Year: 1875

CRIME IN NEW C.sTLE CouSTY7sOMl


SENSIBLE SUGGESTIONS MADE-AN OVER


CRowED JAIL. Nt..


Tie following was the rcfNrt Of the
Grand Jury, made yesterday.


To the Hon. the Judge of the Court o
General Sessions Of the Peace and Jai
Delivery: ...
The Grand Inquest for the body Of New
Castle County.respectfully make report
that at the present term, they have acted or
305 bills, of which 255 were found true and
so ignored. OF the true bills, 35 were fol
felonies, and 220 were for misdemeanors
of the latter LAG were for violations Of the
liquor laws, and 50 were for violations OF
the revenue laws.


The attention of the Grand Inquest was
drawn by the Court at the May term to the
deplorable increase of crime in this county,
particularly to the alarming crimes of arson,
burglary and highway robbery, and, al
though the calander at the present time is
very large, it is some enjoyment to good
citizens to be able to state that no bills for
arson, burglary nor highway robbery land
but one for houseDreaking have been laid
before us-which result may be ascribed to
the speedy arrest and punishment of the
perpetrators of these crimes.


But 1t is matter of serious regret tina
the Court was compelled at the present
term to again call our attention to the great
number Of criminal charges; and that OF
those, a number were unprecedented in the
history of the county-were of the highest
grades known to the law. 1t is to be hoped
that this state of affairs will not continue
and when consideration is given to the fact
that during the summer months, hundreds,
perhaps thousands, Of unemployed persons,
not citizens of the State or county, Con-
spring among their number a great many
Incorporate and depraved persons gathered
from all the large cities near us were wan
dering over the country, the community
may perhaps be thankful that a greater
number of serious crimes were not CON-
mittcd.


In visit to the Jail the Grand Inquest
were struck with its crowded condition.
They would suggest that this could be alle-
waited in some measure, if committing
magistrates would dispose finally of small
misdemeanors, instead of sending the ac-
cused person to jail, which latter course in
uuuuy CdSCS WOINo AuJuooANS, pSoaNASo SoAA-
siderable expense to the county and all par
ties concerned. Despite the crowded state
of the jail it was found very clean and in
excellent order; and the prisoners in very
good health.


A committee of the Grand Inquest visited
the Almshouse during the month of October.
The committee report that the institution
is cxcellently managed; that the inmates are
healthy and we'll cared for in every respect
and that the grounds and buildings arc in
good order except the apartment for color
ed persons, which the Committee recon-
mend should be put in proper repair at
once. The inconvenient, badly lighted and
i'll ventilated Court House, and the crampcd
condition of the County officers, force
themselves upon the notice of the Grand
Inquest, yet they cannot recommend, any
whatever for the erection
of the new County buildings, nor for the
alteration or repair of the old ones, nor for
the enlargement. of the Jail; while the
proper location of the Court House is an
agitated question with the people Of the
County, all of which is respectfully submit
ted. NATHANIEL WILLIAMS,
CHAs. G.. ASH, Foreman.


r1pr1y