The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-09
COUNTY FILL is TOO FULL

$500
ished-county Detective Required.
Improvements Needed at
County Jail.
The grand jury made its final report
yesterday morning after being in session
five weeks. The number of cases inves-
tigated, witnesses examined and true bills
returned is set forth and shows a vast
amount of work done. The suggestions
contained in the report deal with a va
riety of subjects, while many of the pres
ent conditions existing in the county Of
fees are criticised pretty severely.
In reference to the auditing of the coun-
ty books the report says that the time
at the disposal of the grand jury does not
allow proper inspection, and that the
auditors report is all they have to go by.
The county Jail is given some attention
in the report and lal.7Ns of small candle
power are recommended to be placed in
each prisoners cell.
The report in full is as follows:
To the Hon. Samuel L. Weaver, Asso-
ciate Judge of the Criminal Court of
jefferson County Ala:
We, the grand jury, duly sworn by your
honor on the 9TH day of January, 1907,
after receiving your clear and able charge
as to our duties, assisted by Mr.. Frank
w. Smith, the able assistant solicitor,
and Mr.. Jack r. Stallings, a thoroughly
competent stenographer and Bailiff e.
A Reeves, beg to submit our final re-
port.
We have examined about 905 witnesses,
docketed 1888 cases, and have returned 226
true bills, and on account of our inability
to procure the attendance of material wit
nesses we ask your honor to continue
twenty-five cases for consideration by the
next grand jury.
Expert Auditor Needed.
We appointed committees to examine the
official bonds of all the county officers,
required by law to be examined by the
grand jury, and also the other offices and
the public institutions of the county. We
realize that a strict examination of the
offices of the county officials would be a
great undertaking and could not be ac-
complished in the time allotted us. We
think 1t would require the services of ex-
pert accountants for months to do this
work satisfactorily or correctly. We have
had to rely mainly on the report of the
county auditor, whose report is familiar
| to your honor.
Treasury Too Full.
We find from the auditors report for
| the last two years that the county, has
an average cash balance on hand of $780,
264 80 for the years of 1904-5, and 1912 404. AZ
| for the years of 1866, on which the couu-
| ty has received no interest.
1t appears to us that this Is too large an
amount to lie idle and we recommend
- II 1nxrr sal
| If necessary, by which the county could
| realize some interest on this large sum OF
money, as a nominal interest would pro-
| duce several thousand dollars year In
come, or else let the tax rate be reduced
| TO keep so much money from accumulat-
| ing.
County Jail Conditions.
We have made an inspection Of the
county jail and find the same apparently
safe and in good sanitary condition. The
| inmates of the Jail report plenty of good
| food served twice per day, and the only
complaint made by them is the lack of
| heat in cold weather and light.
The condition OF the hospital is bad,
| and we recommend the following: That
| the hospital in the county jail be equipped
with single iron beds, sheets and pillows,
| with a medicine chest to be kept in the
| wardens office with simple remedies al
visit the jail each day and see such pris-
oners as need medical attention; that all
crazy and sick prisoners be removed
promptly when ordered by the county
physician, especially loathsome diseases;
that the jail be re-wired, placing small
candle power light In each cell, with
proper switchboard for controlling same.
SO that the sheriff can make proper
inspection of the cells at any time; that,
at least five more radiators be placed
In the negro jail for the proper heating
of the same and that the contract for
furnishing the heat for the jail be In
vestigated as we understand they get
poor services after II o'clock at night
County Aims House.
We paid a visit to the aims house and
found much repairing going on In the
building proper and which, when COM
pleted, will add greatly to the convenience
and comfort OF those unfortunate IN
mates. One feature of this institution was
great surprise to us, which was the
existence of jail, built of brick, and In
which there is incarcerated eight or ten
insane patients of all ages, color and sex.
We were told by the superintendent, MT.
Sims, that an effort had been mace TO
send them to the state asylum, ana tnat
they could not get them into the asylum
because there was no law for II. some
| thing S0Oulu Do uuio W hoNO
| pie placed in better quarters than wnere
| thew are now We earnestly recommend
that our county authorities take lmmedl-
ate steps to have these insane patients
carried to the state asylum, where they
| justly belong.
Hop Jack Licenses.
We have had many witnesses concern
ing the sale of hop jack and whisky with
ont q license. We find the witnesses re-
luctant to testify in these kind of cases,
though we have plenty of evidence in a
general way that the law Is being con-
stently violated, and we recommend that
no license be issued for the sale OF hop
iacl, only to regularly licensed saloons.
II Is our belief that many who have IL
cense to sell hop jack sell all other kinds
of liquor.
County Detective.
We recommend that a detective be en-
Moved by the county to run down various
crimes and get testimony. We believe
few detectives could soon rid the county
of all gaming tables, violations of the
revenue law and greatly decrease the
carving of concealed weapons.
We recommend the strict enforcement
of the vagrancy law, as we find many
crimes committed by this class of people,
and we recommend that they be punished
severely.
We recommend that the inmates of the
loathsome diseases be placed In a pest
ID