The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1908-11-28


tion to these things which we hope
will result in their suppression.
The people. who have the law and
best interest of our county at heart,
have given us assistance in ferret
ting out the violators and will help
the District Attorney to, convict.
A properly aroused public moral
sentiment, we believe, will event
ually bring about suppression OF
minor violations.
We have investigated the condi-
tion of the public roads and find
same in good condition, for which
we congratulate the Board of Sup
ervisors and the county contractors.
We have examined the county Jail.
We find same properly kept, but
same is unsafe and is not properly
ventilated or heated. We recon-
mend that the Board of Supervisors
provide the Jail with more suitable
and better heat and provide for bet
ter ventilation We also recon-
mend that the Board of Supervis-
ors place the Jail in a safer condi-
tion for the prevention of the es.
cape of prisoners, as we find same
unsafe with the exception of the
cells. Our Jail is a new one and if
same was properly improved, there
could be no excuse for the escape
of prisoners.
We have examined the County
Farm and find same in very good
condition, with the exception of the
jail. We recommend that the
Board of Supervisors provide the
County Farm with a better and
safer Jail.
We have examined the books of
the county officers and find them
all correct so far as we are able to
ascertain with the exception of H.
Smith, Justice of the Peace in
Beat Two. We find some irregu-
larities in his book, but for lack of
time we were not able to make a
thorough examination. We recon-
mend that the Board of Supervis-
ors employ an expert accountant
to audit all the books of the county
officers; not that we find anything
wrong with the books, but for lack
of experience and knowledge of
books on the part of the Grand
Jury, we think it wise that the
books of the county be audited,
that the people of the county might
know the exact status of affairs.
We desire to express our apprecia-
tion of the assistance that the peo-
pie have given us, and also the
Court and officers, who have been
ready at all times to aid US and
have been of great assistance to US
in expediting the matters of busi-
ness that have been brought before
us for our investigation.
Now having reported all of our
action in the premises we beg to be
finally discharged.
J. H. RAWLS, Foreman.
w. M. TAYLOR, Clerk.
In receiving the report the Court
complimented the jury on its work
and stated that the decrease in law
lessness, and especially crimes of
the most serious character, was
matter for congratulation to the
people of the county. The Court
further declared that many of the
misdemeanors which consume the
time of the grand jury and the
court could and ought to be dispos-
ed of by justices of the peace, if
the constables and justices were
more wide awake and active in the
discharge of their duties. The fact
that the good people of the county
are giving their active co-opera
tion to having misdemeanors as
well as the graver crimes suppress
ed, as recited by the grand jury,
he regarded as indicating healthy
growth of moral sentiment.
The Judge would not accept the
jury's conclusion that the county
Jail is unsafe. I" He declared
there might be need for better
and heating, but if
prisoners can't be safely kept in
practically new and costly Jail,
such as this. he said, it must be
due to the jailer.
Of the 35 indictments returned
by the jury, all but five or six were
for misdemeanors. The only one
for murder was against Sam Step
ney, a negro who killed his wife
near Red Star, and who is now in
Jail.