Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-11-09
REPORT OF GRAND JURY
SCORES LOCAL POLICE
Says the City Officers Are Not
Alert to Detect Crime--Can't
Give Evidence.
SCHOOL NEEDS RAIL ON PORCH.
improvements Suggested at County
Home---But Inmates Should be in
a State Institution and Should
Have 0ccupation.

Severe arraignment of the efficiency
of the Annapolis and other Arne Arun-
del county police officers. during
which no words were minced and the
local cops were spoken OF as compar-
ing most unfavorably in intelligence
ana ability to detect crimes" with the
police of Baltimore county aud Balti-
more city, formed part Of the report
OF the October Grand Jury, which com
pleted its work and filed its statement
with Judge Brashears in the Circuit
Court Yesterday afternoon.
In its expression of opinion as to the
Annapolis police officers the jury. in its
main report said:
"In the course of CIR inyestiga-
tions we have had before us not
only officers of the police depart
ment of Annapolis and Anne Arun-
del county. but also some from, the
city of Baltimore. and Baltimore
county. and we regret to admit
that the efficiency of some of the
officers of this county aud the Citv !.
1f Annapolis have rot compared
favorably with the othe s appear
ing before us, either as to intelli-
gence and ability to detect crimes,
or in obtaining essential and def
dnite evidence, or i'm their ability
% give evidence obtained logical
and concise FORM
In further discussion of thu rapport
ant question of police efficiency in An
naLolis pnd Anne Arurdei county, the
Jury, after expressing an appreciation
of the difficulty encountered by a
known officer of the law in obtaining
evidence of guilt, when it might be
possible for others to get it, makes this
.orc1edealy excellent suggestion:
"It would. therefore. seem to us
advisable that some provision be
made whereby an officer bo assign
ed TO the office of the States At
torney who would act ,directly-nn-
der his instructions"
The jury announces that it has, in its
sessions examined IA witnesses. found
80 presentInents, " true bills and dis
missed 20 cases brought before IL for
consideration.
The inquest announced to the Court
that it had had before it the four po-
lice magistrates of the county. William
T Mmnick, James d. Feldmeyer, of
Annapolis, William H. Meade, of Ger
mantown, and James H. Fowler, of
Brooklyn, and had. in addition. exam
ined their records and reports, which
/ appeared in good order. neatly kept
| and posted 70 date.
The magistrates seemed well in
| formed as Go their duties," saws the re-
| port, which then continues:
| ''It seems to us. however. that
there should be some method of
verifying their reports, as they
handle county funds collected from
fines and costs. but the only rec
ords of these are from the mag
istrate's own reports to the Coun-
~ Commissioners. We would sGg-
! gest as an improvement that all
officers making arrests be required
tc keep a record and make re-
port of same to the Sheriff's Of
fee. stating disposition of the
case, and that all warrants when
the magistrates have furnished with
them. be turned over to the Sber
| :ff's office as check against these
reports
Upon the subject of traders licenses
the jury reported that it had not found
any presentments "as the Sheriff's of
fee did not report to it any evidence
of persons trading without license"
The reports of the various sub
committees OF the Jury, upon III,
county aud city matters respeotivell
referred to them, which were filet
With the Court. follows: