The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-17

of Dominica Jury Hung.
The most important feature of yes
terday's session of the criminal court
was the report Of the grand jury,
which was presented about ) o'clock,
and the jury discharged. The judge
read the report in public and commend
ed the jury for their excellent work,
both in the dispatch of the routine
business and in their scrutiny of the
public institutions and offices OF the
county. and inasmuch as they had
been so very efficient n made a num-
Der Of recommendations which should
be followed up by succeeding juries, he
instructed the clerk 10 dismiss the
jury for the term, but recognize them
for service during the text term of the
court. The repOrt was as follows:
Wilmington. y. G.. July IL, 1900.
His Honor, A. VI. Moore. Judge Pre-
siding:
The grand Jury for July special
term beg 20 submit the following re-
port: We have acted on 12T bills. ind
ing los true bills and 10 not true bills.
On 30 bills there was no action taken
for want of witnesses. Have made 50
presentments.
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.
I'VE have visited the County Home,
and find the property in good condition
with the exception of a few minor re-
pairs, which we are informed the
county commissioners contemplate
making in the neal future. The inmates
seem TO be well provided for, and We
think the sanitary conditions as good
as the crowded circumstances will per-
NIT.
The hospital we find we'll managed.
and the institution conducted to the
best advantage within the limited
means at the disposal of the manage
ment. There are many physical de-
~fiCiencieS which We would note except
for the fact that the completion of the
Walker Memorial Hospital in the near
future will provide an institution with
all modern and necessary appoint
ments. We would. however, recon-
mend that one additional domestic be
provided. and that the crematOry be
improved, as ~unsanitary conditions are
likely to arise from the present mad
equate means of conducting this
branch of the sanitary work.
1.-The Jail has been in a very crowded
condition. and we think that the sher-
if should be commended for the ex-
cellent care Of the mate under such
adYerse circumstances The building
was designed to accommodate not
more than thirty prisoners. while for
upwards of several months there has
been confined a number somewhat in
excess of 100. and that serious sickness
has not resulted from unsanitary con-
ditiOns can be ascribed only to the
great care and attention exercised by
the sheriff and his subOrdinates This
crowded condition was induced by the
fact that no term of the criminal
court has been held since last Novem-
Der, and with the holding of regular
terms, we see no reason to apprehend
any difficulty in providing roper &C
cOmmodatiOns for prisoners. We find
the plumbing defective in several re-
spectS, and recommend that a compe-
tent mechanic be employed to thor
oughIy Xamine into the matter.
W find the court house and prem
ises in good condition, but recommend
that additional cuspadOres be provided
for the building, and that electric fans
be placed in the court room, the grand
jury room. and the vaults of the clerk
of the court and the register of deeds.
We speak very feelingly in respect to
the need of a fan for the grand jury
room. as the excessive heat has SenSl-
bly, impeded the dis tch of business
and shortened the hours during which
the jury found it possible to sit con-
tinuously with any degree of bodily
comfort.
WITNESSES.
We recommend more stringent
measures for requiring the attendance
of witnesses. as the inability of the
Jury TO procure attendance with any
degree OF prOmptitude has heightened
unnecessarily the term OF its sitting.
The grand jury is a great conservator
of public order and sound morals, and
the measure of inability of the jury to
perform the public service is the char
acter of its personnel. 1t would, there
fore, seem to be sound public policy
to offer every facility for this body to
prosecute its work with all possible
dispatch, and thereby render the du-
ties less OnerOus as a means of remov-
ing the objection of many of our best
citizens to service in this capacity.
MAGISTRATES.
1T is the concensus of opinion that
enlarged magisterial powers would con-
duce to both a saving of public money
and the better safeguarding of public
order. With the present limitation OF
powers the magistrates courts burden
the criminal docket with many frivo-
lous cases which should be within the
Jurisdiction of the magistrate to adj
judicate and finally dispose of.
Another and i~neXcusable evil OF the
magistrate court is the limited ability
and learning of some of the justices.
1t is manifestly against sound public
policy to appoint to office men intel
lectually. and in some instances NOR
ally, unfit to exercise powers and per-
form duties whereby the person and
property of others are made subject
to their ignorance and prejudice; and
whose administration of Justice in
spires neither the wrong-doer with
fear nor the innocent and law-abiding
citizen with confidence.
1.-The magiSterial function under
such circumstances becomes the in
strument of private oppression and
public plumber, wherein cases beyond
the final Jurisdiction of the magistrate
are dismissed upon payment of costs,
and frivolous ~offenses bound over for
costs, and offenders, in default of bail.
committed to. Jail; thus visiting upon
the persons of the accused unjustifiable
hardship and taxing the county with
unnecessary expense.