The Natchitoches enterprise., 1914-12-10
GRAND JURY REPORT

I GKANU JUkI kEFUk /
To the Hon. w. T. Cunningham
Judge of the 18th District Court sitting
} in and for the Parish Of Natchitoches.
We, your Graud Jurors duly elected
empanelled and sworn in and for th'
December term of the District Cour
in and for the Parish of Natchitoches
beg leave to submit this our final repor
for the term.
We have examined into 176 cases AM
have found 81 true bills and 80 no bill!
and have passed 10 cases for want o.
sufficient evidence.
We have labored earnestly and hon
estly to look into all Of the affairs OF
the parish of Natchitoches Parish, anC
to follow out to the best of our ability
the mandates and prohibitions of oul
oath, and although the job has been q
tedious one, we feel that we have done
our full duty to the citizens of the par
ish of Natchitoches.
We are glad to state that crime in
the parish of Natchitoches for the past
six months has been on the decrease
that while we have investigated num-
Der of cases, the offenses for the most
part have been misdemeanors and lots
| of them without merit.
| It has been called to our attention
that during the last election held in
this parish, great deal of intoxicating
! liquors were used at the elections. We
took up this complaint and examined
into it and tried hard to get at the bot
tom of it, and while we find that there
was good grounds for the complaint in
many instances, we have been unable
from the unsatisfactory evidence pro-
duced before US to fix the responsibility
on any person, and have therefore
| failed to lndict. But this is a practice,
which we believe can not be too strong
| ly condemned, we are heartily in sym
patty with the law that prohibits such
practice and hope that all violators of
the same hereafter will be properly
punished.
We have also had complaints about
what are commonly called "Cider
Joints, and while we have failed TO
get any evidence that might connect
them directly with the sale of anything
intoxicating, we find that they do give
trouble by allowing persons VINO are
intoxicated to lie around their places
OF business and to get bOisterous, AMI
thereby bring suspicion on them. We
wish to caution the proprietors of these
places about allowing such practices
and to warn them that if such is con-
tinued that they the proprietors will be
| the sufferers therefor.
We are glad to report that from our
investigation we find that the crime of
retailing spirituous liquors which has
in the past given Grand Juries so much
trouble is greatly on the decrease. We
have at this term found only few in
dictments for that crime, and have had
very little complaint from the parish
as whole about the violation of this
| law.
We have examined the Sheriff's of
J i - AM ..Is bon = ana ind the
| books ana the Office ia good shape
| We note the new benches which were
built by the sheriff and put in the halls
and corridors of the court house, and
think that they are a great improve
ment and add greatly to the comfort
and convenience of the citizens who
visit the court house and have business
/ there.
We have examined the Assessor s
/
/ good shape, and his roll for this year
nearly gotten up.
We have visited and examined the
Clerk s Office and find everything therein
in good shape, the books being all up
to date with the recording work and in
dexing also all up
We find that both the assessors of
flee and the clerks Office are entirely
too small for the amount of work that
has to be carried on in them, and not
properly equipped for the work.
We know that this is not very
propitious time for spending money by
the Police Jury, but we recommend
and urgently request that as soon as
conditions will permit that they build
additions to both of these offices and
give them proper equipment to carry
on the work.
We have examined the Jail and find
the same clean and in good sanitary
! condition, and all the inmates therein
well treated
We have examined the books of the
Parish Treasurer and find the same
we'll and neatly kept.
But we find that the guttering on the
outside of the Jail is in badly dllapida.
ted condition and leaking, and recon-
menu that the Police Jury have the
same fixed at once.
We visited the State Normal School
and wsre taken all around the build
ings and grounds and find everything
in good condition and the work well
carried on.
/ In conclusion we wish to thank all of
/ the officers of the court for the assist
ance given US by them and the prompt
ness with which they attended to our
many calls on them, and to specially
thank our faithful door keeper for his
good and patient service.
Having con Oleted our labers. we res
gectfully. ask shat we be discharged for
Res oectfully,