Randolph County AlArchives News.....Fall Term of Circuit Court Randolph County September 20, 1870
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Linda Ayres http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00031.html#0007674 March 6, 2023, 12:34 am

The Sun [Talladega] September 20, 1870
We received some days since by mall the report of general presentment, made by 
the Grand Jury of Randolph County, at the Fall Term of its Circuit Court for the 
present year, which should, and would have appeared in our last week's issue, 
but was too late, as other matters had precedence. 
General Presentment of the Grand Jury of Randolph County. 
To His Hon. Charles Pelham Presiding Judge of Circuit Court of Randolph County, 
Alabama: We, the Grand Jurors of said County, having closed our labors for the 
present term respectfully ask leave to submit the following general presentment: 
We have examined the office of Judge of Probate, and find the books and records 
kept in an acceptable manor -but in our judgments not as good as it ought to be. 
We find the bonds of the County officers sufficient, but as the taxes of the 
County will be much greater in the present year than they have been in the past, 
we recommend the Bonds of the Tax Collector and Treasurer of the County he 
increased in compliance with the requirements of the law.  
We find the County Clerk's books kept in a creditable manner. 
We also find the books of the Sheriff in good style. 
We have examined the books and voucher of the County Treasurer and find them 
kept in a proper maimer. 
We find the books and vouchers of the County Superintendent all kept in good 
style. 
We have examined the County Jail and find it in bad condition the lower room or 
dungeon, we suppose would be safe for the keeping of prisoners; the upper room 
we consider entirely unsafe. We especially recommend general repairs of the 
Jail. We have examined the Court House, and find it in want of many repairs, and 
recommend the Commissioners Court to advertise for sale the Court House fence, 
and steps, and let out the building of a now fence and steps around the Court 
House. 
We find the Poor House in a dilapidated condition and recommend a thorough 
repair of the Poor House property, including buildings, fences, &c, we further 
recommend the removal of the present incumbents, and that none but those who are 
entitled under the law shall occupy the property. We recommend that the proper 
arrangements be made for the protection and maintenance of the poor of the 
County. 
We find with few exceptions the public roads in the County in bad condition, and 
upon examination find that our Court of County Commissioners have neglected one 
important duty, due to every citizen of the County, viz: The appointment and 
commission of road overseers. We are of opinion from the best information we can 
gather that we have not a legal commissioned road overseer in the County, and 
under the present program of the Court of County Commissioners we do not think 
the overseers or hands are liable for neglect of duty, as such all of which is 
chargeable to the neglect and failure of the Court of County Commissioners, and 
we do most earnestly protest against such failure in the future, and require of 
the said Court to appoint and commission all the road overseers in the County as 
the law directs. 
We further recommend that the County Treasurer set aside from time to time a 
sufficient amount of cash funds to pay off the grand and petit jurors and fail 
not under the penalty of the law.  
We further state, with pride to ourselves and the good citizens of the County, 
that we have instituted a thorough search after indictable offences committed in 
the County, and while we confess, we have had to deal with many, we feel proud 
to know that crime is on the decrease and that with proper and impartial 
administration of the laws it will continue to decrease in the future. 
In conclusion, the Jurors respectfully return their thanks to the Hon. Charles 
Pelham, Judge of the Circuit Court, for marked dignity, courtesy and ability 
with which he has presided, mid the dispatch with which he has transacted the 
business of the present term of the Court. We likewise return our thanks to all 
of the County Officers for their politeness and attention and ask that this 
report be spread on the minutes of the Court. All of which is respectfully 
submitted, and we beg to be discharged. 
Wm. A. Handley, Foreman 
A.J. Smith, 
Jack Wood, 
M.J. Mickle, 
Luke Roberson, 
J.W. Martin, 
W.J. Osborn, 
W.L. Ayres, 
C.A. Prescott, 
H.R. Jackson,
A.F. McKinsey, [McKenize] 
G.W.L. Perry, 
Wm F. McMurray, 
R.S. Pate, 
J.F. Burgess. 
August 25th, 1870.

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