The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-21

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Contrary to gene raj expectations there
was nothing Of 8 ensational nature EN-
bodied in the repos of the grand jury
made yesterday afte1 noon to Judge W. e.
Fort of the first diva sion of the criminal
court. The grand jury was impanelled on
the first day of Septem Der, the beginning
of the term, and was in session until yes
terday, which was the last day of the
term, probably constituting the longest
session of the grand jury in the history
of the state. While the grand jury has
not been In continuous session 1t has
had committees at work during the sew
eral recesses and the members have made
personal Investigations of conditions they
were called upon to look into.
The jury was in actual session 50 days,
investigated 749 cases, examined a94 wit
nesses, found 567 true bills found 1eS no.
bills and continued 1873 cases, all of COM
paratively recent date, for consideration
of the next grand jury The report was
thorough in dealing with the questions
that had come before them and while
vigorous in condemning that which was
undesirable gave comn,emdation where
commendation was due. H
Discuss yagrancy Matter
The public buildings and institutions
came in for a fair share OF praise. but the
usual knock" about the almshouse was
there The public accounts and docu-
lnents We're found to be correct The
grand jury discussed at length the
vagrancy proposition, and alleged that
from 50 to 80 per cent of the cases the
grand jury Investigated could be traced
back to that source. Judge Abernethy
and the two police officers detailed TO
assist him in breaking up this evil were
commended as was the city commissioners
TOR the vigorous war against vagrant
that has been commenced
The gambling evil was the subject of
much comment and the assertion was
made that no determined effort had been
made to suppress gambling until a num-
ber of true bills had been returned by
the grand jury. and gave praise to Cap
tain Martin Egan for the vigorous ham
ding of this matter.
In reference to the violation of the pro-
hibition and revenue law the wholesale
liquor houses came In for considerable
criticism but the saloons with the ex-
ception of those run exclusively for ne
groes. were found to be well kept, but
that there was too much lettering In and
around them. The county convict camps
tion and treatment of the convicts. The
county roads were commented upon.
The nonpayment of witnesses was Sc
verely criticised and the congestion of the
courts attributed to this cause.
Judge Fort addressed the grand Jury at
length and commended them for the
faithfulness with which they had per-
formed their duties He expressed HIM
self very strongly on the question of
nonpayment of witnesses who attend
.stlx - H. Ia.
srable conditions of the court to that
cause. He also made a number of sug-
gestions looking to the best way to rem
edy the existing evils. Judge Fort
thanked the grand jury on behalf of him
self and Judge Greene and discharged
them from further duty.
The report is follows:
''To the Hon. William +. Fort, senior
Judge of the criminal court of Jeffer-
son county.
I'VE, the grand jury of Jefferson
county, empaneled for the September,
1913, term. having finished our deliber-
ations, beg leave to report as follows:
I'VE have been In session 90 days
have Investigated TAO cases, have heard
2094 witnesses, have found 567 true
bills, have found 16S no bills, and have
continued 1913 cases for the consider
alton of the next grand jury.
Public Buildings and Institutions
county Jail and find same in very
badly crowded condition. The sanitary
conditions and ventilation are as good
as you could expect under the present
arrangements, but needed relief de-
mands that an addition should be ad-
ded, probably on top of the present jail
site, along modern, approved plans.
~Courthpuse-The new addition to
Sne courthouse has probably relieved
she courts temporarily. but we believe
CHAT more vault and ffreproof conven-
sences should be added for the protec-
tion of valuable records. especially
would We mention the records affecting
titles to millions of dollars worth of
real Ty1Nsrty in Jefferson county; IL by
fire eh6uh they should be destroyed
the county and its people would suffer
loss from which 1t could never fully
recover. We would recommend the i'm
mediate installation of water and fire
hose protection throughout the build
ing, SO that watchman might prevent.
by immediate application, the destruc-
tion of valuable records which for
money could not be replaced.
The Almshouse-We have inspected
the almshouse and find that many I'm
provements were made within the last
year; that they have established q
system OF dre protection there which
was badly needed. We md the build
ing in fairly good shape, very clean
and seeming to be in good sanitary
condition. New gas lights have been
installed all over the building, which
seems to be great Improvement. While
there is a system OF screens In connec-
tion with the main buildings OF the
almshouso, for some cause they are IN