The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-06-12

The session Of the grand jury. Nhatl
was sworn in Monday morning and
which was brought TO a close ycatrl-
DAY afternoon was not only one Of tho
shortest, In time Of service, but one Of
the most active that has served i'm that
capacity in Escambia county in MANY
years.
After the charge Of Judge Wolfe tho
jury retired TO their room and speut
many hours investigating tho affairs
which were presented to them bv the
states attorney. The jurors got down
to business from the start and go
thorough was the work Of the body
that they completed their labors yes
terday at noon
After Clerk c. H. Gonzalez had read
the presentments to the court, Judge
Wolfe dismissed the jury, compliment
ing them on the expeditions manner in
which they had performed their duty.
THE PREsENTMENTs.
The presentrnents were devoted to a
great extent to the conditions existing
IN the sheriff's office. Attention was
especially called TO the alleged un-
necessary arrests that have been made
IN the county with slight or no provo
cation. Embodied in the presentments
was the following:
1t has come to our attention that
the sheriffs Office has been engaged in
making wholesale and unnecessary ar
rests for frivolous offenses." r
Inc preSenCmentS were presented 10
the court and read as follows:
We, the grand jurors Of Escambia.
county for the spring term Of the cir
cunt court, A. y. 1913, beg TO report
that we have truly inquired into ali
matters brought to our attention:
That in the matter of the State OF
Florida VS.. Arthur Pate we found no
bill
THAT in the matter Of the State Of
Florida VS.. Angus Adams, we returned
a true bill, charging the defendant
with murder in the first degree.
1--WE visited the county iaiI and were
by no means favorably impressed with
its conditon-the mattresses were un-
clean and the cells generally looked
dirty.
1T has come to our attention thar
the sheriffs Office has been engaged i'm
making wholesale and unnecessary ar
rests for frivolous offenses: especially
with respect to negroes. This course
results in constant drain upon tho
county finances to the great burden OF
the taxpayers as well a s being per
secutton Of those of our citizenry who
must depend upon the white citizens
10 see that they receive a square deal
in the enforcement Of the law II has
come to our attention that the sheriff's
deputies go out In search Of persons.
specially negro persons, who might be
thought TO be guilty Of the most friy0-
cuS oHenScs, while persons who have
committed unlawful homicides have
ss scaped. We would call attention OF
he sheriff to this condition Of. affairs
10 the end that steps be taken to pre-
ent further unnecessary arrests or
persons who have done no wrong
against society. And we would invite
he attention Of the board Of county
to the facts above re-
sited, TO the end that they scrutfnize
he bills OF the sheriff for the arre.
n the class Of cases mentioned 30 o..
he interest Of the taxpayers uieH.
iubserved. We have no desire to crIf
Use the Sheriff nor TO unnecessarr,
effect upon him, but we wish 10 TAX.
idvantage Of this opportunfty to make
he observations above because We
eel that IL is our duty to so do and
1continned on Paro ron1