Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1911-09-28
GRAND JURY TELLS OF
WORK IN REPORT.

WUkk IN NETUhl.
After being in session for Is days the
grand jury Wednesday night Of last week
handed in it's report.
The report of the jury in full follows:
To the Honorable, the Judges Of the
Circuit Court for Frederick county,
Maryland:
The grand jury for the September
term, 1911, having completed its duties,
begs leave to submit report as follows:
We convened on September, and have
been in session for Is days, during which
time we examined $50 witnesses, found
62 presentments and indictments and dis
missed 81 cases.
We had several trifling cases brought
before US that should have been disposed
of by the magistrates. This took much
of our time and cost unnecessary money
and we recommend that the magistrates
use full power given them by law, in
stead of holding an offender for the action
of the grand jury, simply because he de-
sires jury trial, when the offense he
committed does not entitle him to a Jury
trial under the law.
We also recommend that fire escapes
be erected in the rear of the Female
High School, East Church street, Fred
erick, as there are now over $50 children
on the second floor who would have no
means of escape, should there be fire
in the hall below. The janitor should be
on duty during school hours when fire is
in the furnace, so as to be close at hand
If anything goes wrong. Fire drills should
be held at least semi-monthly, so as to
keep tie children in practice in leaving
the building in order. Improved push
fasteners should be placed on all exit
doors, as fasteners now in place are OBJ
solete and difficult to open in case OF
panic.
We recommend the following safe
guards to life and health in the City
Opera House:
Fire escapes to be bolted tight to
building, (some are now coming loose).
q small iron fence four feet high, pro-
jecting four feet out from building at
west end of west exit doors on north and
south sides of house, first floor, so as to
prevent lin case of panic) persons leav-
ing said exits from being crushed to death
by the overhanging fire escapes dropping
on them, should they be loaded with peo-
pie leaving the house at the same time.
The toilet rooms should be ventilated
and made sanitary so as to fit them for
use.
All exit doors, including front, should
have modern push openers put on to re-
place the ones now in use, which are
difficult to operate and some of which
are broken at the present time and will
not open at all without the use of screw
driver.
These are important things and should
have immediate attention.
We find nuisance is committed night
ly by improper conduct and vile language
in front of the Opera House. A police
man should be stationed in front of the
building and order and cleanliness pre-
served. Such disorderly and noisy
crowd congregates on the outside almost
nightly, that many persons are required
to pass on the other side. This should
be remedied, hence we call attention.
For the benefit of public health, we
recommend that the Board of Health re-
quire the proper authorities to examine
all the cellars throughout the town, and
see that all are put in clearly condition,
thereby preventing disease.
Although not required by law, we Wis
tied Montevue Hospital and found build
ings and grounds in excellent condition.
Cleanliness seems to be the motto.
Superintendent S. U. Gregg takes per-
sonal interest in the comfort and welfare
of all the patients. The hospital depart
ment on the fifth floor reflects great
credit on the head nurse, who counts
trouble nothing in caring for the unfort-
innate sick. The building for colored
people is as clean as is possible for such
place to be kept. Most of the inmates
are given outdoor exercise daily when
the weather permits. All these things
show the superintendent is discharging
his duties faithfully. Most of the wood
work inside and out of main building is
suffering for paint. At present there
are 1922 inmates confined in this institu-
ton.
As required by law we visited the
Frederick county Jail, and found contain
ed therein II state prisoners and nine
corporation prisoners. We found build
ing in fair condition. We would recon-
mend that toilet rooms be kept in clean
er condition than at present; also that
toilets be repaired at once, as three are
out of order at the present time. Hot
water should be conveyed in pipes to
toilet rooms as this is very necessary for
cleanliness.
We would further recommend that the
smoking Of cigarettes by prisoners be
discontinued. We found some news
papers and several match boxes laying
on the window sill, which should not be
allowed on account of danger of fire.
Exclusive of these things, we found the
building as near up to standard as could
be expected under existing conditions.
We have left no stone unturned SO far
as investigating all reports of violations
of the law is concerned.