The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-11
WANT JUSTICE OF
PEACE IMPEACHED
Grand Jury Also Comments on
Filthy Courthouse
ASK FOR NEW BUILDING
Misdoings of officer Cause Grand Jury
to Recommend OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Submitted In Sealed Report
to the Court

Recommendations to the effect that
certain justice of the peace be removed
from office and that impeachment pro-
ceedings be instituted against him, and
the usual recommendation that new
courthouse and Jail be erected. were the
features of the report filed yesterday by
the county grand jury.
With reference to the certain justice of
the peace the report read: And we regret
to state we have found evidence suf-
ficient of the misdoings of one such JUS
tice to warrant his impeachment and re-
moval from office, and we have accord
fngiy, by separate report to the court,
recommended his impeachment and re-
moval from office because of his wilful
neglect of duty, corruption and incom-
potency" The nature of the separate re-
bort to the court and the name of the
fjustice were not made public.
1 The report raps the courthouse and jail
in no uncertain terms, commenting on
the absolute inadequacy of both. One
paragraph regarding the courthouse
reads: THE whole building is insanitary,
with foul odors from the basement per-
1t also makes reference to the PROPOSE
ton to spend $4,000 or $4,000 in building
additions to the courthouse and Jail, TAX
ing occasion to censure it. In this regard
the report read: In a growing county
like ours it should not be the policy
to temporize, but we should proceed to
erect such a courthouse would be a
credit to our county and at the same time
afford adequate facilities for the transact
ton of the business of the county in an
orderly and speedy manner"
A great amount of work Is shown to
have been transacted by this grand jury.
1t was a quiet but hard working body,
but everything coming before it was III
vestigated in thorough manner. A total
of 1888 cases were docketed, among which
were 21S true bills.
Report in Full
Following is the report in full:
ITO the Honorable William E. Fort.
Judge of the Criminal Court sf- Jefferson
County, Alabama:
I'VE, the grand jury, empaneed for the
criminal court of Jefferson county for the
April, 1910, term thereof, having COM
pleted our labors, beg to report, to your
honor as follows
I'VE have been in session 2s days; we
have docketed 1888 cases and examined 1882
witnesses; we have found 21S true bills
and IS no bills; and because of the in
ability to get witnesses in certain cases
which should be further investigated, we
ask your honor to continue for the nonsid-
Grafton of the next grand jury 81 cases.
Public Buildings.-We have inspected
and examined the following county insti-
buttons, to-wit: The jail. the aims
house and Hillman hospital.
"Jail.-We find the jail in good shape
as could be expected under existing con-
ditions. However, we suggest the follow
Ing improvements ID Replaster and
white-coat all upstairs in the old JAIL
which should be set apart to be used
exclusively for white women (2) That
. hospital. with separate wards for white
and colored prisoners, with operating
room for the of the county physician,
be established. 90 We further recon-
mend that in the white jail, new concrete
floors, with proper drainage connected
with the sewers, be put down, so that
the walls and floors may be kept in clean
and sanitary condition. which, under the
present arrangement Is a matter of i'm
possibility. "a In the negro Jail for
men we think all the cells and walls
should be painted with white lead and oil;
and further, that automatic flush closets
be installed. 90 Also that all of the
Inside walls of the Jail should be white
washed. We think that the above Yecom-
mendations are absolutely essential to
the health of the inmates and OFFICERS in
charge of the fail.
'Hillman Hospital-We were very much
pleased with our trip to the Hillman
hospital, and delighted to know that our
county is engaging in such humane work
We find its affairs being handled to the
very best advantage; the service seems
70 be good and the building and grounds
kept in perfect condition. The institu-
tion Is undoubtedly doing a great WORK
and one of which the people of the coun-
ty should be proud and lend their moral
and financial support to Its maintenance
During the year 1909. 1862 patients were
cared for In the main building, and 1850
treated in the outdoor dispensary. We
ind the building we'll equipped: the hos
pital however. seems to be badly in
need of three invalid chairs, one for each
floor and few other minor items which
could be had for small expenditure; and
We recommend that the same be fur
nished.
"Almshouse.--we find the affairs of the
county almshouse conducted in bust
nesslike and satisfactory manner and
the inmates properly cared for.
County Oficers.-We have examined
the books Of the county officials, and the
bonds of county officers, as required by
law, and find the books to be neatly and
properly kept and the bonds sufficient
Inadeqnacy of Courtbou se
our service on the grand jury for tina
past several weeks has brought strik
ingly to our notice the inadequacy and
deficiency of the present courthouse Our
Individual observations have confirmed
the reports of our Judges and county
officials as to the immediate need OF
more and better courthouse and Jail IA
cilties. We find the courts crowded, with
insufficient room for litigants. Jurors or
Witnesses the judges without rooms for
consultation or privacy; the county solicit
tor with his two assistants and stenog-
Fapher has only small room, with no
place for consultation: the grand Jury,
consisting of Is members, solicitor and
Otenographer crowded in a pigeon roos,
without sufficient ventilation or accom-
Epodat1ons. with no place for attending
witnesses except an eight-foot hall where
often are crowded together as many as
. hundred Witnesses male and female
black ana white, waiting to be examined
Insufficient jury rooms; sleeping
apartments for jurors; no rest rooms oil
other conventences for ladies who ara
compelled to attend the courts; In fact
few of the conveniences that are found
in modern and well-equipped public build
irgs. Tho whole building is insanitary
with foul odors from the basement per
neatinE It from the top to bottom. I
has been suggested as remedy for thest
conditions that an addition be built to th,
= present courthouse and jail at an expense
20 the county of 10000 or $4,000. In {