemed and interest on out
standing bonds paid up to July LIST 1897
There is in the Sinking Fund to the cred
IL of the County Commissioners $4,000
bearing 3 per cent interest for the re-
demption of the lst series of $4,000 which
falls due about two years hence
We find item of $179 extra work
on Assessment which the Clerk to coun-
~ commissioners informs us was for
making out for use of the Assessors, a
list of the real estate of the county
While the work was of some assistance
and in measure necessary, we think
the charge very exorbitant We also
find charge of $50 for making list of
the taxpayers which we consider excess
sive.
We would suggest that the constables
be required TO report to the Grand Jury
without pay, as large majority of them
seem unable or unwilling to give any
information regarding infractions of the
law. All these officers have reported
promptly with the exception of JDs. s.
beaverton of the 9Th district who Is re-
ported 10 have resigned.
We have visited the county Jail and
found the building in good repair, but
we regret To say, 1t Is not kept as cleanly
as IL should be.
We find the ceiling of the Petit Jury
room and front passage way in very bad
condition, liable to fall al any time and
recommend that IL be replaced with ma
terial like that in the Grand Jury room.
We would call the Courts attention
20 the fact that the session of our Body
has been prolonged to some extent by
the non-appearance of witnesses whose
testimony was essential to the DISPOSE
ton Of cases before US.
| We regret TO report dereiiction of
duty on the part of the sheriff in sum-
moning members of the Grand Jury. as
win as witnesses before rs, some of the
Grand Jury having been summoned by
postal card and others not summoned nj
all.
From our own knowledge and what
we can learn from Others, the roads Of
the county are generally in good con-
dition.
Having concluded cur labors. we beg
to thank the Court, the States Attorney
and the court officers for their kindness
snd courtesies and respectfully ask 10 be
discharged.
/ GEORGE X. GARSEg, Foreman.