Legal Document from the Grand Jury of Noxubee County, Mississippi; October 1, 1875

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Legal Document from the Grand Jury of Noxubee County, Mississippi; October 1, 1875

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People

Ames, Adelbert, 1835-1933 Ames, George Beasley, Peter Clay, Flex Coats, Nick Coleman, Sam Connor, Unknown Dantzler, T. M. H.Doss, W. W.Dowd, Unknown Dunlap, Unknown Feilds, S. S.Gilmon, J. C.Haynes, W. N.Haynie, Unknown Hodges, J. B.Hopkins, J. W.Jeffries, Alex Kennon, W. H.Loveless, Charley May, Hubbard McMichael, Unknown Orr, J. A.Sargent, Thomas M.Shumaker, W. B.Smith, Brister Tarrant, Samual A.Thomas, D. H.White, T. J.White, Unknown Whitfield, H. B.

Events

Convict Labor Convict Labor. Mississippi Crime Crime--Jail Escapes Crime--Perjury Crime--Riots Criminal Procedure Criminal Procedure--Indictments Finances Finances--Debt Finances--Default Legislation. Mississippi Political Office--Appointment to office Taxation Taxation--Mississippi

Organizations

Courts and Judicial Systems Courts and Judicial Systems--Chancery Courts Courts and Judicial Systems--Circuit Courts Courts and Judicial Systems--Criminal Juries Courts and Judicial Systems--Grand jury Jails Mississippi--Judicial Districts Mississippi--Judicial Districts. 7th District

Occupations

City Council Members Clerks Judges Judges. Justices of the Peace Law Enforcement Law Enforcement--Sheriffs Lawyers Lawyers. Public Prosecutors Selling--Liquors Treasurers

Places

Mississippi--Monroe County. Aberdeen Mississippi--Noxubee County. Macon Mississippi--Noxubee County. Shuqualak

Social Identifiers

Imprisoned people

Page 1

The State of Mississippi
Noxubee County.

Circuit Court
October Term 1875.

To.
Hon J. A. Orr, presiding Judge of the 7^th Judicial District.

The undersigned Grand Jurors empaneled at the present Term of Court in closing our labors respectfully report.

That we have reason to congratulate the people of the county on the notable decrease of crime in our county, among all classes of the community, as shown by the records of the Justices of the Peace, the witnesses examined, and number of indictments returned by us. This re-lates not only to the higher grades of crime but to petty offences among the people at large. We regret that we cannot make such favorable report as to some of the public officers of the County, and the general management of County affairs. It seems that the Board of Supervisor's have been very lavish in spending the public funds, in many instances having allowed accounts without color or authority of law. The allowances to the clerk of the chancery Court alone in the past three years, will aggregate over three thousand dollars, the greater part thereof being for claims for services not authorized by law.

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In the management by the Board of County affairs there seems to have been too much disposi-tion manifested to carry out personal ends, and schemes. As evidence of it, the records show many allowance's to personal favor-ites of the Board and even to some of the members of the Board themselves; while legal accounts presented by other's, have been delayed or rejected. This feeling has been carried to such extent toward the sheriff, that the Board determined and so expessed, to have nothing to do with his accounts. We have endeavored to—apply the proper legal correction, in all cases where the evidence warranted it. We find the chancery clerk's office in a deplorable condition. The records of the Board of Supervisors, particularly the—loose manner of issuing warrants, have both given us much trouble and concern for the public interest. We find many valuable public paper's, accounts, and the like, missing from the office, and the records in considerable confusion. In many instances there have been over-issued in amount and duplicate warrants issued—showing great carelessness if nothing worse.

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we find also after some trouble, that a license to retail liquor was issued from this office to Messrs Haynie & Dunlap of Shuqualak in the year 1872, for which the money required by law to be paid, never reached the County Treasurer. Our investigation places the respon-sibility on the chancery clerk's office. We—ask the attention of the Board of Supervisor's and county attorney to these matters, in order—that suits may be instituted, if necessary to recover the public money thus lost, or misus-ed. We have fully discharged our duty in this direction. In saying this much as to the chancery clerks office, we mean no reflection whatever on Mr. J. W. Hopkins, the present deputy clerk, as he has had charge of the office but a short time. In regard to the circuit clerk and his office, we desire to make special—mention. We find the records and paper's well and carefully kept, and every thing in good order, with duties well and promptly performed. There was some little complaint that the circuit clerk had not paid the Jury Tax to the County Treasurer, as required by law, we are glad to report this a mistake, as the reports were regularly made as required by Statute The County Treasurer though there was no-

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actual wrong had not given receipts in proper shape to the clerk. This however has now been done, and the receipts exhibited to us by Mr. White. We find the books of the county Treasurer in good shape and condition. There may have been some irregularities in minor matters, but all funds coming into the hands of the Treasurer have been properly and faithfully accounted for. We feel there is no Just complaint against this office. It had been reported and understood before the assem-bling of the Grand Jury, that the Sheriff of the county was a defaulter for a large sum, more than twenty thousand dollars. This caused us to devote more than customary time labor and pains to the investigation of matters con-nected with the sheriff^s office. We have had before us the various county officers, several Judicious and prominent citizens as well as Col M^cMichael the State agent appointed by the Governor to look after settlements with officers, and his distinguished attorney Col—Dowd, of Aberdeen. The result of our delib-erate investigation is, that, when there is a full and proper settlement made between the Sheriff and the county, there will be but little diference either way; but if any the—

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county may be in debt to the sheriff for a small amount. We feel it our duty to say further, that we find the sheriffs office generally in good condition; the sheriff him-self discharging his duties well and faithfully; as also his several deputies In this connection we desire to make special mention of the prompt determined and prudent manner in which sheriff Connor and his deputies managed the riot which occured in our county in August last. We have examined the county Jail and premises—thereto attached and find everything unusually clear, in thorough order, and evidently well kept. We find the prisoners to have good treatment, abundant food, well prepared and proper precaution to prevent escape's. The officers in charge of this public in-stitution deserve special mention.

Our attention has been called to the man-ner in which the law for working prisoners outside ^of^ the Jail is being executed, only one man to wit: Mr. J. C. Gilmon is allowed to have the prisoner's, and he on a single bond for one thousand dollars. We do not consider this in accordance either with the letter or spirit of the law and—

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it deserves attention forthwith from the—proper authorities, who we understand to be the board of Supervisors. We believe the bond^s of County officers as a general fact with some exseptions to be insufficient. The time of the present officials is now so near out that we presume nothing will be done, but regret that the admonitions of former Grand Juries in this respect have not been heeded. Our examinations show that both on bonds of county officers and of persons required to give bond for appearances at court, there are so few names as sureties in so many bonds, we are compelled to say that we have some professional bondsmen in our county. We have ascer-tained, that, in some instances flagrant perjury have been committed by sureties and we have endeavored to apply the corrective without any regard whatever to race, color, party, or Social Standing.

It affords the Grand Jury great pleasure to testify, on the part of the people of this county, to the high appreciation they have of the manner in which the duties of your honor's high office have been performed. That you have executed the criminal laws

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with vigor and effect is evidenced by the notable decrease of crime. The high—esteem in which your honor is held per-sonally, by all classes and conditions of men in Noxubee County is a sufficient Guarantee of the confidence and good will of this people. The Judicial accuracy, the honesty, the freedom from partisanship, the firmness and courtesy of your Honor will always be gratefully remembered by the people, and insure their lasting respect and confidence in the court. As the present term of office of your Honor will expire in a few months, and a suc-cessor will be appointed before another term of this court in Noxubee County We earnestly hope that your Honor will be re-appointed to your present high position, and feel confident such will be the voice of the people of our county. It also affords us further pleas-ure to extend to Maj. H. B. Whitfield Dist—Atty our Kindest thanks for the polite and able counsel he has given us, and the prompt and able manner in which he has discharged his arduous duties in waiting upon the Grand Jury—

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and prosecuting criminals and ferriting out crimes and misdemeanor's.

In conclusion of the whole matter we make special mention of the prompt cheerful and polite discharge of duty of our leading bailiff Mr. Sam. A. Tarrant. In discharge of our arduous duties he has rendered us distinguished services and in closing our labors we part with him with regret.

Respectfully Submitted
Tho^s M. Sargent
Foreman of Grand Jury
W. W. Doss.
Alex. Jeffries
D. H. Thomas
J. B. Hodges
W. N. Haynes
W. B. Shumaker
Hubbard. May
Peter Beasley
Nick. Coats.
Charley. Loveless
Sam. Coleman
George Ames
Flex. Clay
S. S. Feilds
T. M. H. Dantzler
Brister Smith

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The State of Mississippi
Noxubee. County.

I. T. J. White Clerk of the Circuit Court in and for said County and State do hereby certify that the foregoing Eight pages contains a full true and perfect transcript of the report of the Grand Jury of Noxubee County, made at the October Term 1875 of the circuit—Court of said county as fully and Completely as the same appears on file in my office and of Record on Minute ^Book^ "J," Pages 306 & 307.

[seal] CIRCUIT COURT NOXUBEE COUNTY, MISS. [/seal]

Given under my hand and seal office at Macon this the 22^nd day of March A D 1876, and the independence of the united States the one Hundredth.

T. J. White clerk
By W. H. Kennon D. C.

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State of Missisippi
Noxubee County
Circuit Court. Oct. 1875

Report of Grand Jury