Evening journal., 1907-12-02
GRAND JURY
MAKES REPORT
Finishes Its LabOrS and is
Discharged by the
Court

OF court IN New castle county instead
Of four annually. Tho Grand jury
finishes it's work at the November ses-
sion. The present jury. therefore. Will
be succeeded by a new body at the
February term of court. William w
Lobden was foreman of the retiring
body.
Following is the annual report in
part submitted by the jury:
The Grand Inquest having acted
upon all indictments brought to its no.
tice by the Attorney General. and made
the customary inspection of all the
public institutions receiving county
and State aid. respectfully submits the
following report;
At the May term seventy-one bills
Of Indictment were received from tho
Attorney General Of which sixty-sevea
were found true bills" and four
ignored
At the September term, sixty-one
were received, OF which fifty-eight
We're found true bills" and three
ignored"
At the November term, <thirty-six
were received, of which thirty-four
! were found true bills and two Gig
nored" making the fetal number OF
true bills" found. one hundred and
iifty-nine, the number of Ignored
bills" being nine.
The inspections made Of the several
| institutions We're not by committees.
but by the Grand Inquest as a body.
the first being that Of the Delaware
Industrial School for Girls. which was
made on the 18th inst The number
of inmates in this institution is thirty
/ ouseight. The food was sweet, whole
some. ample and of sufficient variety.
Workhiuse Management Commended.
The Grand Inquest expresses its sim
cere desire that the general public may
become fully acquainted with the noble
work here undertaken and hopes that
ample funds may be provided to in
crease and enlarge its benign influence
under the wise humane and kindly
management Of its present superinten-
4 dent, assisted by its eminent Board
lof Managers.
The next institWion visited was the
New Castle County Workhouse, which
was inspected on the 26th inst. The
inspection hero was most thorough.
commencing with the routine followed
from the entrance Of a prisoners until
his departure.
THE hours Of work-eight are not
overlong, whether employed in making
clothing, in the quarry or on the roads.
The tasks are not so heavy but that
expert hands are able to earn credit
able sums which can be drawn, sub
ject TO good behavior conditions at
the expiration Of their terms of i'm
iprisonmcnt This is an incentive to
] nd "a
seems so incongruous TO see big stall
wart men working at sewing machines
malSing garments that the Grand In
lQuest cannot but express the hope that
future conditions will permit of more
diIused industries, inasmuch as IL is
= imperative that some employment must
be found for these unfortunates The
WcrlShouse was scrupulously neat and
clean throughout. a fact which enures
very much to the credit of the man.
agement, especially when the number
Of its inmates (26o) an dtheir previous
condition and character is considered
THE Grand Inquest wishes particu-
larly to emphasize the importance oil
the work that this institution is doinl
for the county and State. Having tn,
same per diem per inmate as the othel
institutions receiving public aid re.
ceive, it is practically self contained
as from the profits of its workshops
and quarry it has paid off $4,000 o.
bonds of the S2750OO issued for its in.
stallation an dhas also promptly paiC
the interest charges upon the whole
issue as they became due. 1t is nov
engaged in building a piece Of macad.
am roadway about one-half mile IN
: length at an expense of about $500
but which will not cost the county on'
penny. and has in its quarry an al.
most unlimited quantity. of stone FOL
further improvement Of the count,
roads.
Short Terms a Loss
THE only thing in connection witt
the administration Of this institution
that in the opinion of the Grand In
quest deserves adverse criticism is tn
action OF magistrates I'm committing
persons charged with minor offense
to a five days imprisonment. Thl
results in loss to the workhouse, al
1.-THE days of their admission and de
lparture reduces the time Of actua
work performed to three days OF elgh
hours each. the proceeds from whicl
lare inadequate to compensate for tn
= lexpense incurred by their commitment
This goes on ad-infinitum as the SAM
persons are frequently recommitte'
within a short time. The Grand In
quest respectfully suggests that IL tn
/ loffense committed deserves a commit
ment to the workhouse it should be 70
longer time than five days. The Gram
Z. Inquest cannot commend too highl.
the efficient management Of thi
worthy institution under the presen
warden and his assistants, and feel
THAT it should receive the encourage
ment and support of all law-abidin
citizens.
Ferris School Managed Well
The Grand Inquest next visited tn
Ferris Industrial School, going directl
from the workhouse to that institu
ltion
I. This school is one that the com
munity should feel a deep interest il
as IL embodies very closely the ide
wnich juvenile courts are found
= ed ard relieves the state from tn
necessity Of either committing minor
charged with trihing offenses TO tn
NVorlxhouse. where they would come i
contact with more hardened criminals
d or of allowing them 10 grow up with
: out the restraint, training and educa
ltion necessary to fit them TO becom
llaw-abiding members of the commun
- itv. The Grand Inquest feels that tn
r importance of urging upon the prope
lcounty and State officials the necessit
of providing adequate funds for th
Of 10 fn