The Natchitoches enterprise. (Natchitoches, La.) 1888-1965, 1900-06-21
Grand Jury Report.

TO the Hon G. V. Porter. Judge of tho
llth Judicial District Court of LOUl-
siana, sitting in and for the Parish OF
NalchitOcheS:
We. your grand jury, on the compile
ton of our laborS, beg to submit our
final report:
We have carefully investigated and
considered the crimes and uffen2cS pre-
sented to us. as well as those within the
| knowledge of the members Of this body.
ana it affords uS as much pleasure to
report Il decrease in crimes, especially
those of a gravcr nature.
Probably the most ptrpleXing queS-
! tIOn that has come before us has been
the liquor question. The fact thai we
have reported only a few violations Of
the license law does not Indicate that il
Is not being violated, and we regret that
though we examined scores of WitneS-
<es we found il impossible to get the
facts in every instance. We have the
assurance of the District Attorney that
be will use all diligence in invrStiga-
ting and prosecuting this Offense. We
nUtc an increasing public sentiment and
education IN favor of the enforcement
Of the law against the sale OF liquor. the
violation of which causes the greater
part of the crimes committed.
One hundred and seventy one cases
many Of them of a trivial nature. were
presented TO us and out of that number
we found seventy seven true bills.
We wish to congratulate the citizens
of this Parish on the fact of there now
being Il resident Judge, Il fact which in
itself Will nave IL SaluIary effect on the
criminal classes, besides assuring prompt
attention to public matters. and enabling
the citizens to exercise the privilege of
litigating their rights and have their
day in court. without being subjected to
the ruiuOuS delays incident to the courts
as constituted in this parish for the past
eight wears.
Much careles>ness and neglect of duty
Of some of the road OverSeers have been
brought to our knowledge, and we
learn that this condition of affairs has
existed for some time. We consider
this fault and the resulting bad con-
ditiOn of the public roads largely at
tributable 10 the old inadequate system
OF working the roads as well as to tue
Inefficient regulations for enforcing that
system. This question should be taken !
up NJ the next session of the Police Jury. |
and such laws as will result in the I'M
prOvement of the public roads should be
enacted, under the authority given the
last session. We recommend that what
ever system Is adopted 1t shall include
the working, under the contrO oil of Off
GERS, the prisoners in Jail, to many OF
whom ldleness In Jail Is no punishment,
out an injury which our penal Ia ys
should not IntlIct.
Through committee we inspected
a T.1il nd HpA
cared Tor and the sanitary conditions
receiving careful attention. The Court
House Is kept IN good order the Clerks
ana Sherins offices properly conducted.
Under capable officers and deputies.
We wish to make an important recon-
nendatlon looking 10 the preservation
Ind improvement Of the record books of
he Recorders office, as well as for the 6
better keeping of the succession and !
district Court records. Many of these ,
aluahlc records are in depIorable
Ondiiion and many should be rebound, {
We also urge the completion, and some
PROVISION to permanently maintain up
o date general index to the records. Il
'hich would be of incaIculabla conye- y
ience and benefit to the genera. public.
The committee appointed to look INTO
ne financial and record books of the I
ariSh, has perSued with diligence its v
and reports that all such +,
ooks are properly kept. The Parish +
Ieasurer's books were carefully ey-
mined ana we find same absolutely cor !,
'ct and find all balances as shown by Il
10 books to be on deposit.
Jhe committee investigating the Door
Juse report three paupers now beng
red tor, and from careful inquiry from =
e inmates themselves find everything in
'rfe2tly satisfactory. u
AS Is the custom the members of the :,
and jury in body visited the State -
ormal School, were met by the able =
esident of that Institution who show
them through the buildings and
ounds which were found to be IN ex-
lIent condition ana well kepr. We
sh TO congratulate the people OF this
ate on the magnificent work being aC-
mDllshed by this school. and hone
at the present Legislature will make
e necessary appropriation to enable i,
increase Its usefulness. The present ,
cd condition of the public school of
Is parish can be directly traced 10 the /
1uence OF this institution.
In conclusion we beg to thank your !
NOR for your clear and able charge to
winch mas so materially facilitated
IN the execution of our duties. :
also WISH to express our thanks to =,
DISTRICT Attorney for his courtesy
assistance, and to Mr.. Jerry Sulli-
l. deputy Sheriff, for his kindness
attention.
JULIUS AARON, =
Foreman =