New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1915-07-17
GRAND JUTY'S REPORT.

New Iberia, La, July II, IS.
The Hon. Judge Simon of tn
18th Judicial District Court ::
Dear Sir-We beg leave to sub
nit this our hast and final reror;
The most note worthy matter tina
came under the observation 0
this Grand Jury is the striking
total absence of serious crimes il
this Parish; a matter that vii
strongly appeal to those students
of democracy who eXtOl the vir
tues of self-government as the per
lection of the type that will mos
powerfully appeal to the publ,
and De most universally hOnoreo
I by the masses. The people hav
ing realized that governments ear
only succeed and protect when its
laws are obeyed and its officers
respected, is rejecting that philos
ophy by the w-abiding charac
ter to which this report, with
great pleasure and satisfaction,
humbly refers.
1t is in a spirit of disappoint-
ment and regret that we are com
PEELED to refer to our Justice of
the Peace system as a piece of
judicial machinery entirely out Of
Joint with the greater District
Judge system with which 1T
should cooperate and facilitate
, the transaction of all judicial
business. 1t appears to US, if
not a mockery, at least, tray
.esty Of government The appal-
ding lncOmpentencv and Stagger-
ing illiteracy Of some mem ers of
justice of the peace fraternity is
source of most of the friction
and irritation in some of the
Wards Of the Parish and furnish
,es the bulk Of the irksome. but
useless work of the Grand Jury.
Most of the affidavits issued in
the Justice Of the Peace Court
are glaringly faulty and over
charged. Much Of the minor Grim
'inal matter coming under the
jurisdiction of these minor courts
is purposely declassified and mag
nified and over-charged. coupled
to the additional purpose, of hav-
ing the work transferred to the
higher tribunal. A. closer co-ope-
ration with and stricter supervi-
sion Of the District Attorney over
those minor courts and charges is
greatly to be desired. A watch
full District Attorney, aided by
professional ability, could care
fully Gull these atfidavits and sep
arate the serious from the trivial
the shadow from the substance
and greatly simplify and systema-
tie the labOrs of the Grand Jury.
Much annoyance and consequent
dissatisfaction is caused by the
prolific production of affidavits of
The Justice Of Peace Court and
much of the frivolous character of
these charges could be eliminaed
Dv a closer analysis and scrutiny
Of the charges by the District
Attorney, and the burden bearing
IN the Grand Jury lightened. and
,ongested of work removed. We
would heartily recommend to the
lext delegates Of iberia Parish to
he next State Constitutional
convention change, an improve
nent OF the present cum bersome
method OF the disposing and adj
Indicating Of these court matters.
We would recommend the con
tructlon of new Court House
which could faithfully
epresent the wealth, the stand
ng and the industrial Importance
f iberia Parish. The present ,
tructure is impressively made !
uate and fails utterly to respond
the pressure Of public business J
therein. Special quar-
ers equipped with all modern t
anitarv arrangements should be
and dedicated to the e
SEES of the Grand Jury. Every i
arrangement should be carried S
ut to secure comfort of the in
ividual Grand Juror and main
lin the security absolutely nee
ssary to the privacy and secrecy
the Grand jury proceedings.
very Grand Jury transaction to.
ay; each discussion of any pro.
lem submitted; each investiga-
on of complex case is exposed
publicity on account of theI
resent location of the Grand
ury room. We view this handi-
Up as serious interference with
le conscientious work expected +
the Grand Jury and should