The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1908-04-04
GRAND JURY REPORT.


FRANKLIN, La, April 3rd, 1908.
To the Honorable. the Judge of the
23rd Judicial District Court:
We, your Grand Jury, duly empanel-
led and awOrn within and for the Par
ish OF st. Mary, beg to submit this
our. report:
We have gone over all matters of a
criminal nature that have been brought
to our attention. and have disposed of
the same by reporting either a true
bill or not true bill in each case,
with the exception of three cases, in
which we have instructed the District
Attorney to fle imfornations, viz:
State of II. VS.. Albert Thorn, ST.. I;
State Of La VS.. Allen Atkins, alias
Jno. Robertson; State of La. VS.. F. c.
Carroll; and four cases. in which we
could find no witnesses.
We find that q majority of the cases
originated from the habit of carrying
concealed weapons, and we would urge
the officials of the Parish that they
vigilantly enforce the law against this
crime.
SCHOOLS.
In looking into the condition of the
Parish Schools we find from infOrma-
ton received from DIR. D. N. Foster,
the Parish Superintendent, and from
personal observation that they are in
better condition than ever.
We find that there are about 28OO
white children and 1900 colored child
rem in attendance in the Parish. The
schools are open for nine months of
the year, and great credit in due to the
citizens of the Franklin school district
for voting special tax to erect a
modern school building which is now
in course OF construction in their town.
We find that there is q great need of
school house in the town of Baldwin,
and would recommend that the Super
intendent direct his efforts in that
district.
FINANCES.
Mr.. Sam We'll, Parish Treasurer,
was before US, and we find from ali
appearances that the books are kept in
. very neat and businesslike manner.
They were audited on March 18th, 1908
BY Mr. An. Smith, appointed by the
President of the Police Jury, and same
were found correct up to that date
From investigation, we find that Mr..
r. Hanf, past Secretary of the Police
Jury he's, defaulted with about six
thousand dollars of the parish monies,
and We would strongly recommend
that extra precautions be taken in the
future, and would suggest that an ex-
pert accountant be employed to audit
the Parish books at least every six
The Sheriff presented his books and |
they were examined by us and appear
ed to be In q frst-class condition. |
The system used seems to be q good |
one.
CLERK OF COURT.
We understand from the Clerk of
Court, who was before us, that the
books of record are kept in q fire.
proof vault. It appears to us that the
ulerk has his work thoroughly ia
hand, and that the records are kept in
} fytlclass condition.
SUNDAY LAW.
We would again call the attention
1f the officers of the Parish to the nu-
nervous violations of the Sunday Law,
md would suggest that same be vigor-
,usly enforced.
PUBLIC ROADS.
We find from investigation that the
Dads OF the Parish are in q compare
lively good condition throughout the
'arish with but few exceptions, which
ire being rectified.
THE WATERWAYS.
Now that such good results have ,
I'm accomplished by the digging of
V channel of the mouth of the Atcha-
alays we would recommend to the
ltizens OF the Parish of st. Mary the =
Importance OF assisting as much as
0ssible In securing the Intercoastal
anal, which would give us waterwa vs. q
Int would benefit the entire Parish.
~ COURT HOUSE.
The President of the Police jury. :,
r. J. A. Peterman, was balOre us z
Id rendered US statement of the =
oney expended on the new court f
)use up to date, and from figures n
ID from Information we ascertain h
Of it will be completed about August
I, and will be within the amount of A
Is, 00O which was appropriated for
erection.
We visited the building in course of g
Instruction and wish to congratulate
!, Police Jury on the selection Of
ID beautiful and substantial plan, b,
% for the energy spent by them to II
b same completed within the II
bunt appropriated. Every citizen
be Parish should be proud of such III
Dnrt house. -
JAIL u
kavisibed thes jail end And that isl ~
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