The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1899-02-18
Hartshorn. |. 4.
RepOrt Of the Grand jury

htNOIl VI tut Uiuuu july
To the Honorable Criminal Court OF Lafayette
COUNTY, and the Hon. Jno A. Rich. judge
thereof;
We, the grand jury, empaneled. sworn
and charged as such, at the adjourned
December term Of said court. do hereby
respectfully report as follows:
A committee has visited the county
farm. and In the beginning wish to CON.
mend the superintendent for care and
attention which he is giving to the
wards Of the county committed IN his
care. We find the inmates there well
fed and contented, Notwithstanding the
unusually poor accommodations. To
call this the poor farm Is no mis-
nomerr In any sense. II Is a question
whether or not the county Is doing its
duty BY these unfortunates when II
provides accommodations which are
barely, If at all, better than they had
when they were taken from friends who
were unable to provide for them. II is
not too much 70 say that such unfortu-
mates deserve better treatment than
those who, though they may be poor,
are able to provide for themselves.
These are not, and 1t is due them that
the county provide better than they
have, for they cannot provide it for
themselves. This has been a favorite
theme for grand jury reports, but II is
certainly time that they are beginning
TO bear fruit. Lafayette county
demands, deserves and needs a better
county farm. However il is imperative
that new ~guttering be put upon almost
the entire house in order that a water
famine, which is now threatened, may
be avoided.
We also visited the county offices and
inspected the same, and lind them in
good condition. However we find some
OF the records In the probate court and
recorders Office in a dilapidated condi-
ton, caused by excessive and continued
use, especially the indexes, the pages OF
some being loose, aud should they be
lost would entail great expense TO the
county to restore.
A wire screen should be put over the
iron grating fronting on 18th street.
There Is considerable marking and
scratching about the main building.
The janitor is powerless TO prevent 1t.
We therefore recommend that the
county court instruct him TO lock the
closets and all other parts Of the build
Ing not in use, when he leaves there at
night. This seems necessary In order
that vandals may be prevented from
carrying on their work.
AT this time, when the legislature Of
the state Is discussing the question OF
abolishlng the grand jury system as II
now exists, we trust that Il will not be
out Of place for this jury to put Itself on
record on the question. Weare informed
that there is a bill before the Legislature,
which, II 1t becomes a law, will reduce
the sphere OF the grand jury to the
investigation OF eases at any time the
Judge OF the court may deem II neces-
sary to call one together. The sitting
OF the present grand jury Is one Of the
shortest In recent years, yet the cost to
the county has been, including per diem
OF the jury, sheriff's fees, mileage and
grand Jury, four hundred and fifty aud
5000 dollars. A number of cases
brought before US had previously been
tried before q justice of the peace; the
evidence for the state has all been
rehearsed before this jury, and when
an indictment has been found will be
heard for a third time before the crimi.
nal court. There has scarcely a question
come before US that could not have
been brought to a proper determination,
with justice TO the state and the accused,
before the court without the necessity
OF an investigation ut our hands. In
our judgment q change in the present
system would be wise. Even in inves.
tigating crimes of a more general
character 1t has failed Of its mission, fol
this grand jury has undertaken TO inyes-
tigate certain evils and violations of The
law, and with special reference TO thai
law governing elections and the dangers
OF our community growing out Of 4
fragrant disregard for them, but OWNS
to our inability to procure the prope
evidence We are unable to present any
indictments.
We desire to thank tie officers of Tn
court and the county for their eOurteou
and kind treatment.
j. II. MO0REHEAD;
!. X. l.. MANN, Foreman.
Clerk.
Lexington, Mo-, February "A, 1899.