Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-09-27
Grand Jury's Report.

The grand jury, having completed its
labors, at 11.25 o'clock Wednesday Sept.
10Th, submitted the following report to
the court:
"To the Honorable the Judges Of the
Circuit Court of Frederick County, Md.
1--WE herewith submit our report to
your Honorable Body, for the September
Term Of Court, 1906, for your considera-
ton.
I'VE have been in session for Is days,
we have examined 281 witnesses, found
80 presentments and indictments, dismiss
ed SO cases, and discharged a prisoners
confined in the county Jail.
1--WE visited Montevue Hospital, and
inspected it thoroughly. We find there
are 327 inmates in said institution, 1877 Of
which are insane patients sent there from
other counties; nearly every county in
the State is represented. We found the
institution in first-class order, and clean
ly condition, and too much praise cannot
be given to the present superintendent
and his assistants for their untiring eff
forts in ministering to the wants and
comforts of the unfortunates in their
charge. We found the colored ward We
ry much crowded, and suggest that the
county commissioners adopt some plan to
relieve this condition.
1--WE also visited the Jail and found it
and the premises in first class condition,
and everything done by the sheriff and
his assistants for the comfort and health
of the prisoners, compatible with prison
life. We congratulate the sheriff upon
his attention to the various duties incum-
bent upon him, by virtue of his high Of
flee.
"We recommend to the authorities that
they commit to Jail, instead of Montevue,
those persons who are arrested for drunk
enness, etc.
1--WE regret to report that the health
officers have been very derelict in their
duties and have caused the grand jury to
take much of its time in summoning wit
nesses, thereby mourning heavy ex-
pense on the county, and inquiring into
the sanitary condition Of the city, which
we find in some places in a deplorable
state, and menacing the health Of the
citizens of Frederick.
1--WE find there is no system Of inspec-
ton, and suggest most rigid inspection
be made at least once month by the
proper officer, and more especially during
the summer months. We find some Of
the streets and alleys of the city in We
ry neglected condition, some places re-
fuse and Objectionable matter impeding
the proper drainage of the cutters, grass
and weeds growing in some of the streets,
and that some private alleys are in an
unhealthy state. We find some persons
keeping more hogs than the city ordi-
nance allows, and their pens in an ex-
tremely bad condition and in places
slaughter house drainage mixing with
street drainage. We believe that with a
little more attention on the part of the
city officials, these conditions would not
exist.
Having performed our duties to the
best Of our ability, and nothing further
claiming our attention, we respectfully
ask Your honorable court that we be dis
charged.
Respectfully submitted,
MCGILL BELT, Foreman.
Judge McSherry, upon the conclusion
of the reading of the report, compliment
ed the jurors upon the zeal with which
they had attended to their duties, and
stated that they would be excused from
further attendance, unless called upon.