Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1923-02-20
LAXNESS FOUND.
BY GRAND jury
IN co. AFFAIRS
Recommends More Strict
Compliance With Require
ments Of Law in Various
County and Justice Reports

The report If the grand jury for the
present term of District Criminal Court
was submitted today shortly before nonn
the report dealing principally with Lax
ness existing in reports of county or
ficers rs to fees and other matters. The
report u:
TO the Honorable Criminal District
Court: We have carefully examined a,-
counts and reports If the various off
GERS who are required 10 fife reports
with the grand jury and submit the
following report.
REPORTS have been loosely and mprnp-
erly made. Fee books have not been
kept or have been improperly kept in
many eases. Reports have not been made
10 the Auditor "a December Isl OF each
year. aS provided by law
We recommend that the county audi
tor insist on the filing of sworn expense
accounts each and every month. as re-
quired by law: and further that off
GERS be required 10 have annual state
ments of all fees, commissions. costs or
compensafion~ of any character what
ever. showing the proper distribution
Of same. on December III of each
,alendar year. for the fiscal year end
ing November ~. preceding.
In almost All Instances the justices of
the peace have not filed quarterly re-
ports. neither do We find that in ex-
amining trials the evidence has been
secured and reduced To writing. and
wherever the evidence has been - re-
iured il is 80 very brief that same Is Of
little value.
We lurthrr find that the peace Of
ficsrs making arrests fail "a furnish
The Justices ~ the peace the names of
the material witnesses 10 the crime.
We have examined the Jail alnl court
house and find both 20 b- clean aud wrii
kent. but find the Jail badly overerowdel
and that additional cots and besliing are
needed.
-Ou account OF the absence of material
witnesses we were unable tp investigate
The case of murder against Jesus >aenz
and the case If perjury against Pedro
Salaana. and request that the court enter
the proper order esnfinning these eases
o. the next jury for Investigation.
Nothing further heing before uS for
consideration. We respectively request
the court 10 dismiss Us.
l.. II. Mayer
Foreman ~ t:renl Jury"
Judge Cunningham dismissed the grand
jury this morning. but the jury will ~
recalled again in ease il l. needed this
term.
The ease az State Of Texas W Sam
Jackson. charged with robbery with
deadly weapons. was taken up in court
this afternoon. Jackson pleaded guilty
,a the charge early during the present
term Of court. lie will he defended by
III. u. Galhraith. appointed ~ the court.
Judge A. W. Cunningham instructed
the jury in the case Of State -. Sam
Jackson. charged with the robbery of
Robert Skinner by use of a deadly
weapon. 10 bring a verdict of guilty.
assessing a penalty at from five years
imprisonment to the death penalty. The
jury gave sentence of 20 years.
Jackson, in his voluntary confession.
stated that Robert skinner. an IS
year old train watchman. had befricnd-
ed him, and on the night Of the
sault. Skinner asked the negro to come
into the cab where il was warm. When
Skinner fell asleep. Jackson stepped out
Of the cab. picked up heavy coupling
pin, and struck the boy twice on the
head with IL. robbing him of watch
and small amount Of cash. Jackson
then made his way TO San Bcnito where
he was arrested. The attack occurred
in Harlingcn on October 20. 1922.