Weekly Arizona journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1903-1908, 1903-11-25

The territorial grand jury submitted
its final report today, which contain
ed some startling and sensational
charges against some of the county
officials. The report was of such a
nature that the duties of the body
we're considered to be further needed
and instead OF being discharged an
adjournment was taken until Decem-
Der q, when a further and fuller in
vestigation of some of the conditions
reported on will probably be taken
up. They reported having examined
thirty six cases and having found
nineteen true bills, and examined l39
witnesses besides those examined by
the committees.
The grand jury reports that a num-
Der of cases are held to the grand jury
by justices of the peace, which should
have been disposed of by them, thus
effecting great saving to the county.
Special mention is made of Congress
precinct in this connection many of
the cases not meriting consideration
by the grand jury.
Severe condemnation is made of the
financial management of the county
hospital and poor farm and fragrant
abuses are reported, wherein it cites
that forty four inmates were charged
and collected for when it is alleged
there we're only twenty six patients in
the hospital. The report further
says:
Enough has been showa, how
ever, to warrant the grand jury in
charging the board of supervisors and
the county physician with culpable
and inexcusable negligence in con-
nection with the hospital. 1t is the
opinion of the grand jury, based on
substantial evidence, that several
thousand dollars have been illegally
drawn from the county by the hospi-
tai contractor"
Owing to the lateness of the hour
of fling its report the Journal Miner
is unable to give even the substance
of all the reports of the sub-commit-
tees few only of which follow:
The committee who inspected the
poor farm and county hospital report
ed finding the wards neat and IN ap-
parent good order. The kitchen was
clean and the dining room presented
an inviting appearance. The report
says: eve counted the inmates and
found the number to be twenty six,
or three or four less than the number
shown by the books at the Office of
the board of supervisors. We con-
denim the gross, if not criminally care
less manner in which this account
has been kept with the contractor for
the care of the INDECENT. The county
physician stated that he had no know
ledge of the number of patients at the
hospital. Kept no records of when a
patient was discharged or had left.
That he made all his reports from the
books kept by the clerk of the board. "
The clerk says he gets his figures
from the contractor.
The report concludes: "Thus it
appears that the only record kept is
that of the contractor and it is our
belief that patients have been and are
being carried on the books and col
lected for by the contractor months
after their discharge. 3" The report
is signed by J. l. Gardner, L B.
Carter and Il. H. Burmister.
One of the most important reports
of the subcommittee was that on the
office of the county recorder which in
part is as follows:
We have personally inspected this
office throughout and find Recorder
Farley and Deputies Keohane, Col
we'll, Dotson and Butler in charge.
The accounts of the office for the
third quarter of the present year, as
submitted, including the accounts for
certified copies and abstracts of title,
we're checked and found correct
We were informed that the accounts
of abstracts and certified copies made
prior to July l, 1903, have disappeared
from the office and no information as
to their whereabouts could be gotten
from the recorder so that further ex-
animation Of thees accounts was i'm
possible.
A careful search through the office
and vault was taken and numerous pa
pers and books found containing much