The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1908-12-09
GENERAL PREsENTMENT
.E or THE GRAND JURY
In the Circuit Court of Marion County
Fifth Judicial Circuit of Florida.
Fall Term 1903

for Marion county respectfully sub
mits to your honor this, their final
presentment.
In the discharge Of our duties we
have endeavOred to weigh all the evil
dence presented to us carefully and
have presented TO your honor such
violations Of law as seemed TO us
clear.
Justices
The grand jury and state attorney
have been greatly hampered in their
labor because of the failure of JUS
tees of the peace to bind over wit
nesses and send in the papers OF
causes committed to the action of the
grand jury. We must also criticize
those acting in the capacity Of cOvon-
er in failing to thoroughly investigate
causes and bind over witnesses. Also
we call the attention Of the justices
Of the peace to the fact that under
they law they are compelled to give
. each witness bound over to the grand
jury a memorandum giving the date
of the next meeting of the grand jury.
IN addition we recommend that each
justice Of the peace send in with the
affidavit and other papers list of
those witnesses to whom this men,
oranda has been given.
Licenses
We have received from the county
judge a list of merchants, professional
men and others, from whom an occu-
patton tax is exacted. This tax is in
some cases based on the amount of
stock carried. Evidently the estimate
OF value of stock is very faulty and
we recommend that at the next ses-
sion Of the Legislature this law be so
amended as to be enforced with
greater justice and accuracy.
Offices
We find that the Offices and witness
rooms in the court house all we'll kept
lighted and heated, but the toilet room
in the basement is in bad condition.
The plumbing is defective, floor wet
and no light except lantern.
~ E 'Nuisanees
Complaint has been made that in
Ocala there, Is located in close prox-
unity to two seolored schools a Auis-
ance in elform of several houses Of
ill fame We recommend that as this
nuisance is within the corporate linn
its of Ocala, that the board OF alder
men OF that city take immediate steps
to abolish it.
AS to the condition of the Jail and
surroundings, We beg TO make the
Following report and recommended
tions:
First. we find the Jail very orderly
and neatly kept and everything that
can be done under the circumstances,
iS hnin hNv he in;I
the prisoners comfortable. We believe
the Jail is quite inadequate for our
present day needs and accommoda-
tons and would recommend that the
county commissioners take steps as
early as practicable, to remodel and
repair the Jail so that the white and
colored prisoners may be. kept in
separate apartments.
Second. we find a very unsafe and
defective co9dition in the corridor at
the north end of the first floor. to-
wit: The steel ceiling has rusted out
so that it seems ITO us to be absolutely
unsafe and insecure. We find that he
cells reserved for females are not sup
piled with thesconveniences which we
deem to be absolutely necessary. In
the first place. there is no bath tub
for their use. This we believe to be
a gross neglect ofyone of the absolute
necessities. Further We note that
there iS$hpt a single chair of any kind
- n citing OF these cells. The only con-
tenienee for sitting being a small
Wwooder box, We believe that every
cell reserved for female prisoners
should be supplied with Il reasonably
comfortable chair.
We believe that the whole sewer
system of the Jail should be over
hauled and the drainage pipes be un-
der ground, where they would be less
liable TO breakage. We also recon-
mend that the county commissioners
cooperate with the city council of
Ocala and take immediate action to-
wards having the street which runs
from North Magnolia street. on the
Kendrick hard road. paved. In the
examination Of the Jail, We also note
that there is no store room in which
TO store the Jail supplies. but they are
kept in the kitchen and in an old va
Gated cell This matter should receive
the attention of the county commits
sioners.
Hard Roads
We believe that in justice to the
people of Anthony and vicinity. that
the board of county commissioners
should without delay. complete the
hard road TO Anthony. and extend it.
II possible, and put in good repair the
seven miles of road already construct
ed. We also recommend that the 9TH
er hard and ordinary roads be kept in
better repair.
Poor Farm