Atlanta Georgian., 1914-02-28


I had been entirely ignored was apparent.
| Photographs of the negro Spratling,
taken at the time and showing his hor-
| rible condition. were presented to the
court, along with this Grand Jury's last
recommendation on the specific subject
Of the county's prison system, and these
are open to the puhlic's inspection.
Our recommendations at the time
were brief, only two. We desire the
public to remember them, therefore we
FIRST: That Mr.. Thomas / DON
| aldson and his influence he eliminated
from control of the countys prison sys-
TEN.
"SECOND: That there he a division
of the two offices of superintendent Of
public works and warden and that two
new officials be appointed to these two
positions"
The Investigation of the county prison
system was careful and exhaustive and
the time devoted to It by the members
will bring results imperativelv needed.
II the nuhlic will make the demand of
their elected representatives that the
whole inefficient system be reformed
through the taitheil carving out of the
recomm endation above repeated
III. The attention of this Grand Jury
has been called to recent hanging
which took place under the present laws
Of the state and by its properly con-
stituted officers. where the victims neck
was NOT broken in the fall but death
came through Strangulat ton, requiring
a period Of about forty minutes. SINH
lar instances are of public knowledge
It is the belief Of this Grand Jury that
the nresent law recurring the forfeiture
ot the Iire of tho sentenced nerson by
the old-tirre method Of "harging bv the
neck until dead" is not justified hy the
more humane demands of the present
dav In line with other States, which
have substituted for the former law re-
nuiring hanging the method Of admin
'stering death through electrocutton.
which reportS have justified as n more
nf
we believe that our representatives
should see that the more humane meth
cd should he instituted in Georgia.
II Is therefore our recommendation
that this countv's representatives pre-
sent bill for passage in the next Leg
islature changing the present law on the
subject.
~. In lire with the recommendations
Of previous Grand Juries. we recon-
mend TO the County's incoming Renre
sentatives that they amend the law that
county, officials may be placed on sal
ary basis instead of receiving fees, as
is now done.
V. We recommend occasional inde-
pendent audits by certified public ac-
county officials. this accountant to, have
no connection with any public office o.
official.
VI. We find that the service imposed
on Grand Jurors is now very burden
some and is becoming more so.
Approxima teIv nine-tenths of the
business done by the Ora nd jury grows
out Of cases committed by magistrates,
in which cases. of course, defendants
have alrePdv heen given a preliminary
hearing We do not believe that ordi-
narilv It serves any good purpose for
the Grand Jury then merely to have an
eX parte hearing.
In the first place, II is unnecessarily
extensive TO the county.
In the second place. it is burdensome
on the individual members of the Grand
Jury to attend and hear eX narte evil
dence with reference to the commission
of crimes when magistrate has al
ready given both sides a full hearing.
In the third place. 1t is unnecessarily
burdensome on witnesses. who are first
summoned to the office of the Solicitor
General for the purpose Of giving data
from which to draw the bills and sec
ond, TO attend before the Grand Jury
for the nurpose of giving evidence
AGAINST the accused. after they have
already attended and given evidence be-
same case. (TheY must still appear be-
fore the trial court to testify in the
case in the event the accused is in
dictedN
In the fourth place. the Increasing
business before the Grand Jury win con-
stantlv require an increased force of
baiIHs TO secure witnesses attend the
sessions of the Grand Jury and render
needful services, entailing increasing
eXDense.
In view Of the foregoing premises. we
believe that steps should be taken hv
our representatives in the Legisla ture to
save the county and individuals the un-
necessary eXnense suggested above and
to the Grand Jurors and witnesses the
unnecessary burden in loss Of time and
Inconvenience occasioned by repeated
hearings In the same case
After deliberation we recommend to
the consideration of the representatives
this PLAN namely. that the Solicitor
General be empowered to summons and
examine witnesses in all cases where the
defendants have been previously commit
ted. for the purpose of obtaining data
upon which to prosecute and that pros
ecutions be had upon accusations where
the defendants have been previously
committed after a lawful hearing as now
provided; provided. however that the
defendants may have the right at the
time of the trial or the entering of the
judgment of the lower court committing
said defendant. to then and there de-
'nand in writing an investiga tion by the
Grand Jury, which said written demand
shal' be transmitted by the magistrate
IN the usual course prescribed In ref
erence to the transmitting Of papers
relative to the trial
It is not contemplated by the fore
going suggestions that there shall be
any change with reference to the law
of special presentments.
Respectfully submitted.
Alfred c Newell. foreman; w d. Brady
Charles s. Robson, w. L. Trayn
ham. Isaac schoen, K; X. Kelley, J.
FRANK DECK W. \. ftdnCOcKs IL -.
Coningsworth. George A. Traylor,
W. B Summers, Fred w Cole.
Henry p. Scales. j. r. Jones, c. F.
Barnwell. w w. Morgan. j. J
Barnes, NJ L. Thrower y. y. Nc
Cullough, w. T Perkerson, George
Ware. Brooks Morgan.
Carrying out the recommendation Of
the Grand Jury, ii is ordered that the
foregoing general presentment be pub
lished in The Constitution, The Journal
and Georgian and Fulton County Daily
Report
BENZ. II. HILL. Judge
February 81 1914
STATE OF GEORGIA-County Of Full
ton.
I. Arnold Broyles Clerk Of the Supe-
rior Court OF Fulton County. Georgia, |
do hereby certify that the within and
foregoing Is true and correct copy of !
the general presentments of the Grand |
Jury for the January term. 1914, and
order Of court.
Witness my hand and the seal Of court |
this the 27th dav of February. 1914.
N