The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1909-02-13
GRAND JURY REPORT.

FRANKLIN, La, Feb. 4. 1909.
To the Hon. Charles A. O'Niell, Judg
23rd Judicial District Court, ST
Mary Parish, La:
Your Grand Jury, drawn Oh tn
18th day Of January 1909, the first on
to hold its session in 9he new cour
house building, beg to report tina
after listening to your interesting
charge given us by your Honor, will
which we were very much impressed
we were conducted to the grand jury
room. which we are pleased to say w
found bright and cheerful.
We at once began the investigation
OF theb cases laid before us by the
District Attorney, and after a thor.
Ough and close inquiry into all Of
them, we found number of true bills
which have been reported to you: and
three not true bills, being State of La
vs.. Wilbur Wilson, State of La. VS.
Aremar johnson, ct. ais, State OF
La. VS.. Chas. and Mitt Black.
Under charge of your Honor, we
investigated the complaint of Oppres-
sion in offense and found 1t ground
less.
We inspected the new court house
and wish to say that the building,
which is built of buff colored brick
with stone trimmings and cornices,
with its imposing domes, Corinthian
columns and porticoes, presents a fine
and stately appearance. 1t is well
constructed, large and commodious.
The interior, heated by steam and
supplied with modern furniture and
fixtures, we think meets all of the re-
quirements for which it was intended.
In our opinion the building is
credit to the Parish, ana in which
every citizen should take pride. In
the basement we found the fuel bins,
boiler and heating apparatus, and
while these are in good order, We
would suggest that the stairway lead
hing to it be SO enclosed as to prevent
Oal dust, ETC., ascending to the first
Dor.
4 On the 6rst floor are located the
Circuit CourL Police Jury, Treasurer
and School Board rooms, Assessors
Office, and fire-proof vault for the
safe-keeping of the records of the Re-
corder's Office.
On the second floor is the Court
room with Judges Office and Library
adjoining, also the Sheriff's and
Clerks Office. On the third floor is |
balcony overlooking the Court room.
the District Attorneys Office. Regis |
trarlRf Voters office, Grand and Petit
The Court room and those for the
use of the officers are all admirably
located being practically all outside
rooms, we'll lighted and ventilated by
numerous windows easy of access to
the hall and tiled and cemented ro-
tundas under dome in the centre of
the building. ISt
The Court room itself with Ats arch
ed ceiling and columns supporting the
is beautiful one, of appro-
pirate size. circular in shape, welt ar
ranged and supplied with suitable fur
niture for the accommodation of the
Court, its officers, the Bar, and Jury
and the general public.
The Judges private room or Office
Is convenient to his use and in order
TO make it more comfortable, we
would suggest that shades be pro-
vided for the windows to exclude the
rays of the sun. To-
The Assessors, Clerks, Sheriff's,
District Attorneys Officer and other
rooms are furnished with necessary !
lesks, tables and other paraphernalia
or the use OF the officials in perform ,
ng their various duties Mth facility /
md dispatch. We are pleased to |
ray that all the officials were visited {
BY us and expressed great satisfac-
ion and pleasure with their new c
quarters. especially when comparing
hem with the closed ana cramped %
of the old court house.
The jury room is conveniently To- :
ated and arranged for the comfort !
i the jury. two of the rooms being !
Ised for their deliberation with an :
,dioining bed room, furnished with s"
eat iron beds, etc. Adjoining this :
is a lavatory and bath )
Dom, most welcome addition to the y
omfort of the juror. =
The rooms or vault in which the !,
ecords of the parish are kept are of =
mple size, fire proof, easy of access,
eli lighted and ventilated, and with #
xtures we'll placed for the examina- 6
on of the records. 2
The interior of the building through =
1t is abundantly supplied with eiec- a
ic lights, with lavatory and sani- :,
nv closets adjacent to all the offices. h
On the outside cement walks are =,
ling laid across the neutral grounds, s
hich is being graded with a slight
ope from the front and sides of the +
,urt house to the street.
In this connection, we wish to say
= there is quite an incline OF the ie
ound from the rear OF the court ~ -,
use to the Bayou, and instead Of
grading it down In . straight W
,po We suggest that it be "
raced, and I'll Of the grounds sod .