The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1921-08-05
D0INCS OF THE RE-
CENT CIRCUIT COURT
Grand Jury Makes Full Report and
Drops Some Suggesions to Board of
Supervisors. IL True Bills.

ne UllO-NSa Term OF Lno S1FNult
Court of Grenada County was con-
cluded last Saturday morning after
session of SIX days in which quite
a deal of important litigation was dis
posed of.
Judge Lamb is conservative
judge, but knows how to turn off
business rapidly without what is
sometimes termed judicial fireworks.
He is ably assisted by District At
torney David E. Crawley, who is
alert, active, discreet and judicious in
looking after the interests of the
State.
The jury in the case Of the State
VS. Dewitt Grant, colored, charged
with manslaghter returned a verdict
of guilty Saturday morning after
more than twelve hours deliberation
More than ordinary interest centered
in the case because Of the fact that
the negro was being tried for the
death of Sidney Grantham, a boy
about IA years of age, which was
caused by the boys being run over
by an automobile driven by the negro
who was a chauffeur for Mrs. L. B.
Scruggs. The incident occurred in
the latter days of December, 1919.
The testimony was conflicting as to
the circumstances and as to whether
the car was being driven beyond the
speed limit. The negro had borne a
good reputation and was said by
those who ought TO know to be very
careful auto driver. Nevertheless,
there is very naturally a critical
sentiment about car-speeding. Often
is the statement heard, 1T is indeed
remarkable that many people are not
run over every day." thus it is very
probable that it just happens that
this negro must pay the penalty for
much that is charged against autoists.
The little Grantham boy was the first
auto victim in Grenada County. The
jury recommended the negro to the
mercy of the court. The sentence
was five years in the STATE peniten-
tiary. The negro had been out on
bond and was making an exceptional
ly good farm hand.
The grand jury made its final re-
port Friday afternoon. That body
returned in all II indictments. The
following is the report Of the grand
jury:
We, the Grand Jurors elected, en-
paneled, charged and sworn to in
quir-e in and for the County cf Gre
nada, State Of Mississippi, at the
present term of the Circuit Court of
said County and State, beg leave to
submit this, our final report:
We have been in session five days
and have examined 100 witnesses and
returned into open court II true
bills.
We have examined the County
Jail and desire 20 recommend that
five Of the windows be screened, the
Jail furnished with at least q half
dozen bath towels. other than this we
commend our Sheriff and jailer for
the nice sanitary condition in which
the jail is kept.
We have examined the books of
the County Auditor, Circuit Clerk,
Superintendent OF Education and
Sheriff and as far as our knowledge
goes, ind them to be in good shape.
We have visited the hotels and
boarding houses Of the town and find
them all 70 be II a good, clean. sani- !
tary condition and complying with all
the laws of the State in regard to
sanitation. !
and find it to be in very good condi-
tion, but recommend some work done
on the toilets as we feel sure that
these toilets are not up to the sani-
tary laws of our State.
A thorough investigation has been |
made as to the condition of the coun-
ty poor house and we find everything
there up to the standard, with the .
of one room and the ply !
sical condition of the occupant is such !
that we feel that it would be impos- !
.ible for this room TO be kept in the .
proper condition.
We have investigated the high !
school building as required of the
laws of our State and find the same
TO be in good condition.
With a few exceptions, as you will
find in the following, We want to
commend the county officers of Gre
NADIA County, and we feel sure that :
the following exceptions are due to
conditions as they exist today and !.
With no intention Of misleading or
defrauding any tax payers in Gre
NADIA County:
We have not made an investiga-
ion in detail into the contracts made
by the board Of supervisors and the
of public funds by that
body, however, we have gone far :,
enough to warrant US in saying that
he board has used the law rather !
No presentment is made
against that body for several reasons,
and it is hoped that with this hint
hereafter the law will be strictly
followed; but if it is not, then a sue
,eeding grand jury can proceed in the
natter and take the initiatory steps
n visiting the wrath of the law upon
hose who hold the purse strings of
he county. In this day of big road
bridge building and other
,ast county expenditures, a wise pub
ic policy demands the closest scruti- ;
~ of the acts of public officials. If
his Is not done, it is apparent that !
not only will the present generation
'e bankrupt, but the next one will