Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1909-11-19

To the Honorable Judges of the Circu
Court for Montgomery County;

The Grand Jury respectfully submits the
following report;
We have endeavored to be as expedi.
tious as possible during the session, but
the gravity of some of the cases has ne.
cessitated very careful investigation. which
consumed more time than would ordinarily
| be required.
| We have examined ia witnesses and
found 81 presentments and indictments
| We have had before us the deputy sher.
| ifs and constables and examined them as
to their knowledge of any violation of the
law.
We think that often more witnesses are
named on recogniZances sent up by jus
tees of the peace than are necessary to
| get the facts, thus putting the county to
useless expense in summoning so many.
We have had several cases of bastardy
and some other minor cases brought be-
fore us. We think that these cases should
be taken before the several magistrates
who have Jurisdiction in these matters
and not consume the time of the grand
jury.
We visited the Jail and examined the
premises We found the exercise yard
| clean, the cells and corridors well white
washed and the heating arrangement good
/ wv Ia Jan ptioVtiIES, VIZ
| white male, IA negro males and 2 negro
females. This appears to be about the
usual proportion of white to negro prison.
ers, thus showing the difference in the
number of criminals in the white and col
ored races and the ratio of expense to the
county in the prosecution of crime.
We wish to call attention to what we
consider the insufficiency of the food fur
nished the prisoners and its lack of variety.
| We visited the county home or Aims
I rouse, and found on the farm 43 acres of
| growing wheat and s acres of growing rye,
both of which looked exceedingly well
| also 80 acres of corn, the greater part
husked, and which we thought would yield
8 barrels per acre. Notwithstanding the
| dry season 200 bushels of potatoes had
been gathered. also 10 tons of hay, IS
tons of straw, and $50 bushels of wheat
had been sold We also found on the
place 2 calves. rs chickens, horses,
cows, bull, II killing hogs, 10 shoats and
| 5 brood sows, all looking we'll The agri-
cultural implements were under shelter
| and the farm and fences were in good con-
| dition. showing good management by the
| superintendent We found in the house "a
inmates, viz, IL males, 6 of whom were
colored and white; 8 white females,
| lOlOtCu tCllidtCo
While in nowise censuring or rejecting
upon those having charge of these unfOr-
| tunates, we cannot too strongly condemn
existing conditions, which we consider a
disgrace to the county There is no way
at present to segregate the sexes. and con-
| sequently the moral degradation is most
| appalling. Children have been born there
whose fathers and mothers have not been
/ away from the institution since they came
| there. We saw one colOred woman who
| acknowledged having given birth to three
children since she had been an inmate
| and we were told things which would al
most seem incredible.
| The result of such immortality is that the
| taxpayers not only have to pay for the sup
| port of these people, but of their illegiti-
mate offspring. who in all probability will
| always be public charges, not having the
health and stamina to successfully fight
their way through life. q
To terminate this state of affairs. we
most earnestly recommend the erection OF
a separate building for women. to prevent
the present promiscuous intercourse be-
tween the men and the women, which can
| not now be done.
| We wish to compliment those having
charge of the Court House upon its clean
liness and especially upon the improved
/ appearance of the court room.
| We have understood that the Town
| Council of Rockville has assurances that
electric light will soon be supplied to the
stores and dwellings in the town. If thi:
is correct, we recommend that the County
Commissioners install the light i'm the
court room and the several offices of the
building.
We further recommend that at the Jai
suitable drain be made in the room con
tanning the shower bath, so as to prevent
the water standing on the floor, as it nov
does. Also that an iron sink be placed il
the lower corridor, where the water is drawn
for use, and that proper drain pipe extent
from the sink to the outside yard also thai
the plastering on one of the cells be repaired
and that the register in the upper corridor
| which is now loose and liable to cause ac-
| cidents, be securely fastened. and that 6
| part of the cement floor around the regis
ter be resurfaced
| At the Aims House, in addition to the
recommendation already made. we recon-
mend that two piers be built under the
porch at the end of the house. as one piel
is entirely gone and the corner one is in
| very bad condition.
| The roof of the porch also needs repair
| ing. and the plastering has fallen from
several places on the ceiling of different
| rooms
We further recommend that a toilet for
| female witnesses be constructed In some
part of the Court House.
We also recommend that in addition to
the regular per diem of the clerks of the
grand jury, they be allowed additional
compensation at the rate of one dollar per
day for their services at this session of the
grand jury.
The grand jury desires to call attention
TO the enforcement of the provisions of the
Corrupt Practice Act, applying to Primary
and General Elections. We find that the
candidates of one party have filed state
ments of their expenses in the primary
election campaign, but the candidates of
other parties, with one exception, have not
so filed statements. but have totally ignOr-
ed this provision of the law. We. request
that those candidates who have not filed
statements as provided by law, file the
same at once. otherwise II is hereby recon-
mended that the prosecuting authorities
proceed at once to prosecute them for fail
ure to comply with the law. We consider
this law of prime importance to the we'll
fare of our county and State, and its rigid
enforcement is demanded for the correction
of many of the evils that afflict the body
polite, and we respectfully recommend to
all future grand juries that all violations of
any Of the provisions Of the Corrupt Prac-
tice Act, including the provision requiring
the filing Of statements of expenses, etc.
as required by the law. be presented and
prosecuted to the full extent of the law
We believe that the use Of money will
more than neutralize all the good effects
that that provision of the Corrupt Practice
Act is intended to cure
Having completed our duties. we respect
fully ask to be dischared.
CHARLES F. BROOKE,
Foreman
Qafiuiouo Anf1t0r'g Gfafas1anf