The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1913-10-31
GRAND JURY's FINAL
REPORT TO COURT

The grand Jury finished IT, work q
Circuit Court Tuesday afternoon ant
after bsinR complImented BY Judg
Barrett was discharged. Its 6nal re
port follows:
| To the Honorable T. Fl. Barrett
Judge Of the Circuit Court, jackson
county, Second judicial District O.
Mississippi:
In obedience to your able charge
we beg to say We have inquired into
all transgressions of the law brought
to our notice, resulting In the return
Ing ofS2 true bills, and the exsmina-
tion Of number OF cases, 10 which ID
our opinion, the. evidence was not
sufficient to sustain an indictment,
and which we found no bills; during
the course Of our session, we have ex-
amined l27 witnesses, aud 10 many
instances found IL very difficult 10,
deed, to make them testify To what
They knew IL be facts, which would
have helped US to find true bills.
Your Honor charged US especially
10 the matter Of .blind tigers" or
violations Of the "Liquor Laws" and
while Investigation demonstrates be-
yOnd a shadow Of doubt that such
violations exist IN various parts Of the
County, II has been impossible to se-.
cure evidence sufficient On which To
return true bills 10 every instance.
Along this line Ut violations Of the
law, one Of the serious conditions pre-
vailing, and one productive Of much
barn is the disposition on the part OF
some Of the otherwise gOUd and true
citizenship OF our County TO shield
viOlat0rs Of The Liquor Laws instead
Of helping to bring them TO justice.
The very light sentences imposed by
some Justices Of the Peace ands Police
Justices, when convictions Of viola
tors Of the Liquor Laws are had 10
their courts, are also productive OF
much harm, the fines being such, that |
1t operates more az a license to such |
vi0lat0rs, than as q punishment.
In the course Of our Investigations,
1t became apparent that several city |
officers whose duty it is TO suppress
crime and violations OF the law, had |
knowledge OF the existence OF the sale
Of liquors, and the open aud fragrant
violation Ut the Sunday Law, and have
either winked at 1t or AZ least shown
no disposition to and In suppressing
same.
Whilst. regrettinE our lab0rs have
lot met with greater reward 10 shape
II true bills, we feel a further investi.
yati0n at this time would be barren
u results and an additional and un-
necessary expense to our County.
We dad disposition on the part Of
ONE lusLic.- - .he peace IN mass all
orts OF frivolous cases up to the Grand
Jury, consuming much time, both Of
he grand jury aud the higher court,
endering q particul ar hardship on
UGH witnesses as are compelled to
ONE long distance to attend sessions
Il the former, and we urge the settle
nent OF such matters 10 the inferior
Ourts.
Some complaint has come to us, re-
alive to the management aud unsani-
AIRY conditions existing At the County
lone, and we have Investigated the
anne and 6nd that the Board OF Super.
isors are paying ample compensation
or maintenance of said home, and
hat the inmates thereof are properly
AIRED for. The sanitary condition of
UGH home IS fair.
We have not had time to examine
he books and accounts of the county
Ulcers, and 10 fact sucn an examina-
ion as we could make 10 the limited
inc at our disposal would not be sat-
but we feel that the Board
I Supervisors have exercised sufficient
are 10 the paying out OF the County
nnds and the accounting Of the vari-
JUS officers.
We have examined the county jai
nd ind that the Board Of Supervisors
ave just recently made much needed
spairs both Of the county jail and the
ourt house. We regret, however,
hat the recent additional room to
|
wo story structure, providing for a
etit juror room on the second floor
J well as grand jury room on the
rst.
We thank your honor, the district
the sheriff, aud other officers
" their aid, council aud assistance,
I'd having finished our labOrs, ask
be discharged.