The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-08
GRAND JURY FIRM IN ADVOCACY OF
 COUNTY BUILDINGS Report Devoid of Sensations But Urgent Recommenda-
 tions Are Made 
FEE SYSTEM IS CAUSE
 OF CROWDED DOCKET
Justice of Peace System Declared to Be Antiquated-O'N and Other Officers Commended for Law
 Enforcement Efforts

Devoid of sensational features and free from the ''roasts'' that characterized sew eral preceding reports the final report of the grand jury for the April term was
 made yesterday afternoon before Judge Frank Cahalan of the criminal court and
 was full of timely suggestions and recom-
 mendations of needed reform.
 The grand jurymen were in session ex-
 aotly 42 days, being impaneled on the first day of April, and with the exception
 of two weeks recess have been in ses-
 sion constantly since that date.
 Shortly after noon recess yesterday the foreman, Oscar R. Randle of Bessemer,
 announced to Judge Cahalan they were ready to report and filed into the court
 room. Deputy Clerk Dave Williams read the report At the conclusion Judge Caha- Ian discharged the jury with the thanks of the court for its efficient service. Condemn Courthouse and Jail | The grand jury strongly condemned the present courthouse and county jail The | jury had personal experience as to the crowded condition of the corridors of the court house and other insanitary and
 undesirable conditions. and dubbed the building the Modern Black Hole of Cal cutta."
 In reference to the county jail they stated it was cleany and as well kept as conditions would allow. but stated it was
 oyercrowded and poorly ventilated. They heartily indorsed the plans for combined courthouse and jail as submit ted to tham by the board of revenue, and
 recommended a bond issue for the erec- tion of these buildings
 By a plain statement of facts and
 figures the grand jury showed the fee system to be a fruitful cause of arrests on
 docket.
 System Is Antiquated
 The justice of the peace system. was
 declared to be anticipated. and the grand jury recommended their abolishment and the establishment of courts patterned after the court of common pleas of Bir.
 mingham, but recommended they be given final jurisdiction over all mlsdemeanors The grand jury declared for law en-
 fcrcement, and made special mention of
 the fact that convictions were being had
 
 with murder and other serious offenses. | Gov. Emmet O'Neal and the county and
 city officials were commended for giving
 aid and assistance in the clearing up of the Lewisburg situation and in bringing
 the guilty ones to justice.
 The report is as follows.
 Report of the April G912) grand jury of the criminal court of Jefferson coun- ty. Alabama:
 To the Honorable & E. Greene, Asso- ciate Judge of the Criminal Court of Jefferson County:
 We, the grand jury of Jefferson coun- ty empaneled for the April, 1912 term, having finished our deliberations, beg leave to report as follows:
 We have been in session A days. have tried 414 cases, have heard 2395 wit nesses, have found 351 true bills have found 13S no bills. and for want of suf- ficient evidence have continued five
 cases for the consideration of the next grand jury.
 Public Buildings and Institutions County jail and courthouse. the mod ern black hole of Calcutta" We have inspected the county jail and find the buildings in good repair and as cleanly as conditions permit, but overcrowding,, practically without ven tilation. no sunshine, and entirely inad- equate to meet the demands of Jefferson
 county. We are in entire sympathy with pr. ". H. Oates, state prison in- spector, In his efforts to have new jail building erected by the board of revenue at the earliest date possible, but we consider it unnecessary, how ever, to elaborate on this subject. for the reason that the authorities having power to remedy such matters have al- a ordered adequate jail facilities pro- vided. and that the board of revenue has used every effort at its command to comply with these official orders. Courthouse
 We find the present courthouse build ing entirely inadequate to meet the de-
 mands of Jefferson county for the prop CT transaction of its business. Changes in the same have been made from time
 to time to meet the demands for more space. until every department is over crowded uncomfortable. poorly venti- | lated and in deplora ble and insanitary | condition. It is, according to Dr. W. H | Oates, state prison inspector, less sani- tary than the county jail We do not | think that it is possible to make further extensions or additions to this building without destroying the symmetry Of the | building which, as 1t stands. is beau l tiful piece of architectural work. The | county has no means of protecting the | county records from fire or other de- | structive elements, being without fire proof vaults of capacity to take care of | these records. Invaluable records which l it would be impossible to duplicate in case of loss by fire or theft are now dumped into attic and basement because | there is absolutely no place for them 1 in the record room There is in the rec ! ord room no fireproof vaults or cases l for the accommodation of the county's records. valuable to degree impos I sib1e to calculate to the citizens of the county and state. and even to many citizens outside of the state who are de- l pending upon our county for protection
 of their property interests. There is at present in the office of the probate judge only one fireproof safe. which is i but little more than sufficient to hold | the jury box. for which purpose it is used.
 1 There Is no provision for taking care | of witnesses summoned to court This grand jury in making It's partial report
 had to elbow its way through the cor l riders which were congested with white
 men, negro men, white women. neero women. white children and black chill
 dren. all huddled together with no place | to go. no place to sit down: all hot | tired and disagreeable, with no way for ] the white women 10 get apart from this | indiscriminate mass of humanity and 1 from the rough talking men. and yet there compelled by law to remain We regard this enforced intermingling of races and sexes as disgrace to the cit l izenship of this county: and yet if Is condition which cannot possibly be rem