The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-09-14
Report of the Grand Jury.

To the Hon. james d. Waters,
Judge Of the Circuit Court Of Hartford Co ;
The grand jury adjourned on Thursday
Following is their repord:
We, the grand jurors for Hartford county,
for the September term, beg to report to
your Bouor that we have been In session
days and have examined u witnesses, found
presentments and as many true bills OF indict-
meDt We have visited the Jail and found
confined therein prisoners, 5 colored and
white. We think the Sheriff deserves special
mention for the good condition We find the
jail in. We think 1t unnecessary and uni wise
to talk Of building new jail while our tax
rate is so high In fact, II jail Is intended
for place Of punishment. We think this one
well adopted TO the purpose. We are aware
that all persons are Innocent before the law
until proven guilty, but cases are very rare
where any one is kept 10 Jail without deserv
ing some degree Of punishment. We would
recommend that while the jail we have
answers the purpose as well as 1t does, when
We have any surplus money to apply 1t to
school purposes to educate the coming genera
ton insiea of building new jail to add to
the comfort of law breakers and criminals.
We knew of nothing special to require our at
teDtion at the almshouse and did not visit it.
The grand jury has received numerously
signed petitions, as well as individual so icita-
lions, from citizens residing along the line of
the Baltimore and Lehigh Railroad, patrons
of the road, asking for an Investigation by the
grsnd jpry Of its present physical condition
In view of the representation of so many in
telipent citizens as to the frequency OF acct
denis since the widening Of thu gauge on this
road We cannot ignore their RI quest for an in-
vestigaiiJn. At the same time the import
ance Of this matter to the people OF this coun-
ty, as well as to the railroad COMPANY, 10 such
that whatever Investigation Is made, ought to
bs deliberate and thorough, 80 that our con-
clusious, when reached, NAV be entitled to a.
much weight as possible. Probably we could
get, without much difficulty, reliable testi-
mony as to the numb OF trains have been de-
layed and cars deraIled since the use OF the
standard gauge tracks, but sccidents alone do
not prove criminal negligence IN the manage
ment Of the road No doubt the opinion of
any number of tnexpert witnesses can be had
without difficulty as to the present condition
OF the road bed and trestles Of the road, but
we all know how hard It is to determine what
weight ought to be given to the opinion OF In
experienced witnesses We therefore very
respectfully suggest that, preliminary to the
investigation of the matter by US, an expert
enced civil engineer should be employed to go
over the line of this road, within the limits of
Hartford county, aud carefully examine the
condition of the road-bed and trestles. with
reference to the weight OF the engines aud the
cars now used thereon. With the evidence OF
suca an expert before us we think we will be
in favorable position to consider whatever
evidence may be given before us as to the
various accidents and mishaps which have
happened to the road and determine how far,
II at all, such accidents have been attributable
to reckless disregard for the safety of its en-
ployes aud passengers.
We very respectfully make these sugges-
lions, II they meet your favorable consdera-
tioH. We are Informed that it is within your
power to provide the means to carry them out
without serious Inconvenience or expense.
Thanking your Honor aud the States Attor-
ney and all other Court officers for your assist
ance and kind and courteous treatment, we
respectfully ask to be discharged
HUGH A. JONES, Foreman.
In discharging the grand Jury Judge Wat
tiers complimented them upon their work, and
notified them that as soon as report could
be received from a competent engineer upon
the railroad matter referred to in their report,
he would recall them so that they could pro-
coed with their investigation. He could not
now name the time, but it would probably be
early next week.