Butts County GaArchives News.....Superior Court Presentments – August 1890 August 1890 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Don Bankston http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00024.html#0005864 February 7, 2004, 7:57 pm Middle Ga Argus – Week of August 26,1890 We, the Grand Jury chosen and sworn for the August term of Butts Superior court beg leave to submit the following: We find all of the county officer’s books, dockets and vouchers kept according to law, and we congratulate Butts county on having one of the most vigilant and best set of county officers in Georgia. They are all so neat and well kept, we have only the highest words of praise for all, except in the case of the tax receiver, who has received a great deal of property at far below its relative value, and in some instances no return at all of property – both personal and real. And while this fault may not entirely rest upon the receiver, we urge the tax receiver in future to do all in his power to have property returned at a fair valuation. We have taken the liberty to mark in red ink the changes we think proper to be made in the valuation of lands, etc., and instruct the tax collector to make his calculations according to the figures in red ink. We also recommend that the books L, M, and K in the clerk’s office that were omitted by the last grand jury be properly indexed and paid for at same rate the other books were indexed for. We find that that there was in the treasurer’s hands on 5th February, 1890, $1,577.93. Received since then $55.90, making $1,633.83. Paid out from February 5th, 1890 to August 18,1890, as per vouchers $1,604, leaving a balance on hand $29.83 We recommend that the county Judge pay back to J. H. Holifield the sum of $25 which was paid into the county treasury for retail license – said license having been returned without being used. We find the Judge of county court has received $55.90, and paid same over to county treasurer, as per vouchers. We find that no funds have passed through the sheriff, nor clerk’s hands since last term of Butts Superior court. Only four Justices of the Peach dockets have been brought to us for examination, to-wit: J. C. Maddox, Henry L. Brown, J. H. Ham and J. L. Barnett, which we find correctly kept. We have taken up the working of the public roads by districts, and find they have been worked as well as usual. We recommend the following changes. We recommend the change in the road beginning near the residence of W. F. Hale in Coody’s district, and following a plantation road till it intersects the public road near the Flat Shoals bridge. And we recommend the county Judge take steps to change the same. We also recommend a change in the road beginning at the residence of I. H. Maddox and running a north-eastern direction through the lands of said I. H. Maddox till it intersects the public road near the tenant house on said Maddox’s land, and that the old road now in use be discontinued. We also recommend the rocks be blown out of the road leading from Jackson to Forsyth at a place known as Lawson’s branch. We also recommend the rocks be blown out of the road, on the road leading from Key’s Ferry to McDonough near Worthville, the cost of which not to exceed $15. We also recommend that the road commissioners in the various districts take the proper steps to have the railroad crossings put in proper order, wherever the railroad crosses the public road. And we would suggest that each road overseer notify the section boss in charge of the railroad where it crosses public road. And we urge upon the commissioners and overseers to work the roads whenever they need it, and not wait until a few days before court convenes. And we would suggest that the roads be gradually widened where they have been worked down to so narrow that two vehicles can’t pass. The committee appointed to inspect public buildings, take great pleasure in saying to the people of Butts county that we have a jail, safe comfortable and neat in all its apartments. We think the jail has been built at reasonable cost,, and that Judge B. P. Bailey has shows good judgment in the completion of a building that reflects credit upon the enterprise of our people recommend that the County Judge have such repairs made on the courthouse as well preserve the building, believing as we do, that steps will be taken in the near future looking to building a new courthouse, hence we deem it unwise to spend any large sum of money on our present courthouse and recommend that our future Grand Juries consider this matter until it is accomplished. We recommend that the County Judge publish his order declaring the public road discontinued, commencing at or near the residence of Mrs. J. W. Williams in the 609 th district, G. M. and running east through land or said Mrs. J. W. Williams to Ward’s Ferry landing on the Ocmulgee river, it having been discontinued on the east side of the Ocmulgee river. We further recommend that the County Judge publish his order declaring the public road discontinued commencing near the residence of John A. Dodson, in Iron Springs district, running north through the lands of and by the residences of W. W. Moore, W. F. Duyke and by the burn’s mill site formerly owned by R. W. Mays, intersecting the Worthville and Stark road near the residence of Mrs. E. Fears. It appearing that said road is no longer of public utility. We find the two murder cases that came before us for investigation at this term of the court, was committed at or near churches, and was done with pistols, and from what we can judge, there was a general firing, showing that a great number had pistols, as perhaps twelve or fifteen shots were fired. And we regret to find that carrying pistols to places of worship is on the increase in our county, especially by the negroes, and we take this opportunity to warn violators of this law, that they will surely be punished, and beg all good and law-abiding citizens to assist and aid all they can in stopping this practice. We beg our young men to not violate this laws. Do not carry a pistol. Let you ambition be to do right and serve your God. We would like to see a law passed making it an offence or accessory, for one person to see anyone with a pistol unlawfully and not report the same to the Grand Jury. We recommend that the per diem of jurors and court bailiffs for next year be two dollars, and that riding bailiff be allowed one dollar per day extra for use of their horse, while in use. We find the poor farm is in a well- cultivated, medium good condition with an average crop for the land, which reflects credit upon the manager, Mr. H. C. Clark. We find that the aggregate products of the farm the present year will approximate $479. There are now seven paupers on the place, one of whom we think able to work for his living, named Stephen Sims, and recommend the county Judge to investigate his condition and act as his best judgment directs. We recommend that the county Judge have full control of the county farm, and manage it as he deems best – believing as we do, that he will always do the best he can to advance the best interest of the county. We recommend that these presentments be published in The Middle Georgia Argus, and that the sum of ten dollars be allowed for the same. We return our thanks to His Honor, Judge Jas. S. Boynton for his kindness and to Solicitor General Womack for his aid and attention, and to Bailiff M. B. Wilkerson for his many acts of courtesy toward this body H. L. Brown, Foreman A. J. Roberts Mc. D. Henderson J. J. Barnes I. H. Maddox J. E. Weaver Wilson Smith R. W. Aiken W. H. Malone J. E. Childs T. M. Furlow J. C. Bell T. J. Key D. G. McMichael J. S. Carter J. M. T. Mayo D. D. Swint J. H. McCallum T. H. Greer J. B. Evans L. T. Roberts D. J. Thaxton Ordered that the foregoing general presentments of the Grand Jury be entered on the minutes of this court and be published as recommended. August 23,1890 James S. Boynton Judge S. C. F. C. E. Womack, Sol’r Gen This file has been created by a form at http://poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 8.4 Kb