39
met) examined many witnesses, requiring both time and pa-
tience; and that the result of their deliberations was the
report, a copy of which is herewith sent.
I have the honor to be,
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAS. REVELL,
State's Attorney for Anne Arundel county
To His Honor D. R. MAGRUDER,
Judge of Circuit Court:
The Grand Jury having completed their labors, beg leave
to make the following report:
In compliance with law, they visited the jail, and take
great pleasure in reporting it cleanly and in good condition-
The Warden, Mr. Basil, seems to have done all that was
necessary for the safety and comfort of the prisoners. We
would call the attention of the County Commissioners to the
condition of the Court house, its wants of repair, fencing, &c.
&c. We would suggest the necessity of their early.attention
to this matter. A large portion of the time of the Grand
Jury was consumed in investigating and examining witnesses
in the Camp Meeting Riot. Some forty odd witnesses (whites
and negroes) were examined. No witness identified any one
party as actually engaged in the riot; no one has been able to
identify parties commencing the affray, whether whites or
blacks. The Jury are of the opinion, therefore, that this affray
was instigated and enacted by parties non-residents and stran-
gers, names to the Jurors unknown. The Jury are of the
opinion that there was no premeditation to create a riot; it
resulted from a thoughtless interference with the negroes (by
parties to the Jury unknown.)
We further believe, from the testimony of several witnesses
that the destruction of the property of the negroes, by par-
ties to us unknown, was the consequence of the enraged state
of feeling created by the fact of the blacks using weapons
against the whites, and not from any premeditated design to
injure the negroes.
We regret the occasion of this riot should have been the
means of a base and unworthy reflection upon a large number
of the people of our County, as appeared in the report of E.
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