Weekly journal-miner., 1910-05-11

Il l grand jury completed is labors and
 made final report to Judge E. N
 Doe of the district court. The report
 ststes that es eases were examined
 shdS that indictments were yetnrped in Il sixfeen instances. l The report casts reflection on un.
 hsmed justices, stating that cases
 have been held 10 the grand jury
 by justices where there has been in. suhfcient evidence and in some cases practically no evidence, imposing ex- Pense on the county and causing m. fortunate offenders to be held for months in jail.
 | The grand jury also recommends the removal of any justice of the peace, who may be ihcapacitated by reason
 Of drink, dissipation or other cause. The report states further that the couty institutions are in good eondi- tion and praises -he board of super. visors and Sheriff Smith and his deputies for the prompt and efficient manner in which they have discharged their duties. The report in full is as follows; We, the grand jury, empsneled for the May Term, 1910, beg leave to submit the following report:
 We have examined into twenty. eight cases, consisting of the follow. Ing offences: Murder, 6; assault with intent Co kill and murder, !; assault with a deadly weapon, 8; robbery, 2; grand larcehy, 8; burglary, 3; rape, r; perjury, |; forgery, 1. Total, 2s. And have returned indictments ss follows: Murder, 6; assault with deadly weapon, 3; grand larceny, {; burglary, g rape, l. Total, 16. And ignored the following: Assault with intent to kill and murder, 1; assault with deadly weapon, 8; robbery, 2; grand lsrtsny, |; burglary, l; per. jury, I; forgery, 1. Total, 12.
 The following resolution was uuab. imously adopted:
 Whereas, during the present ses. sion of this grand jury we have been impressed with the fact that in many eases where defendants have been bound over by justices of the peace to await the action of the grand jury, such procedure has been founded up- on insufficient evidence and in several eases upon practically no evidence at all. This Is shown by the fact that we have been compelled to ignore n number of cases in which the defend. ants have been in the county jail for weeks and in some instances for months.
 This state of affairs has entailed a large expense upon taxpayers which could have been avoided If the jus tiees of the peace would have exer. cised ordinary care and intelligence in the disposal of eases which came before them. ' In several of these eases the evi- dence at most showed that only trifling misdemennor had been com. mitted and the ends of justice would have been better served by inflicting punishment at the time by fine or jail sentence.
 Therefore, we recommend that in all violations of the criminal law brought to the attention of justice of the peace, where the justice Is at all in doubt he should consult with the District Attorney, if practicable, as to whether n felony or misde. meanor charge should be preferred;
 Further. that if any justice of the peace become incapacitated by reason of drink, dissipation or other cause, he be removed lay the Board of Su. pervisors;
 And we further recommend that the District Attorney be requested to serve copy of this resolution on all Justices of the Peace in this county.
 We investigated the meals served the county prisoners, and found the same good, clean and wholesome, al. though prisoners give bad accounts of food served prior to three weeks ago.
 We visited the county hospital and farm and find the hospital and all of it's accessories in good and sanitary condition, and the farm well eul,i, yated. The management of that in. siiiution reflects great credit upon the board of supervisors and the su. perintsndent in charge In sopnes. ton with it's visit the grand jury bsgs to express hs qualification over the interest taken by the sousty pAysi. eiau and tks avidsua so.ass~vsskns .Sl