The Pascagoula chronicle., 1919-08-23
GRAND JURY REPORT.
Honorable D. N. Graham, Judge Cir.
cult Court, End Judicial District.
jackson County, Miss.

SuN Sourt' <nd judicial District,
jackson County, Miss.
In obedience to your able and q,
haustive charge, beg to say: We hav
inquired into all trangressions of tb
law brought to our notice, resulting /,
the returning of 27 true bills; tha
during the course OF our session w,
have examined SO witnesses.
Our investigation demonstrates bo
yond shadow of doubt that liouo,
Is being handled and that gambling is
being carried on to some extent i,
various parts Of the county, but in
some instances 1t has been impossible
to secure evidence sufficient on which
to return true bills. In some instances
we have exhausted every means in our
power to extract evidence from wit.
nesses, but without success, and arc
compelled to say that men, whose
memory is remarkable for its clear.
ness in transactions Of every day af,
fairs, are woefully deficient and short
when it comes to when and where thew
have observed liquor being handled or
gambling being carried on and by
whom.
Some complaint has reached the
grand jury relative to the condition of
various roads in the county, and after
full investigation it appears that nos
sibly during the past winter months
and early spring months, the county
road commissioners were not as dill.
gent as they should have been. vet #
appears that they are now making an
effort to place all roads in as good con.
dition as their means will permit but
are greatly hindered in their efforts by
the excessive rains.
We would especially call the atten
tion of the road commissioners of dis
trict No. to the present condition of
the road leading from Gautier to Ocean
Springs, and direct that they have
same drained and repaired at once
also the attention of road commission.
er Of district No. to portions of the
River road north of Four Mile creek
and portions of Saracena road north
OF Black Greek; and the attention of
road commissioners of district No. 3
to portions of Pine Island road south
OF Louisville & Nashville railroad, and
we recommend that these matters be
further investigated by the next grand
Jury.
Our investigations of committees
and appeals from the justice of peace
courts has disclosed to us the very
lax, and improper manner in
which justices OF the peace handle
commitments; it appears that little or
10 regard is paid to the manner pro-
1ided by law for such commitments;
hat the records of the justice of the
'eace are irregular and incomplete.
We would recommend that this mat
er be further considered by the next
rand jury.
We have examined the books of the {
heriff, tax collector, clerks Of courts
nd assessor, and find same orderly
nd well kept; the books kept by them .
re neat in appearance and so far as
ur investigation and understanding {
iscloses are correct. In this cOnnec- c
ion 1t has come to our attention that
ertain nonresident accountants are }
petitions in the county I
eeking to have the books of all county
Ulcers audited, the chief purpose of =
'hich, it appears, is to provide for a
lem profitable jobs. Our investiga-
on has not disclosed the slightest b
eed for such an audit, and we hereby
)ndemn same as system of prof "
eering against the taxpayers of the
ounty. h
We have examined the county jail
nd find the same in good sanitary Il
)ndition and we'll kept. 81
In conclusion, we desire to thank
)ur honor for the courtesy and con- o.
deration shown US; the district at -
'rney and county attorney, sheriff
I'd clerk for their assistance to us la
our labors, and to the bailiff and IL
her officers of court our thanks are u
IRE and now expressed.
And now having completed our Ia VI
RS, we beg your honor to discharge
from further duty. e'
Respectfully submitted, this the 10th
" of August, 1919. ID