The age-herald., 1899-03-17
FEDERAL GRAND
 JURY REPORTS
Ignorant Men Often the Tools
 of Intelligent.
VIOLATION OF REVENUE LAWS
Grand Jury Calls Special Attention to Lamentable Feature of Many Cases That Come
 Before It.

The federal court grand jury, which was organized March for the regular sprIng term, made its final report yes CT day, and was discharged.
 Inc report calls speci l attent on to a con- diton which appears to exist in the stale, where ignorant and illite1ate persons, who, in fact, are the agents of the more intelh- gent, are arrested for unlawfully retailing liquor, and recommends that a vigorous prosecution be instituted against the prin- cipals in such eases. The report Is as to!- lows:
 ITO the Honorable John Bruce, Judge of
 the United Stales Circuit Court:
 We the grand jurors, eiecte1, empan- eled, sworn and charged to act for this term of the eouro, beg to report as fonows:
 We have examined the witnesses in elShty-eiGnt cases and have returned into open court forty-four bl.s of indlc tment, a majority or wn4cn are Tor Violatlons of internai revenue laws. We find that a laree numDer of persons who are arrested for unlaWtully retailing liquor aIe iIitera.e .e anu Ignorant and often appear 10 De on.y the agents of more 1nteAigent persons, Who use these peopIe to avoid belng brought to justice theniseIves. Espec.aGy do we ind this 10 appear to be the case In some sec lions in regard to employ es of registered stills. We recommend to the officers mat they make careful investlga lions oi tAe-e matters and that vigorous prosecution be commenced against the really guilty par ties. We recommend that comm ssioneIs closely scrutiniLe all cases reported to them and that they report to tne grand Jury on J cases in whicn reliable proof can be had. Our laboIs have been greauy frightened by the fact that the United States attor- ney has given close attention to the matter of having commiss4 4onels' courts report to the grand jury only Cases where only re- liable testimony will be mad. Out of some SlV cases reported to this office during the year lS9S, in some 2Sl cases warrants were not allowed. We think this action Of the United States attorney has kept out of this court many triv4ai and u4is~ppJlt tea e<,.vs and commend him for his acton in tllls be- half, and recommend that ne continue th-s policy. Our laDorS were also ngntened and greatly assisted by the servlces of the as- sstant district attorney, MT. Julius w. Dawson, wno in very capable and efn- cent manner joined us In the examination of witnesses and also gave us instructions as to the law. We found him vefJ S,.ig- ing and anxious to asst us in every way proper and most heartily commend hlm for his services to us. We also desire to com mend our bailiff, Major John Mccoy, who rendered us faithful and ethc.ent service. We were not retarded in any way by the failure of witnesses to be subpoenaed, ana desire to commend the marshal and his subordinates for their good service in tnis respect.
 we visited the Jefferson county jail, in which are confined prisoners awaiting trial in this court, and found the same to be in good sanitary condition. The prisoners are forced to bathe once a week and have the privilege of a daily bath if desired. The food seems to be in good character and adequate supply. There was some com plaint made that coffee was not served the prisoners, and we recommend that coffee be supplied to such prisoners as come un- der the jurisdiction of this court once a day.
 We extend our thanks to the court for lne able, clear and pointed charge given us, and, having finished our labors, we beg to be discharged.
 Respectfully submitted,
 U. B. CROSS, Foreman"