Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-03-19
IS TRUE BILLS
ARE BROUGHT IN
BY GRAND JURY
Believes Sunday Movies Le-
gal; Says Jail Insecure and
UnSanitary; Recommends
More Office Room.


nine no bills declaring the county
Jail insecure. unsanitary and in
no wise arranged to promote health
or morality of those who may be
confined therein" and expressing
belief that there is no state law
prohibiting Sunday motion pic
lures, the grand jury of the Second
judicial district sitting for Bertha
lilo county, adjourned late yester-
Ioay afternoon after a four-day
session. Judge Hickey, in dismiss
ing the jury, complimented it for
prompt and efficient action.
The jury found both the county
clerk and county treasurer badly
storage room, declaring that the
treasurer should have three times
as much space as now and that his
vault is Anticipated, insecure and
entirely too small for the safe
keeping of records necessarily
tstored therein" 1t was stated that
"the sheriff and his deputies. in
Icluding the employees in and about
the Jail, are showing an unusual
interest, in view of the deplorable
conditions under which they
labor.' Following is the grand
jury report;
To the Honorable NJ. f. Hickey,
Judge of the District Court in
and for the County of Bernalillo,
in the Second Judicial District
of the State OF New MeXico
We, the grand jurors selected,
Iempaneled and sworn at the March
1920, term of the district court In
land for the county of Bernalillo,
in the Second Judicial district of
New Mexico, respectfully report
as follows: 80 -
We have been in session four
days, during which time we have
investigated twenty-eig matters
formally and in addition thereto
the manner of enforcement of the
special statutes called to our atten-
ton by the court Fifty-nine wit
nesses have appeared before us In
the course of these Investigations.
We have. found nineteen true bills
and nine no bills. all of which have
been returned into court.
With reference to the enforce
ment of tire special statutes above
referred TO. we report that we find
these charged with duties under
these statutes to be conscientiously
performing such duties, and in add
dition find all the county officers
to be efficiently courteously and
n N etak'nglY performing the
duties of their respective offices.
our investigation of the county
Jail leads us to the conclusion that
Jue sheriff and his deputies. lnClud-
ing the employees in and about the
Jail, are showing an unusual inter-
est, in view Of the deplorable con-
ditions under which they labor.
The members of the jury who have
not heretofore visited the Jail have
been surprised to ascertain that eX-
ternal appearances are very decep-
tive and likely to lead to a very er-
roneous idea of the interior equip
ment and conditions. We feel that
we cannot too strongly bring to the
attention of officials and the public
in general to the inadequacy of the
county jail building. We find it in
secure, unsanitary and in no wise
arranged to promote health OF
morality of those who may be con-
fined therein. The public should
also realize that not all are crimi-
nal who are from necessity con-
fined in the county Jail. Inasmuch
as the county makes no provision
for dependents vino may be feeble
in mind or body such people are
frequently from humane motives
confined in this building. In
stances also are cited of those who
are charged with no offense and
who have been held prisoners to in
sure their attendance as witnesses
in cases which may not be heard
for some time, such persons being
unable TO give bond for appearances.
We recommend unqualifiedly and
earnestly as may be that those in
positions of leadership, and with
them all interested citizens of this
county, take such steps as may be
necessary to the building of a new
iail with modern equipment and
sufficiently Commodious for the
safekeeping under conditions APP
proved by present day cnlighteu-
ment of those who may be con-
fined therein.
We find the office of the county
clerk limited in space and badly
needing additional vaults and stor-
age room for valuable records
which cannot be properly protected
| in the present quarters.
The recommendation concerning
| the county clerks office is equally
applicable to that of the treasurer
The space in which the work Of this
| important office is done and in
which the records are kept should
be at least three times as much as
that which is now available. The
vault in the treasurer's office Is
antiuuated and insecure and en-
tirely too small for the safekeeplng
of the records necessarily Kept
| there,
The office of the clerk of the dis
triet court we find TO be inadequate
| but are informed that steps are at
ready under way promising to af-
| ford some relief in this quarter.
A petition on the part of min
| isterial alliance of the city of Alba-
oueruue requesting the closing OF
| motion picture shows on Sunday IN
IL 6 city otter the first day of Jultr,
1920, received very careful consid-
Grafton, each siener of the petition
or supplementary petitions filed
! Herewith being present in person
In this connection we report that
there seems to be an erroneous be
| lief that there is statute special
lily requiring the closing of motion
| picture shows on Sunday. We are
| Informed that there is no such stat
| n,,1x n NJ nnttp-
able is the Sabbath observance law
| which has been on the statute
/ books since 1887. This is. not a
| Sunday closing law, but prohibits
certain public assemblages on the
inst day of the week commonlS
called Sunday and prohibits labor
on Sunday except in works of nee
essity, mercy and charity In view
of the Interpretation given this
statute by the supreme court of the
!