The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-09-18
GRAND JURY REPORT.
In II the Usual Recommendation
OF Former Grand JurieS
Are Made
RELATIVE TO NEW PUBLIC BUILDINGS
Seventy Witnesses Were Examined
Twenty-seven Presentments and Tween
ty-fOur Indictments Found-Improve-
ments Strongly Urged For the Jail.

the September term of the Circuit
Court, after making the subjoined re-
port, was discharged with the thanks
of Judges Boyd and Williams for the
business like manner and painstaking
care exercised by that body in
handling the affairs brought 70 its
attention
To the Honorable the Judges of the
Circuit Court of Garrett County:
The Grand Jury having discharged
the duties brought to their attention
now ask to be discharged.
We have carefully examined all
witnesses brought before us, finding
presentments where the evidence was
sufficient to justify it, dismissing in
any and every case where in our
| judgment the evidence was INSULT
Gent to convict. In performing these
| duties we have examined seventy-fiye
witnesses and found twenty seven
presentments and twenty-four indict-
ments.
We have examined the public build
iDgs, both court and jail, and wish to
call the immediate attention of the
one whose duty it is to see to such
matters the necessity of placing a
much heavier door between the grand
| jury room and the hallway so that
parties in hall will not be able to hear
what may be said in the grand jury
room. This matter we believe was
referred to by the report of the last
grand jury, but has been allowed to
pass without remedy until the pres
ent.
We find the jail to be all that could
! be expected considering the ANTIGUA
ted character of the structure; we
find the closet woefully filthy, but as
good as can be kept without water
We suggest that the privilege be
given the sheriff to purchase all the
rubber hose that it may require when
attached to the well that the closet
may be flushed whenever required.
We also think that some way ought
to be devised by which more day
light may be let into the closet. as we
realize that for want of light in day
time is one of the greatest causes for
its Objectionable features.
There is needed in the Registers
Office file space and shelves for the
holding of books. This should be at
tended to at once as delay simply ag-
gravates the present Inconvenience.
We notice that the fence surround
ing the court house lot in many places
approaching dilapidation and ought
to be repaired without delay.
We believe that our whole people
realize the necessity for better public
buildings, both court house and Jail,
more particularly the latter; but the
spirit of economy so pervades those
that control that it actually intimi-
dates the progression and prevents
any movements from materia lizing.
We haye visited the offices of the
Clerk of the Circuit Court, of the
County Commissioners, the Register
of Wills and the Treasurer; we find
the offices in good order and the rec
ords neatly kept.
All of which we respectfully submit.
ID. E. OFFUTT,
True copy-test: Foreman.
E. q. TOWER, Clerk.
In discharging the jury Judge Boyd
commented at some length upon that
part of the report dealing with the
condition of the court house and Jail.
In the course of his remarks he re-
ferred to the fact that ever since the
formation of Garrett county recon-
mepdations have been made by grand
juries for the repair or reconstruction
of the public buildings. In almost
every case the Commissioners have
ignored the action of the bodies MAX
ing such recommendations, and re-
ferred further to the great inconveni-
ence imposed upon the court, the
officers of the county and the
public generally by the made
quate and wholly unsuitable condi-
ton of the court house by reason of
its size and antiquated plan of con-
struction, the great danger to the
public records by being exposed to a
possible coniagration which would
impose unnecessary at the same time
great expense to every property own
er within the county. In referring to
the jail Judge Boyd said that if any
one confined therein was made to suf-
fer unnecessary hardships owing to
its unsanitary and unhealthy condi-
ton the Commissioners will be liable
to Indictment and punishment.
FALL OPENING.
Mrs. M. L. Scott and Miss Nav M,