Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1912-10-24
PLANS FOR PROBE OF
AFFAIRS AT THE GUT"
Investigation by Grand Jury
Promises to be Rigid.
so SAYS FOREMAN STEELE.
VIII Follow Suggestion Of Judge al
Means Of Gathering Real Inside"
Information.


Monday rigid investigation of the
House of Correction is promised By
the grand jury now in session. Ii
promises to be the first searching ex,
animation ever made of that institu-
tion by a local jury.
. am not prepared to announce
our full program, says Mr.. Nevett
Steele, foreman, as we have more
than $50 cases on the docket before
we reach investigation of penal and
corrective institutions. But We have
splendid grand jury, composed VI
earnest men. Oar investigation will
be thorough and searching and con-
scientious.
You will take into consideration
the two cases of suicide chere, and
investigats the cause?' he was asked.
I'VE will take into consideration
all current reports about the institu-
tion, naturally. The grand jury
is not limited in its work. We have
no official knowledge of conditions
there, and ] do not propose to discuss
the merits of the case in advance, or
assume anything to be conclusive be-
cause of mere reports. We are going
to send committee there to go into
matters fully, and will have before us
all necessary witnesses among the
officials and prisoners, so as to get
both sides"
1t was pointed out to Foreman
Steele that previous grand juries
have made reports and recommends
tions affecting many conditions in the
county that have, in effect, died with
che grand jdries.
AS to that" he sid, what can a
grand jury do beyond reporting what
it finds? 1t is then for others to
carry on the work. This grand jury
will do it's full duty fearlessly and
conscientiously.
The grand jury has before it one OF
the longest dockets on record. There
are fifty special liquor and gambling
cases and one hundred or a general
character. Witnesses have beer
summoned up to and including Novem.
Der 4 so that before that time moth.
ing can be done about the House OF
Correction unless an emergency calls
for adjournment of other cases anC
special action.
Unofficially it is said that the
grand jury is anxious to clean up al
conditions of lawlessness, and espec-
| tally to correct numerous apparent
| features of mismanagement in county
institutions. Many of che men on the
jury are familiar with facts which
will help ia shaping the work. II
this campaign they will have the full
cooperation of States Attorney
Nicholas H. Green who will be called
into conference before the major in
vestigations begin.
Foreman Steele is a retired pay
master of the Naval Academy now
treasurer or the Board of Governor:
of st. Johns College, and a higi
type of citizen. The jury is com
posed of business men and farmer:
of the county of unusual stamp. AS
to what the grand jury can do, il
it wishes, States Attorney Greer
said:
THE grand jury can go where il
pIeases and meet where it pleases,
summon whom it pleases from any
part of the county aud incur all nee
esssry expenses. 1t is an absolute
power. 1t could even meet at the
House of Correction, l believe, bur
custom and cow snience would suggest
that its committee visit the place anC
any necessary witnesses be brought
to Annapolis.
Judge James r. Brashears is OF
record as standing back of thorough
Investigation. In his charge be EN-
phasized the Importance of getting il
touch with inmates of thu House Of
Correction and other institutions ant
learning conditions as they actually
| exist.