The Starkville news. (Starkville, Miss.) 1902-1960, 1909-05-21
WILL DO AS
THEY PLEASE
Law Violators Are, Banded
Threaten Assassination Against lnfomants
Would Purgure Themselves
Sensational Report Of 0ktlhhsha County
6raad Jury.
Westers Part of the County Infested
With Gang of Young Men and Boys
Who Gamble and Sell Whiskey and
Intimidate the General Community.

49, .ssss~#v .----------- '~e ~ - -
Special to The Commercial Appeal
STARKV1LLE, Miss, May 16.-With
cat doubt the most sensational repor,
ever presented by grand jury in Ok
Ebbeha county was filed with Judge
Mitchell Yesterday. 1t charges that the
inmates of the poorhouse are not fur
nished sufficient food to satisfy their
wants. 1t AYERS that justices of the
peace are too lenient on violators of
cstminal laws, which practice tends to
license crime.
The avermentS are mild in compari-
son with the allegation that in the west
era part of the county, presumbly a
round Stnrgis. their exists an organized
band of law breakers, composed of young
men aud boys, who are engaged gener-
ally in gambling and selling whiskey:
that each member of the gang takes an
oath Ito do as he damn pleases," to
stand by his fellows, and to purjure
himself if necessary to get any of them
cut O. trouble.
IL is alleged that many men are af-
fraid to go before the grand jury and
tell what they know about law viola
tionS for fear Of assassination, and that
information has come to the grand jury
that any man who informs on this band
would be killed outright.
We here give the tull report of the
grand jury and is as follows:
FULL TENT OF REPORT.
s"To the Hon. Jno. H. Mitchell, Judge.
"We the grand jury, beg leave to sub
nit this our final report.
''We have been in session for twelve
days, during which time we have exam
ined 211 witnesses and found GA true
bills which have been returned into
court.
''We have examined the county Jail
and find same in good condition, well
and neatly kept, and the prisoners well
cared for.
"We have examined the closet near
the Jail. and find the same in very bad
condition and very obnoxious to prison
ers and detrimental to their health and
comfort. We especially recommend that
the use Of this closet be entirely discon-
tinued, that the closet be destroyed, and
that the closet in the basement of the
courthouse be opened up for use during
each term of the circuit court, any way,
if not regularly.
'We consider this matter of urgent
necessity, since it will be nothing short
of outrageous to continue the use of the
closet near or north of the Jail. The
use of this closet ought to be discontin-
ued.
1--WE have examined the poorhouse,
and find nine inmates therein. They
all appear to be we'll treated and cared
for in a proper manner, except that uro
investigation convinced us that they are
not furnished sufficient food. This was
the only complaint, and other investiga-
tions along this line convinced us there
We would recommend that the board of
supervisors investigate the matter and
take such steps as may be necessary to
provide these inmates with sufficient
amount of wholesome food. We found
the premises in and around the poor
house neatly kept, and commend the
keeper for the cleanliness of the place.
1--WE have examined the books of the
county officers ano find them neatly
kept and correct in every particular so
far as we have been able to ascertain.
During our investigation we have
had before Us the justices of the peace
of the county and have examined their
reports with some care. We find it too
often the case, in disposing of cases
coming before them, not only a nomi-
nal fine is imposed for violations of the
law. With some justices of the peace
tine of s1.0O and costs seems to be a
uniform penalty for all offenses.
sin our judgement, such a practice
sSends more to license crime than to sup
press and restrain it, and in this con-
nection we desire to say that the time
has come In our county when the peace,
safety and good order of TOUR people
deshsEd aFigid and strict enforcement
ot the criminal laws and vigilance on
S9e part Of our officers.
IA great hinderance encountered in
our investigation has been the determi-
nation of great number of witnesses
TO Withhold Information as to violations
OF the law, and deny knowledge of any
foiations when. the grand jury was in
nossessien of sufficient information to
know that many sof such witnesses OF
this character are young men, some OF
them under 90 Jears of age. In this
ceunection we have ascertained that In
tie western part t.ef the County there Is
a organizasioD Of lsw-breakers engaged
gsaefallyia pstlt misdemssnoFs, such
- gambling and selling whiskey and
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