The age-herald., 1900-10-14

of our scitizens. and the jury recommend that thK offense be visited with the severest penalty of the law.
 Some Gambling
 Tn our investigations we have found 1t difficult to secure evidence in regard to those who run gambling halls and operate gambling dtvices
 Under the name of social clubs and under the license and sanction of legal charters, and behind barred and bolte1 doors, are operating during the very session ot this grand jury within and around the city and it's suburbs, what the jury is con Vinced are gambling hells' of the vilest cal lore, but accurate evidence in regard to them Is locked more closely from our reach than the gamblers themselves. And the most assiduous probing tails to draw from the witnesses produced before Us any in- formation to the guilty parties We regret to report that we have not at hand sufficient evidence on which to found in- dictments in such cases.
 Witnesses ana Oaths
 ''It is a matter of sore regret to us to md the utter disregard shown by many ot the witnessts summoned before us for the sacred obligation of the oath admin istered to them. This is particularly mo- ticeable in the testimony of the members
 
 city. When closely piled with questions they Knew of no gambling that had taken place in the club. They were admitted that they were members, but did not know the names of the other members, did not know who the officers were who was pro- prietor, who ran the club had forgotten to whom they paid their dues and to whom they applied for membership They did not remember the amount Of dues they paid, nor whether there was an initiation fee charged. If failing memory can wash these crimes from their conscienees we regret our inability to puninSh their perjury.
 some important cases are necessarily passed over because of our inability to procure the witnesses for whom we issued subpoenaes. The sheriff was called before us and informed us that he was doing all that was in his power to find these wit hesses, but that 1t was evident that they were constantly evading his deputies.
 ,s"nds of County Oncers
 We have examined the books and bonds of county officers as carefully as is possi- ble for grand jury, and beg leave to re- port that we find the books in excellent shape, and find no nsuffi cient bonds to re- port A number of improvements have been made in all of the county offices, and we wish to commend the officers for the beneficial changes. The change author ized by act of the General Assembly allow ing the use of typewriters in records of the probate office is of great practical utility and advantage. The alphabetical compilation of names of the taxpayers in the offices of tax collector and tax assessor and the condensation of records of the treasurer are worthy of commendation.
 The County Jail
 "The county jail was visited by the grand jury in a body, and was found to be clean, well kept and in good sanitary nf is supplied, if we may judge from the appearance of the prisoners.
 Some Recommendations
 "The grand jury believes that there are several urgent needs of the county.
 "First-We earnestly recommend a second division of the Criminal Court of Jefferson County The crowded condition of the docket of the court renders superfuous an assignment of reasons for this recommen- dation. It shows 1t is impossible for one judge to try all the cases of this county "Second-During recent rains one of the skylights over the steps of the court house leaked badly. The walls inside the court house are dirty and dingy. These matters should have the attention of the proper parties.
 Third. We reiterate the recommendation heretofore unobserved save by two officers, that the police commission be requested to require all police officers to make written report of each arrest.
 "We find officers that are loath to give such accurate evidence as is desired.
 "Fourth-We recommend that the court house be provided with an elevator for the benefit of the sick and lame, who climb the steps only with extreme difficulty, as we'll as for the use of officers, litigants and wit nesseS.
 "We wish to extend to MT. Mcqueen as- sistant solicitor who has been with us con tinuously, our thanks for his constant assis- tance He has been untiring in his endeavor to help up and unceasing in his efforts to bring to light the vioators of the law. To the court we would express our Apprecia- tion for It's consideration.
 ''We are also grateful to our baliff, MT. Reeves, for his cheerful attention and serv- ices.
 And now having fully performed the duties for which we were called into ses- sion, we respectfully request that we be discharged. Respectfully submitted.
 "E. V. GREGORY,
 Foreman" supplementary report was filed by the grand jury, recommending the mpeach- ment of an ex-Officio Justice of the Peace. The report was not read in court and IS not yet a public document, but 1t is said to contain sensational charges of miscon- zf ff1nin al