Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-08-27
Reply 10 ]. b. woodward, Esq.

Mr.. Woodward, County Attorney, in
his reply yesterday, says that the
duties of the County Attorney are of
civil character, and do not contemplate
the prosecution of criminal cases, I'M
less specially retained by the Board Of
County Com missiouers." Now, under
the act creating the Board of County
Com missioners, passed March 9, 1867,
the Board is authorized ito appoint IN
attorney for the county, whose duty it.
shall be to prosecute and defend all suits
in behalf of the county; advise said
Com missioners upon legal questions to
inspect and examine all bonds of other
officers of the county prepare forms for
blanks to be used by said Commissioners;
attend generally 10 the interests Of the
county, and all other matters properly
within the sphere Of his duties which
may be required of him by the Board. "
Now, if this act does not require Mr.,
Woodward, as faithful and sworn Off.
Ger, to prosecute Leonard without extra
pay, then he and Mr.. Merriman can con-
strue the plsinest language of the law so
as to wiring from the already overbur-
deued tax taxpayer more money to fill
their voracious msws than ever the illus
trious Barbour himself. Besides, the
Board ought to have known, and if they
did not, it was Mr.. Woodlands duty to
have informed Them that the Attorney
General was the proper person to
prosecute Leonard. Mr.. Horrigan, the
Attorney General, did prosecute Leonard.
We wonder if he demands extra payf
We learn w. NJ. Randolph was also EN-.
ployed by the Board please tell us how
much you paid him, Mr., MerrimaB,
Tell "a, also, if Woodland or Horrigan
asked for assistance in this prosecution.
Mr.. Woodland says, mo lawyer or fair
minded man doubts that the county
has the right to protect itself by prose-
cutting any person ,osbiug its treasury"
Happy thought this. But, Mr.. Woodland,
you were employed at stipu lated ssl-
airy, and under the act apo.sd above you
are ko;.a5 % project the county and
prosecute any person robbing us srea-
svy And, Mr.. Woodland, any lawyer
or fair minded man do doubt the legality
and propriety of allowing you this $3.50
in addition to your regular salary Of
$500. We aud all taxpayers object,
when salary is fixed, to have the Board
allowing its attorney extra pay for his
legitimate duties. The sllaE;ng OF this
money by the board vas high-hsnded
aud bold stroke of robbery from the tax
payers, and if the Board and Mr.. Wood
ard wanted the law TO suit their purposes
in this case, who can tell to what depths
their filthy lucre-loving hands will
reach ia our County TressrrS.
We need little more light from
Mr.. Merriman aud that immaculate
County Attorney concerning those judg.
ments rendered against the county at the
appearance term (Aug0ss) Of our Musi-
cipzl Court. Mr.. Woodward says jndg-
nent could have been recovered against
the county in these cases in sixty days.
II is welLknown fact tLai no judg
ment can be .ecoyesei in the Municipal
Court, as the docket nov stands, upon
even dilAtoyy plea under Sigh. CT ten
months at least Il is 4seleka for Mr..
Woodward 10 Try AID blind Us by his mush
,sIk. d vas hr. Woodward's duty to have