The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1926-03-19
JUDGE SERVES NOTICE ON
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Looks Like Tacit Warning That Law Will Be
Invoked to Enforce Consideration Of Pas
ouotank Grand Jury's Report

expected, ii the County Com
miSsioncrS continue to ignore
the instructions of Pasquotank
Grand JurieS. which have re-
pcatedly recommended among
other things. that something be
done toward the Improvement
Of thc County Courthouse Is
contained in 4 letter lett by
Judge Henry \. Grady this
week.
Jud~r C:rady'S letter WAS placed
on file with III" Clerk "f the Court
when hr left Elizabeth City We'd
rcS,lav ni..ht upon a'iinarn;n" court
here aud after having given due
O., rSi,lrraiiau To til" rcport of the
Grand ..,rry. Ii will he considered
bv tho Commissioners at their next
meeting.
Under the law Judge Grady has
the power nf ordering the indlct-
mcnt of the commissioners in a
criminal actiGn. for failure to con-
<l,i,.r the r"part of the Grand Jury
and his letter carries Il polite hiht
that something must hc done IN THIS
r. i,urciiuu before he arrives to hoid
court here again. Incidentally he
payS high tribute To the Grand Jury.
Here i his letter:
Il call YOUR attention to the very
excellent report of the Grand Jury
madr at the present term. 1t shows
GREAT care and conscientious Of
fort 10 perform those duties which
the law places upon them as the
Grand Inquest of the county.
1T is more pleasant always Ter
the various departments "f Govern
ment to function iii concert; but l
rc.retfully call Your attention to the
fact that rs many az four Grand
.jurieS have made recommendations
similar to those in the instant re-
mart. and apparently all of these
recommendations have passed With
ont the slightest notice.
II sincerely trust that by the
time come To this county in IGne'
: there may appear at least an effort
ON YOUR part To substantially COM
: ply with the Grand Juries' views
I which views are most heartily Shar-
cd by me.
Very respectfully.
! "uENRl \ GRADY,
Judge Presiding
In going over with the grand jury
the needs of PaSquotank due con-
! SideratiOn was given the courthouse
/ situation. 1t waS Judge Grady 5
idea that PaSTuotank'S courthouse
; is very substantial and durable
, huiiding good for many years oi
service. hut whplely inadequate III
size and arrangement. In consider
inn. This situation. Judge Grady re-
: marked that by building an ell "i
tic building. aud raising tn" Stfuc'
trrp To three. stories with IL Jail on
! top. Pasquotauk would have ii ere
ditahle courthouse at an Outia! oi
: something like $2OO.0ON. 1t was
pointed ont that the Jail alone W"u'o
cost about SIO.OO0. The new adui'
tinn would make room for inc be'
n3rtmentS If Education, welfare
and Agricultural work. for whlci
! quarters are now rented elsewhere
The drSirability of cooperating Win
/ the city. and erecting joint btilid'
/ ia" WIS discounted by Judge Grady,
| who stated that it had been ms
observation that c0ntcni ions iEld
dissatisfaction usually arose, when
. ever "A building was owned J0lnlt!
and that he recalled no building oil
this nature i'm the state. judge
Grady discussed the inadviSab'ilt!
of Sucndin- more than S2NOoD on
the building stating that ne"
Strurturr would cost about Il hall
million dollars. whereas the cXpendl'
| turc Of only $2OO.OOO would keep the
! cqunty's bonded Indebtedness Win
in ten per cent of the property valu
alton.
The Grand jury Report.
In substance the grand jury re
ported conditions generally good a
the iail but stated the bedding ant
quilts were very unSanitary, anC
should he replaced, and the Jai
yard. the records Of the Clcrk o.
the Court. the Register of Deeds
. Thr County Superintendent OF PUB
. lie instruction. the County wei
! fare Officer. Home and Farm Dem
! onStrati0n Agents, and auditors OF
flee. Additional equipment was rec
Un.mcnded i'm number of Instances
q Courthouse toilet facilities Wer'
called unSightly and unsanitary
= and immediate attention was ad
: viSed for these.
With respect to the building TIT
report stated:
: The business of the county Ia
:. cui"rown the courthouse which va
e. Continued On Page Five,