The age-herald., 1902-03-16
TAXES A RAP AT
 COUNTY ]A|L Federal Grand Jury Objects to UncIeanIineSs and NOSiOus OdOrs PRISONERS ARE CROWDED Bankruptcy Cases Investigated as Far as Possible and Finish Left to
 Next Jury-Fictitious
 Suits Filed.
PRISONERS ARE CROWDED

The United States grand jury reported to Judge Jones yesterday that they had examined the county jail where the fed eral prisoners are confined. and after careful investigation 1t was their opinion that the jail could be more cleanly kept and thus avoid the offensive odors and gases in the Jail They found that the prisoners were reasonably we'll fed, and thought the food was well cooked but recommended that the prisoners have more bed clothing. Following is the re- port in full
 We, the grand jury, elected, sworn and empannelled to act for this term of court, beg to report that we have examined the witnesses in 132 cases and returned "A true bills of indictment into open court. A large per cent of these cases were for violation of the internal revenue laws, and while 1t seems that we have the moonshiner with us always, yet we be- lieve that violations of these laws are on the decrease.
 Quite number of violations of the postal laws have been called to our att tention and in most cases we have re- turned indictments Into court.
 > Could Be More CIeanIy Kept.
 We in a body visited the county jail of Jefferson county where the federal prisoners for this division of this district are confined, and made a careful investi- gation of the same, and in our opinion the said prisoners are reasonably we'll fed, and the food in our opinion was well cooked. The jail seems to be greatly over crowded necessitating the keeping of several prisoners in one cell. In our judg- ment the Jail could be more cleanly kept and thus avoid the offensive odors and gases In said jail. In some cases the pris- oners do not have sufficient bed clothing, and we respectfully recommend that an improvement be made along this line.
 Referring to the speciaI cnarge given us by your honor with reference to vio- lations of the law pertaining to bank ruptcy cases, we beg to say that we in- vestigated as best we could, during the limited time we had to do so and have taken such action as the evidence fur nished us warranted. Some of the com plaints made to us were compelled to go over to the next grand Jury on account of lack of witnesses.
 Suits By Fictitious Persons.
 Complaint has been made to us by some of the members of the bar of this court that suits have been commenced against their clients by ficticious. or straw, persons and when application Is made to see the nature of the complaint and ascertain the party plaintiffs. said in- formation is promptly refused. We re- spectfully recommend that attorneys hav- ing this knowledge should call the atten- ton of the district attorney to same in order that vigorous prosecutions may be commenced, and that the attorney, if such there be, who engages in this prac- tice be disbarred from practicing in this court
 We have been guided and greatly aided in our labors by the clear and able charges given us by the court, for which we return our thanks, and having con cluded our labors, we beg to be dis charged
 The report is signed by J. D. Fowler, foreman.