Pocahontas star herald., 1925-01-29
Grand Jury Report
Report of the Grand Jury, January
1925 Term.


To the Honorable John c. Ashley,
Judge of the Circuit Court 10th Judi
cial District:
We, the Grand Jury for the present
term of Circuit Court, have completed
our work as far as seems practical.
We have been in session six (6) days,
have examined one hundred six (1OG)
witnesses, and issued certificates of
Indebtedness against the County in
connection Herewith for $4,000. We
have turned in So true indictments,
and dismissed cases.
A committee of four (4) members
visited the county farm, and report as
follows:
I'VE the Committee appointed to
visit the county farm, report as fol
lows: We, all four members of the
committee went in body to the farm.
We found the buildings and fences in
very bad condition, but do not recon-
mend any great amount of expenditure
in repairing same, as it is our informa-
tion that this farm is to be sold as
soon as deal can be found that is
acceptable to a committee that has
heretofore been appointed, and new
buildings erected in another place.
There was no complaint made as to
the care being taken of the inmates.
Signed: c. II. Brooks, w. f. Crismon,
T. l.. Barnett, j. w. Brown"
The Commissioners of Accounts have
filed partial report with MS, their
work not having been done at this time
on account Of settlements not having
been approved by the County Court.
They report that the fines assessed by
the j. P'S have been practically set
tied for and, so far as they have able
to find, all accounts of the county Off
ces are in good shape. With few eX-
ceptions, the j. P's Of the various town
ships, and mayors of incorporated
towns have filed their reports as re-
quired.
Our attention has been called to the
fact that considerable number of
pistol permits were issued the first year
the law went into effect, but that only
very small percentage of these per-
mts have been renewed. The Pros
ecuting Attorney asks us to call the
attention of the public to the fact that
the law requires that these permits be
renewed annually.
Two cases have been referred to the
next grand jury for their consideration,
the proper papers having been filed
with the circuit clerk.
We find the Jail and court house to
be i'm a fair state of repair, but recon-
mend that there be Il sufficient amount
of seats purchased to seat the court
room, and that the railing across the
court house be extended up near the
main entrance of the court room so
as to make it more easy for the sheriff
to keep the aisle open. We feel that
this will not he any great amount of
expense, and will be quite a convent
ence to the officers of the court, and
the public in general. We also recon-
mend that new stove he bought for
the Jail.
Complaints have come to us from
some of the road overseers of the cOun-
ty about the people throwing stumps,
brush and other trash in the road
bitches. We have passed it up at this
time, but recommend that the next
grand jury indict if complaints are
made.
The Judge also instructed us that it
is a violation of the law to possess or
operate n slot machine Or punch board,
and also violation of the law for any
one to play them. We have passed
this up at this time, referring il TO
the next grand jury, that those having
thus violated the law may have an
opportunity of getting rid of these de-
vices.
The court also instructed MS to look
into the matter of stores being kept
open on Sunday for general business.
For the same reason, we have allowed
this at this time, calling the attention
of those who have been guilty of this
violation of the law of the fact, that
they may have an opportunity 10 avoid
prosecution at the next term of court.
The township officers i'm some sec
tions of the county are doing their duty
in enforcing the law, and quite Il few
of the best people are helping them.
We think that they should be com
plimcnted for this, and ask that all
urnn1 ,,ftfg.Y,.. hn v.,al, ,e oil tf,,,,, g.