The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1909-02-27
Grand jury ReOOrt.

FEBRUARY TERN 1909.
To the Hon. John A, Rich, Judge of
the Criminal Court of Lafayette
County, Mo,
We, the Grand Jury for the Febru-
airy Term of the Criminal Court,
February, 1909, beg leave to report as
follows:-
We have made careful inquiry into
all cases brought before us, and of
which we had personal knowledge.
We have examined as carefully as
time and circumstances would permit
the various county Offices. We find a
careful painstaking official in each
department, faithfully %Gischarging
the duties of his office; books neatly
kept, and as far as in the power of
the officers the books are safely
kept.
We visited the County jail and
find that the conditions there are as
good as it is possible for the Sheriff
to have them, the circumstances con-
sldered. In this connection we wish
to state that many improve ments
are needed in the Jail to provide for
the comfort, safe.keeping and to pre-
vent the escape of prisoners and to af-
tord more personal security for the
Sheriff and his DEPUTIES, but we hest
tate to take the time of the Court in
making a detailed report, as we find
from the records that prior Grand
Juries have made the same recon-
mendations that We deem necessary,
such as new stoves in the cells, new
locks on the doors, ETC., and to which
prior reports the officers have not
needed, or at least the recommended
tions for some easou have not been
carried out. Many improvements,
however, are needed, and to sum up
the situation in one recommendation,
we would say that Lafayette County
needs and should have a modern Jail.
The vaults of all officers having
records in their charge are badly
crowded; the Treasurer needs ad.
ditional office room, and we would
suggest that the Court Room on the
first floor of the Court House be made
into offices and vaults, so that all
county officers woald be quartered in
the Court House where the public
having business with them can find
them, as these offices should in our
judgement all be in the Court House
and should be provided with suitable
offices, plenty of room for the trans
action of business, and with ample
room in the vaults to preserve al
books and papers belon ling to the
public.
We have visited the County Poor
Farm, and desire TO report as follow:
regarding the County's unfortunates.
We disapprove of the present system
of paying the superintendent, in
that the salary paid to the Superin-
Tenant is not sufficient to care for
these u~nfortunates as Lafayette
County should care for them and
recommend instead of the present
system that the Superintendent be
paid a %salary-as Superintendent
: And that the County furnish al
t supplies of every kind deemed need
full, food, clothing, fuel, burial ant
other expenses and that these people
, be supplied with all that is needful il
the way of bodily comforts at leasI
during the remainder of their days
and further, as to the Poor House
we further recommend that the va
, cant space in the basement of tn,
new building be finished and furnish
ed as rooms, so that anne may be oc
cupied-by the inmates now quartere'
$ in the old house.
W. heartily endorse the efforts o
I the County officers to stop the praC
: tice that has been growing for year
9 to violate the Sunday closing laws an
l. recommend that these laws be strict
s ly enforced in the future; we bein
1t of the opinion that many violations @
the law, If they could be traced BAG
to their real source, would be d
= recently due to the fact that me
classed as good men, and in all othe
70 ways reputable citizens, disregarde
4. the Sunday closing laws, and keE
their business houses open for bus
ness on a part at least of each Sui
i, day. A practice that should not !
n tolerated, except in cases of a
Of solute~ necessity. We find that tt
ne pool and billiard halls in the Count
Mt have been taking out license for
'e- less number of tables than they a
tually own and use, and recommer
~ the prosecution of all parties so vi
lating the law who do not immediat
" comply with the Law and secure
M license for each table used
It's Respectfully,
r.