Grand Jury Asks for Restrooms in Courthouse, April 13, 1923

Grand Jury Joins Others Asking for Better Facilities. . . At Court-House—Says Authorities Doing Their Duty by Liquor Laws. Institutions Are in Good Condition, Is Stated

The grand jury in its report to Superior Court Thursday stated that institutions generally were in good condition, including the offices of the clerk of the court, register of deeds, sheriff, etc. Thirty-two true bills were presented, together with two not true. Witnesses were not available in three matters. The jury urged, as had many others, that the Court-house be improved and facilities for the public be installed. A number of witnesses were examined in the matter of liquor law enforcement, and the jury found that the county and local authorities are discharging their duty faithfully.

The full report follows:

In Superior Court

April Term, 1923

North Carolina, Lenoir County

To his honor, Judge T.H. Calvert, presiding.

We, the grand jury, beg to submit the following as our report:

We have disposed of all matters coming before us to the best of our knowledge and ability and according to law.

We have passed upon 37 bills, upon which we found 32 true bills, 2 not true bills and 3 bills that we were unable to find witnesses; also one presentment.

We have examined the offices of the clerk of court, the register of deeds and the sheriff and find them in good condition and well-kept.

We have visited the county jail, county home and stockade and find them well-kept and the prisoners being well-cared for, with the exception of the kitchen to the stockade. We found the doors standing open and bread and pans of dish water or slops sitting around uncovered where flies were plentiful. We also noticed the interior of all the buildings of the county home and stockade are badly in need of paint. We found two very dangerous stove flues in the kitchen and sleeping quarters of the stockade.

We wish to make the same recommendations that several previous grand juries have already made, that some room or place be provided to accommodate witnesses that have been summoned to appear before the grand jury. We could have gotten through with the bills brought before us a great deal quicker had the witnesses been kept close at hand.

We also, above all other things that have come under our observation, see the need of toilets for people coming here to court. There is not a single closet on the Court-House ground or nearby for white men, colored men, white women or colored women. We recommend the building of closets at once.

We have investigated to the best of our ability the situation of the liquor problem, by full examination of the sheriff, deputy sheriff and three of the city policemen, and are satisfied that they are faithfully discharging their duties.

Respectfully submitted,

A.A. Waters,

Foreman of the grand jury

From the front page of the Kinston Daily Free Press, Friday, April 13, 1923