Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-06-06
COUNTY CRANDIURY REPORTS
IndiOts h. B, WaldrOn, Waterloo Banker,
on an Old Case.
HAMILTON FOR DEATH OF INVITE
Finds Evidence that Corporation
Doodle FiEures I'm Local Cam
paiGn, but Lacks Definite
Proof for Charges.

the Citizens State bank OF Waterloo.
charging him with felonously altering a
warranty deed by changing the name Of
the grantee. Several other indictments
were returned, among them one against
Clarence Pillsbury, whose name. It is
charged, was wrongfully inserted in the
deed.
The grand jury also made a report COW
ering conditions at the Jail and cases in
vestigated where no indictments were re-
turned. Briefly summarized, the report
makes these conclusions as to local condl-
lions:
Charges OF Jury bribery were invest,
an indictment was not found
The law forbidding the corporations con-
do ,Sb has been vioIated but ' direct
evidence could not be secured.
City officials have been unduly influenced
by franchised corporations, but evidence
was insufficient to locate the guilty par
ties.
precincts than those in, which indiot Hents
were returned, But evidence to Justify
other presentments than those made was
not found Many violations are the result
OF ignorance Of the law. on the part Of
The county taii is overcrowded and
should be enlarged and sufficient supplies
for the needs Of the prisoners are not fur
nished by Sheriff Mcdonald. 1t is recon-
mended that the county purchase the sup
Merchandise slot machines in which
chance is an element are in In the
or not these are gambling devices within
the meaning of the law Is asked for. There
is also a conflict between the city ordi-
nances and the state law In regard to the
use Of slot machines.
The jury filed into court room No. / at
S1h to make the final report to Judge
Sutton. After making the proper endorse
ments on the documents the Judge
thanked the jury, for its services.
Easier to Accuse Than Prove.
81 realize II is easier to make charges OF
corruption than It is to find proof" said
Judge Sutton. II am satisfied. the grand
jury has industriously tried to do its full
duty. You are discharged from further
service and are.'at liberty"
Besides the indictments against Mr.. wal
dron and Pillsbury these were also re-
turned: 'o -fa
Leopold Heller, charged with selling lot
terry ticket to c. A" Baker, member OF
Frank Hamilton charged with murder
IL the SECOND degree for killing Al Nc
hotel on the night of the city election.
Charles McGraw, charged with attempted
criminal assault and assault with Intent
to do great bodily harm upon Frankie
Drake, May 81. ... -..s
Mr.. Waldron was in the city yesterday
and he appeared in court and gave bond
in the sum of $1,000 for his appearance
when wanted. 1rJs j. Deright signed the
bond. 1t,rrt
ut is an old charge growing out OF a
fight between the two banks at Waterloo"
said A. w. Jefferis. Mr.. waldrons attorney.
'"The matter has been threshed over before
and there is nothing in the case
af,sna4
being connected win a number of business
enterprises 2 19j3E 5gs1 ''.. 81 B.
The indictment oHsainst Frank Hamilton
was the result of the death OF AL AfcVittie
several days ago. The trouble followed
dispute over the election. Hamilton is
now out on bond
Mr.. Heller appeared in court and gave
a 1000 bond with H. Friedman as surety.
He is charged with acting as agent for the
Honduras National Lottery company.
Report in Full.
The report Of the grand jury In full is
as follows:
We, the members of the Douglas county
grand jury, respectfully report that we
have ended our deliberations.
We have carefully investigated the mat
well az all other alleged violations Of the
and we have in each case where the evil
dence has appeared to US sufficient made
proper presentment without fear or favor
Referring TO the charge pertaining to jury
bribery and other corrupt means used to
influence jurors In their verdicts, we OBJ
and also requested the Douglas County
Bar association to assist US in procuring
evloence' pHt the testimohy presented 70 us
We went carefully into the matter OF
corporations contributing to the campaign
expenses OF political parties and a large
I NUM- Der OF Witnesses were examined, and
while we were convinced from the evil
dence obtained that the law has undoubt-
/ eddy been violated I'm this respect, we re-
| greet exceedingly TO report that we were
unable TO procure sufiicient direct evidence
we were also convinced from the evidence
obtained that some of the city officials
have been unduly influenced by the fran
chised corporations, but this evidence was
also insufficient to locate the guilty parties.
We investigated tie charges OF illegal
ton TO the indictments presented we found
that the law pertaping to the use OF voting
machines was undoubtedly violated in other
| precincts OF the Third ward, yet the evi-
dence was not sufficient TO Justify. other
pTesentments We think some OF the vio-
lations were through the ignorance OF the
| law.
| ture elections the proper authorities be
more explicit In explaining to the Judges
and clerks of election the law governing
We visited the co5nty jail and made
investigation in accordance with your in.
struetions and we beg TO report that We
found II very much overcrowded. This
| Jail is entirely too small for the needs
| OF Douglas county, As soon as practicable,
steps should be taken toward building a
/ new Jail or at least enlarging the old
| one. We also discovered during our in
| vestigatiOn, that the present Jail is not In
| the best OF condition The plumbing is
very old and worn out. and a large part
| of Il should be replaced by new plumbing.
A hot water plant is also badly needed.
! A new steel key box should be supplied.
| The inside of the Jail should be thor
oughly renovated and painted We viii
| say. however, that the county commia-
! sioners Informed the grand jury that
| these matters will be attended 10 without
| delay 80. .A TT.
our Investigation further brought TO
| light that there is some Misunderstanding
existing between the county commission
! ers and the sheriff in the matter of feed
ing the prisoners and the purchasing OF
supplies. : The county commissioners re-
Gently passed a resolution allowing tho
! sheriff IS cents a day for feeding each
prisoner and the sheriff was advised that
this IS cents per. prisoner Is to include
| the purchasing of all supplies needed,
such as bedding, clothing, disinfectants,
/ soap, etc. etc. These supplies are not
l sufhcient Quantities for the needs