St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1909-10-30
THE GRAND JURY REPORT.
Full Text Of Report Of 81. LandFy's Grand In
qUISItOFs. Submitted On OCt az.

AAS DS5olOlS III duu Luz bu0 AObI
Judicial District, ST. Landr,
Parish, La.
The Grand Inquest Of the Parisl
of st. Landry, acting through theil
undersigned Foreman, beg leave tt
make the following final report.
They report that they have dill
gently inquired into all offenses, that
have been brought to their know
ledge, with a single eye, to meet out
justice regardless of the person OF
persons who have been brought be-
fore them, believing that the ends of
justice can be better subserved by a
strict application Of the law.
With this end in view they have
worked together for the good of the
parish as far as their ability would
permit, and it is their sincere desire
that their labors may be fraught with
benefit to this community and to the
entire parish. There have been some
episodes, in the recent history of St.
Landry Parish, that have been so en-
blasoned by unnecessary publicity as
to be calculated rather to injure the
fair name Of the historic old Parish
of st. Landry, rich in the associa-
tions Of the past with memories
clustering around her, of the good
old days when she stood preeminent
among her sister parishes of the
State, 1t was but meet and proper
that this Grand Jury should have
gone carefully into an enquiry Of the
disturbing causes that have, tempo
rarily, cast a foul breath upon the
fair e~scutcheon of our parish, whose
good name we cherish, and in whose
honor we feel the deepest interest.
A great deal of publicity has been
given to an alleged visit of an in
hospitabe character by a body Of
meu to the residence of Mr.. Turner
the presiding pastor Of the Metho-
dist Church, and the widest rumors
circulated in the most reckless man
ner. gave room for strangers and
those not knowing the real condi-
to imagine, that our parish had
sunk into the dark ages, and had sur
rendered the traditions handed to US
by III forefathers.
chat those rumors were SANDERS I
the fair name Of the City Of Opel :;
'usas goes without saying, and that !
I was done to breed strife and CON
'usion il possibly also true. "A care
Ul examination into the above mat /
Oh reveals the fact that nothing Of I
q alarming nature occurred, but
bat only imaginary fears were the j
ause Of the alarm that seemed for a b
thile to prevail. Like the exclama- 5
ion Of Richard when he said, "shad- a
ws 70 night have struck more ter c
Or into the heart of Richard then u
oald the substance of ten thousand {
wing soldiers" 50 it was that a tenn |
was brewing in a tea pot and d
friendly visit Of a person on G
'iendship bent was distorted into the Ii
of q hostile army.
We sincerely depreeate the resort "
such baseless rumors, and stamp Il
lem as altogether without founda- a
81. d
Another matter that challenged 81
II attention was what is commonly o.
lied the race track incident. This A
another flash in the pan, another
.ort to send out startling announce q
ants Of the disordely condition Of h
I city and parish. Ell
= D. =.
On Investigation into this matter tt
5 led US to find that, unfortunately D
their zeal, the prohibition people
to this parish two of the p'
,st undesirable citizens that could al
We been found in order to ferret ne
t attractions Of the liquor law. be
csc two men posing as detectives W
Ien closely questioned by counsel, w
sn~owledged that they were the
REST tyros in the mystic art Of fe
skill. 81
was openly charged by Sheriff OF
.ords that one Of them at least was tn
'peoted of being implicated in a dU
st questionable affair,
To our minds it is indeed regretable
1t such men should have been
here to pose as the exemplars
public morals, and We take occa-
a to cebuke such a course. and 20