The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-27
REPORT OF GRAND JURY TOTAL OF EIGHTY-FOUR INDICT- MENTs FOUND IN DALLAS. The Statement Made that, Despite the Work of the Courts, Crime
 Seems on the Increase in
 the County.
Advertiser Bureau,

Advertiser Bureau,
 Selma, Jan. 26.
 The, grand jury adjourned at 3:SO o'clock this afternoon after a session of nearly two weeks and submitted a comprehensive report to Judge J. ". Mabry of the City Court. Forty-three indictments were returned today, mak- ing a total of eighty-four.
 The report, after outlining the jury s work, comments on. the increase of crime in Dallas County and severely criticises citizens for their lack of CO., operation with the body in tracing crime and punishing criminals IL then deals with the examination of books of county officials, their bonds, the condition of public roads in the county and the errors of commission and omission of justices of the peace.
 The principal recommendation con tained in the report was relating to the county Jail, which the body has found "in a very unsanitary condition, on account of filth and improper sew craze and plumbing" The jury asks that the Board of Revenue take up the matter of improving the prison as soon as practicable.
 After expressing the appreciation of the jury for the charge of Judge Mabry and services of various officials, the re- port enters into an eloquent indorse- ment of the new solicitor, ]. F. Thomp- son.. s#-...---
 Among the most important of the true bills found by the grand jury were those against Walter S. Lawrence for the murder of H. Beiman; Jack Fontain and Willett Warren for forg- cry. and John Jones, a well known young man of Selma, for assault with ArnnAald Thay bound over to the grand jury by Mayor Atkins. The Lawrence trial will begin during the week of February 9th. when tho docket of capital cases will be opened.
 The report in full is as follows:
 The State of Alabama, County of Dallas, in City Court.
 Hon. J. w. Msbry. Judge of Said
 we. the grand jury in said court submit Ito your honor this, our final report, for this, the January term of said court.
 We have examined 109 cases and PAT witnesses at a cost to the county of $239, and found and returned eighty four true bills. and we regret to say that large percentage of these bills charge the commission of felonies. It seems that in spite of the earnest work of our predecessors. crime is on the in crease within our borders, and we at- tribute this to the fact that many of our best citizens fan to come up to the full measure of citizens duty in this, that they do not cooperate with the court in an effort to apprehend and punish criminals. It will indeed be q glorious day when our law abiding people take the same interest in the fOrran1ant fhpu in their business affairs.
 We have examined the books of the county officers as carefully as we could with the limited time at our disposal and so fan as we could ascertain, all are neatly and correctly kept.
 The public roads of the county are being steadily improved, and as much progress has been made as could reas- onably be expected with existing con- ditions. but we think that if satisfac- tory arrangements can be made where by the county convicts can be worked on public roads much greater progress can be made.
 We find the bonds of all officials correct and sufficient.
 We find that many Justices of the Peace fail to comply with the pro. visions of the act approved February IS, 1895; (acts 1S94-95, page l242), ir not sending to the clerks report ana transcripts of cases tried and bound over to await the action of the grand jury.
 Another serious omission by Jus tices of the Peace is that they all fai to comply with the provisions of Sec. tion 5235 of the code, which requires that the evidence given before them or preliminary hearings must be reduced to writing and signed by the witness and this evidence so taken in writing should be sent with the transcript O. the cases to the grand jury.
 We have examined into the condi. ton of the county jail, and find that with reasonable precaution all prison. CTS confined there should be kept safe, ly, as the inside vaults and cells art secure and strong. But should pris oners be allowed the freedom of tn, corridors, their escape would be rend cred easy by access to the roof through very insecure skylights and ventilator' land thence to the ground. We recon mend that the skylight and ventilatori | be protected by iron bars, or in som, manner that will render them more SC cure than at present. We find tn, prisoners well fed but the prison Is il a very unsanitary condition on accoun l of filth and improper sewerage anC plumbing, and the heating apparatus which is entirely inadequate. We re tcommend that the Board of Repenu take immediate steps to remedy eacl of these evils.
 We desire to thank your honor fo