Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1899-03-31
Grand Jury's Report.
To the Honorable the Judges of the Circuit

TO the Honorable the Judges of the Circuit
Court for Montgomery county:
The Grand Jurors for the March Term
1899, would respectfully inform the Court
that they have carefully examined all wit
nesses appearing before them, they have
patiently investigated all charges against
violators of the law, sitting the evidence
with the object in view to save the county
from useless expense in the trial of trivial
cases or the trying OF others upon INSULT
Gent evidence, while at the same time en-
deavoring to bring to justice all who with
criminal intent willfully violate the plain
law. They have examined many witnesses,
(lO4,) their testimony covering many things
affecting the county's interests. They have
found % rresentments.
They would especially call your atten-
ton to custom which seems altogether i'm
proper and certainly very much abused, viz;
That of sending letters from respectable and
responsible persons to the jury, requesting
that witnesses be summoned, usually upon
hearsay report that such witnesses have
much to testify to concerning violations OF
the law The jury have caused to be sum
moned quite number of witnesses upon
such request and in number of cases
the evidence given by them has been very
direct aud upon which some of their pre-
sentiments were made; nevertheless this
method is open to many objections, and they
(the jury recommend that hereafter persons
desiring to bring the attention of the Jury
to criminal matters should be required to
appear before them with such information
as will enable the jury to inteligently de
termlne whether the matter would Justify
examination.
A lew, but not many, whom they have
summoned appear to have ignored the SUN.
mons.
AT the request of persons interested
they caused witnesses to be summoned to
testify as to the working Of the present sys-
tenn in use here in Rockville at the railroad
crossing. They find it very inefilcient-no
comprehensive view of the railroad can be
had by persons approaching from either
side, and because OF this and the inefficient
service OF the railroad employees, some have
at divers times within recent years been
caught on the tracks of the road with the
gates shut down and trains approaching
al times vehicles have been much damaged
IN such situations and the persons occupy
ing them have been placed in imminent
peril oil their lives-recently man was
killed at this place. The remedy for all this
is plain and obvious. A man should be
placed there by the railroad company, whose
sole employment be to manage the gates and
guard the public safety.
The Jury have inspected the Jail and Aims
House. They find the former well kept and
In good sanitary condition. 1t contains IA
inmates 10 all-11 colored males, 2 white
males and white female. The heating OF
that part of the building used as the Jail
seems satisfactory, bat owing to the dilap.
dated condition of the door in the east end
nj hn hnt Il,
living room of the keeper warm in winter
They recommend that this door be made
new, and that dilapidated platform in front
OF it be taken away and a substantial porch
be substituted for it. They also recomm mend
that the wall be cut through in the west end
OF the building in the keepers bed room and
good large window be placed therein fol
light and ventilation. They find no railing
was ever placed on the stairway leading ~
the upper rooms of the Jail. This stairway
Is very narrow and "A railing see ms neces
sary as a matter of safety. The picket lenC'
around the grounds is in very bad condition
and should be renewed They recommend
that the surface OF the enclosed yard in which
the prisoners take exercise be raised from I'll
10 ten inches with suitable fall TO the south
east corner thereof, with pipe or trap to d 8
charge the surface water. More than thi,
should be done 10 rid the Jail Of sewerage
but the jury are not able just now to sugges
what this should be.
They were highly gratiled at the fine show
ing made at the Aims House. The build
ings and the farm show evidence of inteli
gent and careful management. They hnC
80 inmates in the building, grouped rs fol
lows: Twelve white males, 6 white females
2 white children, 8 colored males 4 colore(
females, and colored child, all OF whom
seem well cared for and who bore testimony
to kind treatment on the part OF the manager
The farm seems sufficiently but not un.
necessarily stocked, and there is abundant
provision Tor It's needs. OF stock there are
horses, cattle, and 10 hogs--there are
turkeys and about 100 chickens on the place
The jury recommend that two iron rods Of
sufficient size and strength be placed in the
barn to tie the building together, as it seems
10 be spreading apart
The foregoing report is submitted as the
result OF their labors, and having no Other
business before them, they respectfully ASK
to be discharged.
ASA NJ. STABLER,
| EAraTnan