The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-10
FINAL REPORT OF
The GRAND JURY
Examined About One Thousand
Witnesses During Sitting.
RETURNED 1870 TRUE BILLS
Complaint Against Certain Justices OF
the Peace Who Are Charged With
Exceeding Their Jurisdiction
Other Important Matters

The criminal court grand jury, organ
lied at the beginning of the fall term of
the court, yesterday submitted its final re-
port and was discharged.
Attention is called to several important
matters, among which was the alleged prac-
dismisslng felony cases on the payment Of
costs.
The next grand jury viii meet in jan
uary, on a date to be fixed by the court
The report of the retiring jury was as fob
lows:
Hon. s. E. Greene, Judge of the Criminal
Court:
Your grand jury empaneled by you beg
leave to report as follows:
We have been in session four weeks alto
gether, having held adjourned session
at the suggestion of your honor. During
that time We have investigated over three
hundred cases, examined about one thouS-
and witnesses and returned about one hum
bred and ninety true bills. We regret to
say that there are number of cases we
had to pass until the next grand jury,
which assemblies shortly, on account of our
not having time to investigate them.
We have not looked over the county Off
GERS books for the reason that the audi
tor was called before us and We heard a
report from him on this subject. We re-
quested the county auditor to give us a
statement of the condition of the books,
which he has done, and We herewith submit
it along with our report.
We have examined the bonds of most of
the county officers and find them good, so
far as we could ascertain.
Complaint Against Justice,
Some complaints have come to us that
certain justices of the eace are in the ha bit
| of exceeding their Jurisdiction by making
settlements of felony cases, and receiving
| costs therefor. We have been unable for
lack of time to make thorough enough in
vestigation of these complaints, in order to
make a definite recommends ton to your
honor, but suggest that you bring the mat
| ter to the attention of the next grand jury
| for thorough investigation.
1t has been reported to that parties not
| connected with the courts in any way have
been circulating or dealing in county scrip
| which is alleged to be spurious. We have
| made thorough investigation of this mat
ter as we could, but have been unable to
| obtain any satisfactory evidence of its exis-
| tence. We suggest some Legislation on this
| subject that will protect the clerks and 9TH
| er officers against such practices, and re-
| commend in the meantime that the auditor
make a thorough investigation of the mat
ter, and that all certificates hereafter
issued by the grand jury be from book
with stubs.
Condition of Jail
AS our duty required, we visited the jail
everything in first class condition 1t is
neatly and cleanly kept, and the prisoners
are well fed and we commend our efficient
sheriff on the manner in which everything
is conducted and kept
In this connection We call attention of
iron door is needed to the entrance to the
Jail from the yard to prevent escapes of
prisoners from the corridors.
We desire to extend our thanks to your
honor for your able and lucid charge to us
on our organization, and to our able solicit
or for his faithful attention to his duties
and his constant advice and assistance,
isfactorily, to the sheriff for his prompt
service of all process and to our bailiff, r.
D. Reeves, for his uniform courtesy and
faithful performance of his duty.
Having completed our labors we ask your