Year: 1860

mined to live up to their present uhueI s.eho5, ns
refuse to affiliate with the Administration, IN any
,,,aas,,re 80 AETI-LEcoMPToN.r
n eport of Grand Jury-J"nuary Term isoO'


TO the Hon. Court of Sessions We the under
signed Grand Jurors beg leave to submit the follow"
ing report:


There has been seven presentments before us
which were disposed OF as follows Grand larceny
two indictments; bills ignored two cases dismissed,
three. -, -.


In the discharge Of our duties as Grand Jurors,
we submit the following facts, and Recommendations
10 the serious attention and consideration OF the
Board of Supervisors.


THE COURT HOUSE. -,


The Grand Jury would most urgently call tnelr
attention to the condition of the Court House. Inc
leakage of the roof is destroying the Plasterng oi
the court room, besides impairing the security VI
the side walls Of the building. In addition 70 this,
the whole building requires painting ouch Is lne
effect of the mountain climate upon 6rck, lha' ho
prudent man permits even brick chimney 70 re-
main unpanted---and the longer the Court House
is suffered to remain unpanted and unprotected the
greater will be the injury and the more diflcui' 'he


We also suggest the improperly OF allowing the
building to be used as ball room. The necessary
removal of the furniture for this purpose is destruc"
tive of it. while the motion OF dancing is most inJu-
rious to the walls. We find the Jury room in
most shameful condition, and earnestly recommend
that il be properly furnished and put in proper
condition for the accommodation of trial jury.


THE JAIL.


We also suggest the propriety Of enclosing the
east and west sides OF the Court House, as meas
ure protective Of the Jail, and humanity to the prs-
oners. The subteuanean nature of the JaIi renders
proper ventilation very dfhcult-but still neces-
sary for the health Of the persons in custody The
windows through which this is effected open direct
ly upon the public streets, and the jailor has no
means Of preventing direct communication between
those in the jail, and whoever may see mt TO come
to these windows. The health Of the prisoners re-
quire that these windows should be kept open, and
their safe keeping, that the means of improper com
municaton with outsiders should not be permitted.


We also suggest and advise that those persons
who are imprisoned in the County Jail for petty
thefts and msdemeaners, be employed in such
way as is consistent with their safe-keeping, upon
some public or private works; several reasons may
be given in favor Of such employment Of the county
prisoners. In the first place, 1t ghtens the burden
of their support now, very serious drain upon the
finances Of the county 1t also makes OF imprison-
ment, (when connected with labor) punishment,
whereas the greater number Of those sentenced to
the County Jail regard their confinement as merely
respite from rascality. and return to their criminal
practices unawed by the past and undeteTed by the
fear of future punishment. II may also be suggest
ed that physical labor would be better for the pris
oners than the life of utter useessness now led by



dark cell, with other exercise than that Of feed
ing himself, must at the expiration Of this time be
unable to perform mans work, and would Of ne
cessity resort to crime to save himself from starva
tion. The only objection urged against the employ
ment Of the County prisoners, is the supposed de-
graduation which it infcts but we are unable to
the distinction between the moral degradation Of the
man who steals fifty dollors and works for the State,
and he who steals forty-nine dollars and labors for
the country. We therefore suggest and recommend
II ~ l-fG
practicable the county prisoners be hereafter en-
ployed in such manner will be most advanta-
ge0us to the county. We find that the drain lead
ing from the Jail (Which is absolutely necessary to
the health of the prisoners as well as those who
have charge Of them is filled up and thereby rem
dered useess-and it is impossible to repair the
present drain so as to make it permanently useful
for the purposes for which it is intended, we would
therefore recommend that large and substantial
drain be run from the ravine to the Jail, believing
that the same can be accomplished by the assistance
Of the prisoners in Jail, with little expense to
the county.


In view Of the fact that similar recommendations
to the above have been made to the Board Of Super
visors at different times, by former Grand Juries
ant. no definite action having been taken by them
in ret d thereto-we would add in all seriousness
that report is not made for Buncomb, but as we
believe for the best interests Of the county; and we
earnestly solicit careful examination and different
action by you of each and every recommendation
herewith submitted.


COUNTY HOSPITAL.


We find the "Indigent Sick Fund" IN depleted
condition, the present Indebtedness $4,000, the
interest thereon per annum, amounts to 81, 300.


The total income for the year 1852 amounted to
$7,783,32 and the total expenditures for the same
year ll ,296, ,l6 leaving deficit for the year of
$3,5l2,Si, thus swelling the amount Of the debt
yearly, to the sum Of $500. We therefore recon-
mend most earnestly, that the Supervisors of the
county give their immediate attention to the condi-
Of that fund, and devise some means by which the
current expenses of the County Hospital can be
met, and the payment and liquidation of the out
standing debt and interest.


We also suggest to the Board, that as neighboring
Counties have passed ordinances or laws, relative
to the admission Of patients to their County Hos
pitals it behooves us, in selfprotection, to do the
same. There should be the utmost caution used in
regard to the admission of patients. There should
be some system adopted and strictly adhered to by
your honorable body, that would exclude all but the
really necessitous. ...