Mexico weekly ledger., 1905-02-16
COUNTY COURT
EXPLAINS COURSE.
COUNTY INSTITUTIONS HAVE
BEEN CONDUCTED TO BEST
ADVANTAGE.
NO ISSUE WITH THE GRAND JURY
August Body Believes That County
Farm Inmates Have Been Well
Cared For, Considering Men
tai Conditions.

No action will be taken by the
County Court at this session In refer
ence TO the proposed improvements
of county institutions recommended
in the late grand jury's report.
The County Court stands ready and
willing to make any Improvements at
the county institutions which the tax
payers Of the county indicate their
willingness to be taxed for, for that
purpose, the revenue at the present
time not being sufficient to incur the
expense of the many improvements
suggested by the grand jury.
The recent report concerning the
poor farm is, in the estimation Of the
County Court, incomplete as to mat
ters which really exist. Three wards,
the Henche boys, are unfortunates
who were placed under the charge Of
the poor farm management in 1875 at
the time when they were mere child
ren. Each of these are mentally un-
balanced and as helpless as newly
born babes. They have had the best
attention it is possible to give such
unfortunates and 1t is the intention of
the court to place them In the Home
for Feeble Minded at Marshall as soon
as that institution can receive them.
An instance Of the commendable
manner in which the poor farm has
been conducted is illustrated in the
case of Pat Donovan, who died last
November, at about 80 years of age.
Donovan was for several years en-
ployed about this city as railroad
section laborer. He became incapaci-
ated and no longer able TO live with
out the monetary assistance Of man.
kind, was admitted to the farm as a
ward Of the county. Donovan was
veteran the Of Civil war and after his
claims for pension allowance were
acted upon favorably and the back
pension money came into bis possess
ion, he was no longer regarded as ELI
gible to an almshouse and this he was
told. The several years spent by him
at the institution had doubtless been
agreeable, as be arranged for the use
of one OF the houses at the farm and
afterward paid for his board. He
spent the remaining years Of his life
amid the Surroundings thatexist there
and was doubtless contented with his
lot.
Relative to the bright, small boy, OF
whom special mention is made In the
recent report, his is a pathetic life
story. Running away from mother
less home last summer, the youngster
was injured at the railroad bridge neal
the Lakeland home, south of this
city, the cause of which was never
known, but it is supposed that the boy
was either frightened into jumping
from the bridge by an approaching
train or was struck by the train and
thrown to the ground. Serious in
juries were sustained by the boy and
on account Of the father abandoning
his child 1t was left for the county tC
look after his welfare. The bright
eyed youngster was taken to the
county farm and all possible arrange
ments made for bis comfort. The
county physician recently reported
that the boy had entirely recovered
from his injuries. A few days ago tht
County Court secured for this unfor
tunate lad a home In one of the bes
families In Audrain county, where b,
will be treated as one Of the family.
AS to the management of the farm
and the care of the paupers under th'
superintendent's charge, the following
are a few sections of the contrac
which is duly signed by the Count.
Court as a party Of the first part ant
| the superintendent of the poor farm
as a party of the second part;
"It is also mutually un
derstood and agreed thai the secon'
party shall board and take care OF al
paupers sent to said farm by th
County Court, or other authorizes
agents Of the first party. During th
time said paupers shall be on sal
farm by order Of the first party, givin
them good and wholesome food and 1
times OF sickness, such as the phys
clan In charge may direct.
"In consideration Of the human
treatment of said paupers, and thei
board, and the washing and the mend
ing of their clothes, and the furnish
ing of soap for toilet purposes, and al
tention during sickness, and attentio
at other times when needed, by th
party of the second part; the party G
the first part agrees to furnish th
Clothing needed by said paupers, an
pay the party of the second part th
sum of one dollar and seventy-tiy
cents per week for each pauper an
furnish and pay for medical attentio
required by such paupers and furnis
and pay for,all necessary coal.
Sand 1t Is further agree
that the second party shall take cal
of said farm in a husbandman-lil
manner and at the expiration of tn
! lease turn over and give possessio
of said farm to the party Of the fin
part in as good condition as he r
ceived it, the natural wear and tel
excepted and withoutfurther notice
The Rest phvsio