The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-05-22
PREsENTMENT
OF THE GRAND JURY

To the Hon. w. S. Bullock, Judge Of
| the Fifth Judicial Circuit: We, the
grand jury. in making this our final
presentment, wish to say that We have
diligently examined into all cases that
have come before US, finding true bills
where there was sufficient evidence In
our opinion to warrant.
A committee was appointed to invss-
/ tigate the poor farm and they report
as follows:
| Found the white quarters in good
shape, but the negro quarters in bad
condition and unsanitary. We recon-
mend that the indigents OF the county
be moved to a less expensive place
than this farm is now to the county.
The expense Is too great The farm.
we understand, is being rented by the
county at a rent of $50 per month.
while the whole property recently sold
for $4,000.
| We suggest that a more comfortable
home can be found for these people at
a much less cost to the county.
Our visit to the jail revealed the fact
that we have in this institution very
fine piece Of property. and is now in
most excellent condition so far as the
cleanliness and actual need of the pris-
iOnefS are concerned. however, we
find that the building leaks in several
places, and We strongly recommend
that they be repaired at once Also.
that an outside wall or high iron fence
be placed around the Jail. and that the
windows of the insane department be
screened with heavy grating for pro-
lection from accident by breaking
of glass windows.
A visit to the coanty Offices found
that the books in all are in excellent
shape. well and inteiligently kept and
Iare comprehensive. However, the
floors in the supervisor Of public in
, struction, collector and Judges Offices
!. are in bad repair, in some places
!, sunken. This with the bad condition
of the grand jury room and falling
, plaster in the hall, as far as We are
able to ascertain, are the only bad
places about the courthouse.
1t has been brought to our knowl-
. edge that the county commissioners
. have been careless in issuing licenses
to carry firearms, and recommend that
in the future they be more careful
cautious and prudent. and examine
, into the moral character OF the appli-
t cant before issuing licenses. We also
! recommend that permit No. 1015. is
sued to Ivy c. E. Whisenant be revok-
ed, as we do not believe him a proper
person to carry firearms.
Il We have examined into the commits
sioners system Of building hard roads
and find that the expense appears to
8 be too great for the work accomplish
\ ed, and that the road foreman's salary
e of 1925 monthly, is entirely too much
$ for that position, as the law provides
Il 81 per day. which is a reasonable
amount for the work and responsibility
= that the position carries with it, Also
2 that the teams hauling material to the
n roads are insufficiently loaded, or ir
: our opinion, to be strictly humane
5 they could still be more heavily loaded
We respectfully recommend that the
county convicts be kept on the roads
$ and that the work on the Ocala ani
q Dunnellon road be finished before they
h are moved, but only with convict Ia
t Dor, and that each precinct have it:
: pro rata share Of the road tax, to-
= gether with the convict labor We f1nt
that there has been discrimination
made in the different road districts
: and that some sections have been al
: most entirely neglected This is mos
( noticeable in the B1itchton district. II
: our opinion, we believe the county con
: the county and should be able to keel
: them in first class condition at a yer!
small cost to the taxpayers Of thu
county. We also believe that ou
e county commissioners have lost sigh
= of the amount of Indebtedness the!
s have banked up on our taxpayers
f There seems to be a gradual increas
e of Indebtedness monthly which Is nov
e around the sum of s14,971.s3. exclusive
r. of the school fund Indebtedness, an,
n think it is time to call a halt and re
duce this matter before making an.
more. and now recommend this indebt
e edness be reduced, as we find the roa,
d funds are now overdrawn to tn
It amount of ss8,S75.23
J. We also find that the county judg
e and clerk of the court and commits
s sioners have filed their reports 70
this term.
Some figures were produced by a cit
= izen of this county and were present
e ed in such a manner as to lead tn
: grand jury to believe that there exist
i ed a shortage in the accounts of for
# mer tax collector of this county. Act
n ing upon this information, the gram
L. Jury caused Mr.. Amos. state auditor. t
v appear and inform the jury as to tn
y true state of affairs, and upon full in
vestigation it was found that the sail
tax collector was not only not short il
e his accounts, but that he had actuall
s overpaid in a small sum when he ha
It made settlement at the proper tim
: and the proper manner.
We cannot too strongly condemn tn
practice of appearing before the gram
It jury and by inuendos casting suspicion
IS upon the character of others, and IL
a this instance we have no hesitation il
y saying that the charges or inuendo
d were entirely without foundation
either in fact or in fancy.
In conclusion we desire to exten'
2 our appreciation for all courtesie
n shown us by the judge, state attorne.
l. and other officers of the court and re
: lspectfully ask to be discharged.
It John B. George. Foreman.
L J. Knight, Clerk.