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THE VALDOSTA TIMES, 8ATUKDAV, DECEMBkk 2, 1905, 7 GRAND JURY PRESENTMENTS WITH THE JUDGE All of the Affairs of the County Looked Into by Committee We, the grand jury, chosen and | County Commissioners continue the f sworn for the November term, 1905, of the superior court of Lowndes county, beg leave to make the follow ing report: » The committee appointed by the grand jury for the last May term submitted to us the following report: Valdosta, Ga., Nov. 18, 1905. To the Honorable Grand Jury, No vember Term, 1905: Gentlemen: We, the committee ap pointed at the May term of the grand jury ,to investigate the books of certain county officers and report to your body, beg leave to report as follows: We have examined the books of the sheriff and find tuem neatly and ac curately kept^ so far as we could ac- certain, We have examined the books of the clerk’s office, his papers, his mode of keeping records, and find that our county’s clerk is doing his full duty as clerk; the books, with the excep tion of a minor clerical error are neatly kept, and the vouchers shown in accordance with the bills passed lor payment by the county commis sioners. We observe that in record ing and signing the name of the clerk of records, that it is done in various hand writings, which we think Should he signed by the fcleirk or his duly sworn deputy clerk. We examined the ordinary’s books as best we could, and with the Infor mation our ordinary could furnish, we are at a loss to report upon these as lull as we would like. We find it im possible to furnish any report as to the official returns to the ordinary, as the law requires, of quite “a num ber of administrators, executors and trustees, who have failed for years *jjy to make any returns. We think it the duty of the ordinary to force admin istrators, executors and trustees to make annual .returns. We examined the treasurer’s and voucher# and found them v»tth the exception of a lew Wo would recommend 1st ^honorable body that the county com' mlssioners keep minutes of all their transactions In detail, showing all * jfelr orders and the amounts that are paid out to commissioners for duties performed by them, and that no com missioner present bills for approval for services only as authorized by the commissioners while in session. The mere fact of taking up these .examinations of the county books 5 from where the last committee left H off and skimming over them in such a manner is very unsatisfactory to your committee, and therefore, we would recommend to your honorable body .that it is the consensus of opin ion *0t x this committee, after examin ing the books of the various officers, that it .would be profitable to our county’s welfare, to Its progress, that there bo appointed by his honor, the Judge, an auditor for the county, whose business it shall be to audit w the nooks and accounts of all the offi cers and make statements to each grand jury. We think this would save many inaccuracies and would furnish to our citizens at any time a statement of the county’s affairs. All of which we respectfully submit H. F. Tillman, A. E. Dimmock, J. H. Dasher, Committee from May term of Grand Jury. Accountant. We recommend the employment of an expert accountant to examine all county officers’ books and records and that the expense of same be paid out of the fund if the county. We further recommend that this examination be made in time to be submitted to the next grand Jury of the May term, 1906. We further recommend that a com mittee composed of B. L. Thomas, J. G. Stevens and J. M. Ashley em ploy said accountant; the said com mittee to aerve without compensa tion. Weights and Measures. We recommend that the law quiriag the Ordinary to inspect scales, weights and measures be en forced and strictly complied with and that the County Commissioners provide, If required by law, the nec essary test weights and measuers for the purpose, and, if the test weights and measures are to be furnished by the Ordinary, that he provide them at once. Roads and Bridge*. We have looked Into the work be ing done by the convicts on the pub lic roads and note the good results of same. We this plan and recommend that the I tricts four months. system. We also find that the bridges over several small streams In vari ous parts of the County are in bad condition and in some instances dan gerous. We recommend that same be given attention at once by the County Commissioners and suggest that they have the superintendent of roads, with such force and material necessary, go over the entire county or such portions needing the atten tion and make the repairs. County Convicts. We, the committee appointed to In spect the County Chain Gang, find the camp clean, prisoners well fed and cared for. T. M. Smith, H. L. Boone, W. A. Sims, R. I. Hineiy, C. K Howell, J. L. Sims. County Poor Farm. Your committee finds the poor farm in a dilapidated condition. We rec ommend that a new roof be put on main building and a piazza on west side of corner house. That a new and substantial fence be put up from the east side of farm on the south side to a point west of main building, and that other buildings be repaired and that the commissioners require that the yards be kept clean. We find five initiates: One wfiite Jim Waters was Convicted of Volun tary Manslanghter and Was en« tenced to Serve Fifteen Years on the Chain Gang—Other Cases That are on Trial Today. Jim Waters, the negro who was on trial on the charge of murdering Hen ry Griswold, was found guilty of vol untary manslaughter and was sen tenced to fifteen years in the peniten tiary on the spot The case against him was hardly as strong as it was expected. He showed that he and Griswold had been quarreling and that the killing occurred while he was in a fit of anger. The next case that was called was against J .A, Morris, who was accus ed of picking somebody's pockets on circus day. The evidence against him was hardly as direct as in the case of the others who were convicted, but it was sufficient for the Jury to find a verdict of guilty, though it was ac companied by a recommendation of mercy. The Jury in this case was out for several hours. Will Stevens, a young negro, WM on trial this morning on tho charge of asSanit with intent to murder Char- _ a , * I lie Shoats. Verdict was not guilty woman, two wkite men and two n0- , t , a that the caaea agaln ^ t James King and Ed. Col*, accused of gro men. They seem to have very good attention. C. B. Peeples, J. G. Stevens, S. Dowling, Committee. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. Court House. We find that our magnificent piece of property has been greatly abused through lack of proper care. Since Its completion It has been left In the hands of a negro janitor, who has never given It a single cleaning.- The windows have never been washed, floors, are filthy and dust Is to be id; everywhere. We, therefore, mend that tttd* Custodian of itt oricej nnd that when d,_lt be Jcept cleaned; the Janitor’s entlro time he given to the keeping the building and grounds. We reepmmend that the County Commissioners immedi- ately provide the Tax Collector with j • f m ned * a suitable safe for tho safe keeping I U ,ooks now 88 lf court w111 corae of any funds of the county received I to 80 end tomorrow 8nd th8t thc Raw * robblng W. W. Ashburfl, of Moultrie, will be tried-'this aftemooii. The cases would have been called thl* morning, but Mr. Ashburn could not reach the city until about one o'clock. These are the men who he says ha "phOTDgraphed” on his mind when they robbed him. r . The next case was that of Will Ford, accused of assault with Intent to murder two women at Dasher. He hit one of them with a brick and throw an axe at the other. Verdict was agreed upon for assault and bat* tery. '* Frank Turner will be given a trial tomorrow ini the Carter child! portant witness for Off state, who la now sick, is able to come Into court. There may be one or' two other cases, though this Is not definitely de- COTTON GROWERS TO PERFECT ORGANIZATION Called to Hold Militia District Meet ings on First Saturday In Decem ber, at Which Time Delegates will be Elected. The sea island cotton growers of Georgia and Florida, met in conven tion at Valdosta, Ga., on November 23rd and perfected a permanent or ganization as a branch of the South ern Cotton Growers’ Association. In order to thoroughly perfect dis trict and county organizations of growers of sea island cotton, it is urged that local meetings bo held lu each of the militia districts in Geor gia and voting precincts in Florida on the first Saturday in December, for the purpose of electing, from two to five delegates in each district or precinct to attend the county meet ing to be held at all county seats, or other convenient place in said county on the second Saturday In December, for the purpose of perfecting county organizations. It is highly Important that these meetings be held as called for, la or der tnat the Sea Island Cotton Asso ciation may be fully perfected at the earliest possible ,date. All county organizations that are A DAY OF THANKS- orally Observed Here. Business la Suspended and Many of The People are Observing the Day at One of Rest and Thanksgiving. Tho Services at the Presbyterian Church. Thanksgiving day Is being general* ly observed In Valdosta. Bulnesss is almost entirely bus pended, a large majority of the stores, all of the banks, depots and post* office being closed or observing Sun day hours. Only a few of the stores remained open, the most of them giving their employes a day for rest and thanks giving. It Is generally conceded that never before has so much Interest been perfected on the second Saturday in I shown In Thanksgiving day and nov December should promptly notify F. G. Schell, secretary Sea Island Cot ton Growers Association, Lake Butler, Fla., with full list of officers elected and the names and postoffice address es of fill members enrolled. Constitutions, by laws and othtr literature will be furnished upon ap plication secrelarjr or president of the association. Harvle Jordan, President .Atlanta, Ga. F, G, Schell, Secretary, Lake Butler, Flo. Snow's Patent Diary. We have received the pocket diary and memorandum book for 1906 of C. A. Snow & Co., patent lawyers of Washington, D. C. This urm will send It to any subscriber of The Times for two cents postsge. It la a diary, with pages for memo randa and cash accounts; the census of state* and citlaa; calendars for 1906-07; distances by miles and time L to .cities of the world and business _ court decisions for Invent Kffl for Tho Dally Times. er before has the occasion been so generally cclobrated. The day has been a beautiful one and many people were on the streets. The union services at the Presby terian church wore largely attended and the sermon by Rev. Richard Wftl> lace was appropriate, eloquent and patriotic. ThO Church was crowded to Us full iapaclty and an excellent musical program waa rendered. Judge Mitchell announced a recess of three hours in til© superior court in order that the Juror.? and others might attend the service# 3 n< * ^ ave plenty of time for the feast .^hlch nearly every household enjoyed. There was no trouble In getting tha merchants to close their stores and It Is probable that it will be & rule In Valdosta for business bouses to suspend business on the day of thanks giving. FRUIT BRINGS BETTER PRICES. Scarcity of Applet Causes Higher Pr.ce—Oranges Plentiful. The price of fruit this year as com pared to this time last year, varies very little with the exception of ap ples, which are selling for a better price. The high price of apples generally contributed to their scarcity and the high cooperage. The growers claim that very little, If any profit, is real ized on app'.es by shipping them as far south as Georgia, on account of the high cooperage. The quality of all kinds of f-uits that are being sold by Valdosta dealers Is not as good as former years. The apples are not only hlg’h, but their quality Is poor. One prominent dealer said this morn ing that it was almost impossible for him to get first class apples. On ac count of the fact that few apples, that is to say apples of medium qual ity, are raised in Georgia. Valdosta has to depend largely on eastern growers to supply the demand for this fruit. So far very few barrels of fine apples have been received by the lo cal dealers. Although the report was given out that the Florida crop of oranges may fall possibly one hundred and fifty thousand crates below last year the Valdosta market is already flooded with this fruit, and as a consequence tho price on them is a trifle cheaper, than last year. Never before In tho history of Val dosta has the market been so flooded with Florida oranges as It la this year. The reason for this is that the growers in Florida are determined to have All of their oranges picked and packed by the first of January if possible. This is done to prevent losses on account of freezing. In for mor years a considerable bulk of th© crop has been gathered in -Tflmiary. Disastrous frosts and freeze* ****’’ continually occurred during this month and as a result the growers have suffered extensive losses. Espe cially so, was this the case last year ^hen the big freeze occurred. Chickens for 8#le,. White Plymouth Rock doctftrels for sale by Joses & Waldorf^* 28-w3t Syrup wanted i A. J. Strickland. The Dalton Grocery fid. WV have been informed that thd Dalton Grocery Co. of Valdosta, have applied for a new’charter with a cap ital stock of 1250,000 and for permis sion to open up stores #t .Quitman and Perry, Pla. Jt. fa* said, that the company will hane’-i largo building here and make ■*' point Th<gl| in eoUou.—Qullmau, by this officer after banking hours. We recommend that ~ the county court-house be used for no other pur pose than public business, either by that any leases, rents, agreements or that any lease, rents, agreements or permits now existing, be cancelled and the purpose and Intent of this recommendation carried out. Jail. We find the county Jail to be prop- lings sentences will be passed tomor row afternoon. A recess was taken from 11 to today on account of Thanksgiving. Birds Fare Badly Today. Today Is the day when those sports who can get off no other time hie themselves to the forests In search of something to kill. There are hun dreds of dogs sniffing the air in the erly "kept 'anVthe'' prisoner” wen ® e,ds about Valdoa ‘ 8 toda r and moro cared for, considering the crowded than that many hunters wlth thelr condition at this time. We recom-1 n™ ***** to sh00t at the flr8t thln * mend that the commissioners have a e * u ?’ a _ certain leak In tho building stopped j Naxt to the tl,rke ’ r - tho fate ot the and at the earliest possible moment, I par ' r,d f" 13 8addo8t 08 thl3 da y- Ho L. Staten, W. C. Willis, G. B. Jones. County Commlaaionera. We recommend That the County Commissioners itemize their accounts for services and state fully where, when and for what such services were rendered. Special Taxes. Is hunted for on all sides and If he should happen to escape the shots that are aimed at him he Is in danger of being “laid low” by stray missies from adjoining fields. To Rebuild 8tablea. Roberts, Cranford & Co., have let tho contract for the rebuilding of the We have examined Into the mater stables burned four years ago, and of Special Taxes paid the state, and. work will begin at once on the same* as appearing by the records kept by The stables will be built on the site the Ordinary and Tax Collector, find 0 f the burned structure. In the rear th<* same correct and all monies prop- * of the Roberts, Cranford & Co., erly accounted for by the Tax Col- building on Hill avenue, and will be lector. We find some irregularities In reg istering and collecting special taxes and recommend that all persons or companies subject to special taxes be first required to properly register with the Ordinary, the Ordinary see ing that same is properly done and correctly dated, furnishing such per son, persons or companies with cer tificate of registration, which on pre sentation to the Tax Collector, shall be his authority for receiving such special tax and properly receipting therefor and that the Tax Collector shall not receive special taxes In any other way. Recommendations. Messrs. R. I. Hinley, C. K. Howell and J. L. Sims, as citizens of the county, having been appointed to act with our committeee in the inspec tion of the county convict camps, we recommend that they be paid a per diem as jurymen for their services. We recommend that the Commis sioners work the convicts one month In each district out side of the Val dosta district each year, and work unanimously endorse! from Valdosta out to the other dte- occupled by Cranford & Roberts. We are grateful to the public for the generous patronage accorded us this season, and take this opportun ity to say that we shall continue to bend our energies toward pleasing our customers both In assortment, quality and prices. C. C. Varnedoe & Co. We recommend that the stenogra pher be paid $2.50 for typewriting the Grand Jury presentments. In concluding our duties, we desire to express to his Honor, Judge Rob ert G. Mitchell, our thanks and ap preciation for the noble and forceful charge given this body. Also, to Solicitor W. E. Thomas, we extend our thanks for the many courtesies shown this body during its session. Wle recommend that these pre‘ sentmenta be published In the Val dosta Times, Respectfully submitted. HOWARD W. HARRIS, • Foreman, W. D. PEEPLES, Clerk. SC H O o L It Is generally conc eded that this store keeps and sells more ' children’s goods than any concern in this section. We pay very special attention to this department of our business, and we are better than ever prepared to meet all demands for this class of -.roods. Our stock of SUITS and OVERCOATS for ages 3 to 16 is large and comprehensive, covering a wide range of prices and materials In almost all styles Suits and Overcoats $1.75 to $7.50 Children’s Furnishings, Shoes, Hats We have on hand under this head, Hats, Caps, Shoes, Hosiery, Underwear, Gloves, Neckwear, Collars, Cuffs and Shirts, and Jewelry. Sweaters a special feature. We are pleased to show goods at all times. If we don’t sell you It will not be our fault. M. A. BRIGGS Outfitter to Children. Valdosta, Ga.