The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-02-01
f Drinking is Gut Out Crime
 Would Decrease
HAS 29 MURDER CASES
Books of County Officers Are We'll Kept-No Complaint From Pris- oners In the County
 Jail.

The grand jury yesterday completed it's work and handed in it's final report to Judge Weaver in the second division of the criminal court. The report was re- ceved, the jury was thanked for it's ser vices and was discharged from further duty.
 The report of the grand jury was more brief than is usually the case, but sev- eral portions were devoted to strict censure of conditions as found by the inquisitorial body. Saloons. "hop-jaek' Joints. "honk-a-tonl5s'' and gambling houses were blamed for most of the crimes which came to the attention of the grand jury.
 The report in full was as follows: To the Hon. Samuel L. Weaver. Associate Judge of the Criminal Court of Jefferson County.
 We, the grand jury, empanelled and duly sworn by your honor for the January term, 1906, after receiving your clear ex- haustive and able charge as to our aueies, assisted by Hon. J. B. Aird, the Just ana able assistant solicitor; MT. J. l. eldl- lings. d thoroughly competent stenogra- pher and Bailiff T. D. Reeves, conlfheneeu our work on January s.
 We have examined about SoO witnesses docketed 26O cases; returned lS9 true piiis' found 79 no bills, and continued 70 cases on account of our inability to secure hld- terial witnesses.
 In the many cases on the docket the ! charges. as usual. are varied, and in thls connection it might be interesting to note the character of some of the oHehses which we have been called upon 10 ln- x,astiaofa banca the fOllOW1nBs
 Cases Tabulated.
 Murder ....................s...... H9 eaE7~S Assault with intent to murder. ol cases Larceny, etc ...................'''' tt s, ep9s . Embezzlement .....................' II easess Forgery ...................'.....' io ~ False pretense ....................'. casos ~ po,.iur, ................... cases OJnder the head of larcney is embraced burglary and grand larceny, grand lar ceny. larceny from person, larceny lroii' store and larceny from dwelling)
 We venture the assertion, make the me and punishment for carrying coneeaieu weapons as much as you pleace' pul sa looms. hop-jaclx joints and honk-a-to tohN stands will compel the sober, law-abid1ng citizens to carry their pistols ln sell defense. Give every man in the county nistol and razor, and cut out the drlhh- ing and you will have less carrying eoil- cealed weapons, less murder, less gaihp- linz. less immortality and a more pros- porous and better people. 4,or
 The above table also discloses anoe,lei 'is result of drinking and sd.ipiilie. ..aa- n,ezzlement. forgery and false pretehses constitutes nearly one-sxth O. all the oi lenses with which the grand Jury Has lo deal While it is true that great h'anS of these acts are committed py peisons who are hardened criminals, II IS heNel theless a fact that 8 large huiiipei oA them are traceable to drinking and gam bling. In many instances man iiis' ,-tsits 1,i+h money, becomes intoxicated, Vlslts the gambling house, and the result IS ne commits a criminal act in the Vain en- deavor to cover up his shortage
 Burglary Predominates.
 p,ro,arv and grand larceny seems to nredominate; occasionally there are cases of assault and battery with a weapon, put assa,lt with intent to murder occur Tar too freouent and in two-thlrds or hloro of the latter cases examined by us the influence of intoxicating drinks has pro- voked the difficulty. It seems that nerson under the influence of drink, oftener than otherwise, commences the row and uses his pistol, knife or razor to maim for life or kill, someone for al- most an imaginary provocation. It may be proper to state here that we have had but one case before us for public drunk enness and two for carrying concealed weapons We consider intoxicating liquors and gambling tvs of the worst evils we have in our midst. but have been un- able to get the proper witnesses before us to reach the gamblers-some do not know anything and others keep out of the way
 The books of the various county officers which we are required bylaw to examine, were inspected and found well, and neat ly kept, and, in so far as we could as certain, the officers charged with keeping these books have complied with the law We also examined the bonds of the va rious county officers and find them good and sufficient.
 We visited the county jail and heard no complaint from the inmates, but a little freer use of disinfectants would con- tribute to the health and comfort of the prisoners The interior should be white washed at least six times year. The kitchen Is in very filthy condition anc needs better attention, and we suggest