The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-09-22
A REPROACH To A
CIVILIZED PEOPLE,"
Thus the County Buildings in Oakland
Were Characterized by Grand Jury.
JAIL INSECURE AND UNSANITARY.

The Court House Wholly Inadequate
for Present Needs Recommends
ton Made that Jail be Vacated and
Prisoners Sent Elsewhere.
The Grand Jury for the present
term of the Circuit Court completed
its duties on last Friday morning and
after making its report to the Court
asking its dismissal the members were
discharged from further service.
The report of the jury deals with
the condition, insecurity and made
quacy of the present county buildings
in no uncertain tone, characterizing
them as being "a reproach TO civil
lied and progressive people, and call
ing upon the county officials to imme-
| diately take some measures to REM
edy the conditions now prevailing.
The report recommends to the Court
that the combining ofpersons in The
pres ent Jail be discontinued and that
arrangements be made with another
county for the proper care of the pris-
oners from this county.
This latter recommendation will be
taken up this week by the Court. 1t
is possible that an order will be passed
vacating the jail here and sending all
prisoners to Cumberland or the House
of Correction for detention.
The report of the grand jury fol-
lows:
To the honorable, the J1tdgeS of the
circuit Court for Garrett county,
Maryland:
We, the Grand Inquest of the State
of Maryland for the body of Garrett
county,respectfully beg leave to make
the following report:
We have discharged the duties in
cumbent upon us as Grand Jurors by
examining all witnesses sent before
us, making presentments in all cases
where we considered the evidence
sufficient and by dismissing without
unnecessary delay all witnesses as
soon as might be after their testi-
mony had been received.
In conformity with the law, and
the direction of the Court, we haye
visited the public buildings, the office
of the Clerk of the Circuit Court, the
County Commissioners, the Treasurer
and the Register of Wills. The books
and records in the different offices
seem to be neatly and correctly kept,
but the offices provided are
too small and are not provided
with the conveniences and com
forts becoming the dignity of our
county. We have reason to be proud
of our officers, but our public build
lngs are reproach to a civilized and
progressive people, and the proper
officers should take immediate steps
to provide new court house and jail.
We found the jail in as good order
and as clean as it is possible for the
Sheriff to keep it under present con-
ditions. The building, however, is
lacking both in providing for the
security OF prisoners and in regard to
its sanitary arrangements, and is
entirely inadequate in size for the
growing requirements of our county
and for the numbers who have been
confined within it. We found that
while the Jail was fitted to accommo-
date eight persons, there had at times
within the past six months been as
many as thirty three persons confined
therein, with an average of twenty
persons. 1t is not only those who are
held under criminal charges that are
thus made to suffer, but many inno-
cent witnesses who are unable to give
bond for their appearance at court
In case of an epidemic under pres
ent conditions the county might be
held to heavy damages in case of
death of any of the inmates.
We recommend that the combining
of persons in our Jail be discontinued
and that arrangements be made with
another county having adequate jail
facilities to care for prisoners convict
ed by our courts.
We acknowledge the very courteous
and efficient assistance of the States
Attorney.
Respectfully submitted,
S. II. JONES, Foreman.
W. MG &C BRowN, Clerks,