San Andreas independent., 1858-01-23
The Peonle VS.. Magee

Below we give a communication In re-
Iation to the trial of S. l.. Magee, late
County Treasurer, for catering and fall
styling the County Treasurer's Books
The writer evidently has little confidence
in the management of certain matters
lately brought before the proper authori
ties for investigation. He intimates thai
the last Grand Jury did not do their du
ty. As much dissatisfaction prevails, We
give place to this communication, hoping
that the matter may be discussed, pro and
con, by both parties, until the people full
ly understand the merits of the proceed
lngs against our late County officers
Corruption erists sOn.eUherc. The peo.
ple-tax-payers-havc long been suspi
cious that screw has been loose in the
management of our financial affairs, and
recent developments have proved that
parties entrusted with responsible posi-
tions, have been guilty of culpaJle care
lessness, to say the least. Let all the
derelictions of duty on the part of our
public servants be laid clearly before the
people. We suspect there is something
wrong We believe fair and candid
discussion of the matter would trace the
wrong to its fountain head, and pre-
vent compromise between the errine
parties. We are informed the trial of the
People Us Magee," was farce, and was
so intended. altering and falsifying
Records" are two separate crimes, and
punishment could not follow conviction
on the charges.
CALAvERAs County, January goth, '5s.
ED. INDEPENDENT A case was tried
at Mok. Hill to-day before the Court of
Sessions, which, think, should be re-
ported in part. There ought to be a Law
Reporter at the Hill, so that the good peo-
pie of the county would be enlightened in
some of the subtleties, the mysteries and
the "quips and quirks' of the noble pro-
fession Of the law. The case refer to is
that of the People of the State Us. Magee
and Sawyer" Magec was Treasurer, and
Sawyer, Deputy Treasurer, of the county
of Calavcras; they were indicted by the
last model Grand jury of the county, for
" altering and falsifying the County Treas
urer's book contrary to the form of the
statute in such case made and provided ;"
The crime charged against them is pun
ished by Imprisonment in the penitentiary
and heavy fine. A special ucnire was
issued and forty eight special jurors from
different parts of the county, summoned
After long time spent in empanneling
a jury, twelve men were at length found
who were pronounced good and impartial
jurors. Magee and Sawyer plead sepa-
rately and Magee was put on his trial
The complaint against Magee was the
atrocious one of having caused an entry
to be made by his deputy, Sawyer, in the
Treasurer's book, of a charge against him.
self of Sill. 1t seems that this entry
was made after Magee's term of office had
expired, in the County Treasurer's office,
in open day and in the presence of the
Deputy Treasurer, VIM. Innes, who was
the principal witness and testified to the
facts. Strange to say, Magee did not
even deny the allegation, but called upon
witness to prove that it was true he did
owe the county Sill, and that the credit
given to the county was correct. Great
feeling and interest was excited by a
crowd of spectators, among whom were
some indignant officc-holders. Al Dudley
made one of his characteristic speeches in
defence of Magee; some of his remarks
were bitterly pointed.
After an able and lucid charge from
Judge Porter, the jury retired, and in a
few minutes returned with the verdict of
"not guilty" A npNi prosequi was then
entered in the case of Sawyer. So ends
another legal farce, costing the county
nearly, i not quite thousand dollars
The last Grand Jury refused to indict
a man clearly guilty of committing a cold
blooded murder on the Stanislaus river,
passed over several high crimes and mis-
demeanors, and selected this case of Ma
gee and Sawyer for their especial condem-
nation. Comment is unnecessary.
PHOTOGRAPH.