The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1909-10-22
The Circuit Court.

The October Term of the Circui
Court, adjourned on Sat urday last
(sini die after two weeks session
A number of petty criminal cases
of larceny, and assault were tried
The following is the report of the
Grand Jury
To tie Honorable ./NdgeS
of tile. Circuit C0urtfor
Prince Georges county :
We, the Grand jury for the Octo ber
(1eoo) Term OF the Circuit Court. beg
leave to submit the following report
The Grand Jurors have been iii ses-
sion days. and have examined "a
cases, So witnesses, made ID present
ments and found 20 true bills.
Several cases were submitted toi
our consideration, but on account o.
insufficient proof to maintain prlma
facie case, were dismissed.
We feel morally certain that in some
instances the laws of our county are
being violated 10 a certain extent BY
some of the county officials relative to
making proper returns of fines I'M
posed and collected by them. AS =
warning to such >delinquents Gf there
be any), we wish to direct their a:ten-
tion to the statute governing cases o.
this kind, by which they may be en-
ligh;ened as to their lawful dnty IN re-
lation to their imposing, collecting
and paying over such fines to the
County Commissioners or other 9th
Gals in authority to receive them.
We visited the Jail in a body ano
found 20 prisoners confined therein, 2
white males, IS colored males and 3
colored females. We found the in
terror of said Jail i'll clean condition.
for which credit is due the keeper
We find that some repairs are needed
on the spouting or gutter under the
caves of the roof on the south side
the building. We are of the opinion
that the installing of larger sewer
age pipe than the existing one, anc
the placing of receptacle to sam'
near the jail yard fence, which woulc
shorten the sewerage pipe, would bt
a decided improvement aud remedy
the present evil complained OF, to
large extent.
We hooe the County Commission
ers will give these matters their atten-
ton. and will order such repairs anf
improvements as will best meet the
requirements for the betterm ent OF ths
sanitary conditions of the Jail and IT.
surroundings.
We have been struck with the many
apparent defects on the part OF some
of the Justices Of the Peace OF the
county in the warrants and commit
ments of persons in jail, and we are
the opinion that the method or system
of the selection is not conducive t
securing the best service In this re-
gard. 1t is evident that some who ars
qualified and are acting, are incompe-
tent 10 serve as such, as they appear
not to know of the procedure in cases
before them, and the papers sent BY
them to court give evidence OF care
lessness in the trials of cases.
We suggest that The law be changed
so thai. the county be divided int
criminal districts, similar TO those
made in Baltimore city, and that
person be appointed to sit in judg-
ment in all cases in his district, and
will have such compensation as vii
Justify men who have the time anG
training to take these POSITIONS, and
thus prevent the frequent miscarriage
of Justice by reason OF defective war
rants and commitments, charging per
sons with crimes who are either sent
to jail and liberated under habeas
corpus proceedings or in court on ac-
count of defective warrants.
We wish to express our thanks to
the States Attorney for the courtesy
extended us while in session, and
commend him for the systematic ar
rangements of the criminal dockel
ard the efficient assistance given the
Grand Jury, when called upon for such
aid.
Our session has been somewhat pro-
longed, due to the fact Of number OF
witnesses not being present to testify
in cases presented for our consdera-
ton. The inactivity of the Sheriff to
be on duty, on account Of sickness,
may have been responsible for the de.
lay in rounding up and bringing wit
nesses before is more promptly.
Weappend hereto the report of the
Comm ittee on Almshouse.
Having finished all business called
to our attention, we respectfully beg
to be discharged.
SAMUEL G.. TOWNSEND,
Foreman.