Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1900-02-08
GRAND JURY REPORTS
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE FOR
MORE DIGNITY.

SUGGESTIONS THAT THE JAIL BE
ENLARGED AND THAT THE
THIRD STORY OF THE COUNTY
AIMsHoUsE BE FURNISHED
FOR PATIENTS.
Before being discharged yesterday
afternoon the grand jury which has
served for the past year, submitted It's
report and recommendations to the
court, as follows:
To the Honorable Judges of the Cour,
of General Sessions of the state
Of Delaware, in and for New Cas-
tie County:
The grand jury of New Castle county,
beginning with the May term Of 1873,
and ending with the February term of
1900. respectfully reports as follows:
IT'S indictments werS-submitted by the
of this number 1871
true bills were found, and q were
ignored.
As per instruction from the court
the grand jury visited and inspected
the county almshouse, at Farnhurst,
on November 20, and the Jail at New
Castle on December Z, 1899.
Both of these institutions were found
to be scrupulously clean and healthful,
except for the crowded condition of
the Jail In this institution more room
is needed There was no dirt nor smell
Of any kind in the corridors or rooms
of either institution, nor any complaint
I.,f nv Of he n
mates. There are members of this
grand jury who have men employed
receiving SIS per week, whose homes
are not as sweet and comfortable as
the county almshOuse.
The inmates at Farnhurst and the
lprisOners at New Castle are well cared
for, and the county superintendent and
the sheriff deserve credit for their care
and painstaking.
The basement and the cells of the
county Court House have been exam
ined and found clean and the sanitary
condition excellent, due to the dill
gence Of the officers in charge.
There were 2S0 inmates at Farm
hurst, and 1S9 prisoners at the Jail.
The grand jury sees the need of, and
recommends the following:
First-On the first day of the session
the court should convene at 10 o'clock
OF the jurors and witnesses should not
be subpoenaed to appear until i.
O'Clock.
Second-The county should provide
some other place to pay witness fees
than in the court room, while court is
in session. The present plan detracts
from the dignity Of the court, and il
annoying to the witnesses.
Third-Ihe bailiffs and tipstaves de-
tailed to keep order in and about the
court room should be uniformed s,
that strangers coming to and into tn,
court room could recognize those il
Authority.
Fourth-More room should be pro
vided for the county prisoners imme
diately.
Fifth-At least $1,000 should be pro
vided for the purpose OF furnishing
beds, heating apparatus and establish
ing a hospital in the third story of tn
county almshouse, for which the room
is already provided. This jury ha
lseen man with broken leg, and on
with typhoid fever together in a small
. room at this institution. for the rea
are provided, because OF a lack o
FUNDS. II IS our opinion that tn
means OF hghting fre are inadequate.
SiXth-Ihe General Assembly shOul
enact law in conformity with sectio
80 OF article Nv Of the new Constitu
ton, giving to the Municipal Court Q
this city original jurisdiction of viola
= tions of the law in regard to the sal
d of intoxicating liquors. and the offens
n Of carrying concealed deadly weapons
S The penalty for the last offense is i'm
:. prisOnment not exceeding thirty day,
e yet the person so charged is often cor
Y fined two or three months before thei
eases are tried. Experience has show
S that in offenses against intoxicatin
liquor laws that the witnesses ar
very often tampered with before IN
cases reach the grand jury These o
It lenses should be transferred to the MI
J. nicpal Court. where speedy trials coul
d be mad at a small expense in cOmpar
e lson to the present system
h The grand jury gratefully acknOw
J. edges the patience an uniform cOur
IS lesy OF the court and its officers, an
II extends its thanks to them. and esp,
Is cially to the deputy attorney genera
I, whose ability and energies have alwa,
been at our command
The court ordered the report to !
spread upon the records, a copy sci
n to the Levy Court and another to Il
"a Legislature. The jurymen were thanl
.. ed by the court for their services ar
Id the expditious manner in which Il
IS business before it was disposed Of
n
10 st Jcscph's Home will give an q