The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-04-12

TO BE IRREGULAR AND I'M
PROPER, AND INVESTIGATION
SHOULD BE MADE AT ONCE.
The grand jury of the circuit court,
empaneled Monday morning, conclud-
ed its investigation yesterday of mat
tiers in the county, and made its final
presentment to the court yesterday
afternoon. The presentment is quite
lengthy, and its principal fea-
ture is the allegation of Ques-
tionable actions by County Commits
sioner James NJ. Andrews, who is
chairman of the board, and calling
for an investigation Of this official at
the hands of the proper parties. The
allegation is made that he has been
presenting bills against the county
and causing warrants to be issued
therefor which from the evidence pro-
duced before the jury, appear to be
irregular.
The Presentment.
The presentment of the jury is as
follows:
In Escam5ia County circuit court.
OF
To the Honorable J. Emmett Wolfe,
Judge of the First Judicial Cir
cult of Florida:
We, the grand jurors for the spring
term of this court, 1907, beg leave to
submit the following as our final re-
port:
There was only one capital case for
our investigation, and in that matter
we have already made report to your
honor,
We have consumed some time in
investigating some other matters and
things, which in our humble ludg.
me1it, the interests of the county de
manded.
The Poor Farm.
We visited the poor farm, and
fonnd everything there in. good shape,
and the inmates, fifteen in number,
well taken care of.
Mr. Reynolds, the superintendent,
and his estimable wife, Mrs Reynolds,
takes a great deal of interest In the
institution. and conduct the business
in a systematic way.
We find they keep a set of books
in which they record the names OF
the inmates, when they arrive at the
institution, and a brief sketch of each,
ana WHSIe u6dluS udNC OCSuA Ch W.
find that they have kept proper
records of this and that the graves
of the poor unfortunates who die
there are marked and record kept
of it for future reference, if for any
reason such reference is desired.
About the only repairs we have to
suggest at this institution is that
the roof of the residence and one Of
the outhOuSes are out of repair and
should have attention, and we recon-
mend that two baths be properly in
stalled at this institution.
The County Jail.
We went to the county jail and
found everything there in very good
condition, except the sail is not az
neat and clearly as in our opinion 1t
should be
We found six female prisoners con-
fined in one small cell This was, per
haps, necessary by reason of the linn
tied space in the jail, and the cell ar
rangenent. We recommend to the
county commissioners that the county
Jail should be Immediately enlarged
and added to.
The Convict Camps.
We also went out to the convict
camps where the county prisoners
are being worked by the county, and
find the convicts well fed and cared
for. and the county work progressing
satisfactorily on the road where the
cOnvicts are now at work
County Court House.
The county court house needs some
repairs, especially with reference to
the papering in some of the rooms
of the annex. and we desire to call
this to the attention of the commits.
sioners.
Poor Business Methods.
Some repairs have been made upon
| the court house Since the September
storm. some new wood work having
been put in and some painting done,
We learn from inquiry, that this work
| was not duly advertised and let out
to the lowest bidder as is customary.
We also find that this work cost the
county somewhere in the neighbor-
hood of a thousand or twelve hundred
dollars, which in our judgment, was
entirely too much for the work done,
and we strongly recommend that in
the future, for all work of this kind
to be done for the county that same
| be duly advertised. bids asked for and
| that same be done by contract. the
| contract TO be let TO the lowest re-
| spOnsible bidder. We believe that
| this practice will save a great deal OF
money to the county.
Should be investigated.
Under your honor S charge. We have
not gone thoroughly INTO the investi-
CATION of crimes committed in this
county. other than capital crimes.
but some matters have been called