The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-06-20
Grand Jury in Final Report to Judge w. E. Fort, Makes Timely Rec
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  HILLMAN HOSPITAL AND COUNTY FARM
 HIGHLY PRAISED Judge Fort Gives Indorse- ment to Recommendations For Girls School and
 Municipal Court

Scathing denunciation of conditions at the Girls Train ing school at East Lake, which were compared to a German prison camp; suggesting the sale of the present almshouse on the grounds that 1t was in adequate and nncleanly, and recommending that one of the judges of the municipal court be selected to try criminal eases entirely, were among the features of the grand jury re- port, made yesterday to Judge William E. Fort of the criminal division of the circuit court. The report was quite lengthy, and in the main was highly complimentary to the county institutions and also of the of ficers of the county.
 The Hillman hospital was especially praised and the county farm came in for commendation. The grand jury has been in session several weeks, but has recessed from time totime and has put in 13 actual days in session. Much of the detail work was done by special committees, and the work of the grand jury greatly facilitated thereby. The grand jury examined 743 witnesses, found 184 true bills, and 23 no bills. No cases were continued to the next grand jury.
 BURRIS COMPLIMENTED
 A pleasant feature of the proceedings just before adjournment was that the grand jurors paid fine compliment to Foreman Charles E. Burris, compli- menting his splendid leadership and untiring efforts in carrying out the work of the grand jury and for his unfailing courtesy and generosity at all times. The tribute was in writing and signed by every member of the grand jury.
 In receiving the report Judge Fort heartily indorsed the comment of the grand jury on the Girls Training school. and stated that it should tend to arouse public sentiment to demand relief from a condition that was in tolerable He also commented on the matter of the municipal court, stating the best interest of the public and Of the county could be served by placing the trial of criminal cases in this court in the hand of a judge whose expe- rience and sound judgment rendered him eminently fitted to try this class of cases and that he was opposed to the making of fees to the detriment of the public good.
 GRAND JURY REPORT
 The grand jury report follows: To the Honorable Judge of the Circuit,
 Criminal Division:
 We, the grand jury. impaneled and the April term, 1918, having completed our laDors, beg leave to make our final report as follows:
 We have been in session 13 days, dur ing which time we have examined 743 witnesses returned 1S4 indictments, found no bills in 23 cases, and passed no cases for investigation by the grand jury that follows us.
 COUNTY JAIL
 After an examination of this in stitution, we are of the opinion that other grand juries, as we'll as prison inspectors, have expressed opinions as to it's condition-that it is we'll kept, is in thoroughly sanitary and cleanly condition, and might well be used as q model by keepers of similar institutions elsewhere. Credit for this condition is due to Sheriff Thomas J. Batson, the present warden, c. w. Austin, and his assistants.
 HILLMAN HOSPITAL
 The wonderful growth of this institu- ton, coupled with the systematic and business-like management, makes it one ot the most interesting and instructive county institutions we have had occasion to visit. Under the ale management and superin- tendence of Dr. F. F. Hogan, it has be- come notable place in the care and at tention given patients brought here for treatment The number of patients now here is little more than one-half of the normal, which condition we attribute to the great prosperity of the poorer classes of our citizenship. It would seem to moan that those who, under ordinary conditions, would come here for treat ment are now able to pay for treatment at other. institutions, where they wouli