The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-11-26
FOUR PERSONS
POST $4,000
POTTER BONDS
Grand Jury Finds $4,000
Listed as Delinquent Bur-
leigh County Taxes
JAIL CONDITION SAID BAD

Condition of County Court
House 'Deplorable,' Jury
Inspection Shows
Raymond E. Potter, indicted by
the Burleigh county grand jury last
week on charge of murder in the
first degree, is at liberty today
pending his trial in district court,
$4,000 bonds having been furnished
for his release Saturday night.
Bonds were originally set at $751;
900 by Judge Thomas H. Jugh. Four
people furnished bonds Of $500
each, according to Charles Fisher,
clerk of court.
Those who furnished bonds are H.
l.. Barchenger, Center, and H. r.
Ringoen, New Salem, brothers-in-
law of the defendant; L. G. Potter,
Elgin, and Cora Potter, Breien,
brother and mother Of the defendant
respectively.
At least two parties must furnish
bonds, according to the court. Be-
cause four parties furnished bonds
instead Of two, bonds were doubled.
The sureties were approved by
Judge Pugh.
Recommending that every lawful
means be taken to collect approxi-
mately $4,000 which is due Bur-
leigh county in unpaid personal prop
erty taxes and interest and stating
that the county courthouse is in
"deplorable condition." the grand
jury submitted it's report of inspec-
ton to the district court at 5 p. m.
Saturday.
Declared in Recess
The jury was then declared in
recess until Dec. 18 by Judge
Thomas H. Pugh, Dickinson, of the
sixth district, who has presided over
the Burleigh county district court
the last week in place of Judge Fred
Jansonius.
The jury recommends that "if
there is not sufficient help in the
sheriff's office to properly force the
collection Of the persona. property
| taxes the county commissioners
should provide such help"
The state penitentiary, on an in
spection tour of institutions Satur-
day afternoon, was found in AL
shape, sanitary and otherwise"
That the county court house and
jail. particularly the women's cells
in the Jail, are in poor shape, is the
belief of the jurors.
The women's Jail was found to
have but one cell, in which eight
women have been confined at one
time, juveniles at times "being con-
fined in company with the most
hardened criminals"
The floors in the Jail were found
to be not waterproof, and the cells
were found to be unsanitary, accord
ing to the report.
Arrangement of the jailer's quar-
ters was condemned. The jury de-
clared in its report that due to un-
sanitary conditions, it was almost
impossible to provide the prisoners
with sanitary food.
Vaults Not FireprOof
The jury also found the vaults
containing the public records in such
condition that they reported ut is
safe to say that not one of them is
fireproof and that in case of fire.
unless there was time to take the
records out Of the vaults to some
other place, every record would be
destroyed. 'The vaults are not even
miceproof," the report says. "as
evidenced by some of the records
being destroyed by MICE"
The various Offices in the conrt
house are overcrowded, the report
says, and the walls of the building
are cracked, mot only the plaster.
but also the entire brick wall"
The jury also reported that they
found no occasion for severe
criticism" Of the county officers,
that "the county commissioners
have matters we'll in hand" but
that the reports Of the state ex-
aminer's office relative to the county
offices and officers should be de-
livered to the chairman of the board
OF county commissioners and con-
sidered by the full board in the
presence of the states attorney at
the next meeting after such reports
are presented to the county,"
Belief that even though the ex-
penses of the jury will come to a
high figure. the sessions of the body
have saved the county money was
expressed by w. C. eastman, clerk
of the body, this morning. He said
that the jury had dismissed two
cases which, if tried in court, would
cost the county more money than did
the grand jury.
Eleven Indictments Returned
Eleven indictments, 10 of which
remain unannounced, were returned
by the jury Saturday night. Harri-
SON Brooks, Bismarck, was indicted
on q charge Of rape in the first de-
gree. The unannounced indictments
make 13 more defendants, according
to Charles Fisher, clerk Of court.
The jury, being in session 81
working days up until Saturday
night, examined 325 witnesses, re-
turned 100 indictments, found ap.
proximately Is no true bills through
investigation, and made more than
40 persons defendants on various
charges, according to Mr.. eastman.
SPARE THE PUPS
Milwaukee, Nov. 26.-Sam Cor
mans dog had bitten two children
and three adults, and was ordered
shot by Judge Donovan. But just
few days before, the dog brought six
puppies into the world. Judge"