Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-07-07
DAvIDsoN COUNTY 0oUnT.
Quarteriy Term


The Children Of Dabney Kcrnell-
Report OF the Finance Committee
Railroad Commissioners Report
-Paupers and tho Poorhouse.
The Court met yesterday morning at ten
o'clock, Judge Turner in the chair.
Squire Paul said that he had kept the
children of Dabney Kernell since January
last, and asked the court what disposition
should be made of them, as he was not
disposed TO keep them gratuitously any
longer.
W. G. Brien, Esq one of the counsel
for the prosecution in the Jenkins case,
said that be hoped the children would be
kept % Squire Paul's. They were i'm
portant witnesses to prove the killing Of
their father.
Judge Turner said it was no part of the
business of the County Court to provide
for these witnesses. The State ought to
take charge of them.
Squire Paul moved to lay the whole
matter on the table: He said he was an
orphan himself, and had been taking care
of orphans all his life, and could still take
care of these orphans.
The court refused to lay the matter on
the table, and on motion, the care of the
children was referred to Judge Turner.
Squire Claiborne, from the Finance
Committee, presented a lengthy report,
stating that the books had been fairly
opened and system of bookkeeping in
aueurated. The committee had adopted a
fiscal year, commencing April i:
The following is an abstract from the
hooks from the LIST of April to the LIST of
July:
Salary account $S9999; Witnesses fees
227. SO; jailors' fees 237.00; miscellaneous
department 931.25; county jail 426.35;
county asylum 1,269.62; lunatic asylum
922. 10, courthouse 582 30; pauper account
21S rs; pesthouse S4S.45; Circuit Court
|. $50. 2S; Superintendent Of Schools
100 90; Criminal Court 6,093.47; magis-
trates per diem $500; county map q
35s. II; assessors and reyisors 2,96i.25;
advertising railroad tax list of 1868, 1882
so; allowances to paupers 10000; roads
and bridges 45; Law Court 1,S62.96; total
25, 957.38.
The examination of the accounts Of
county officers is progressing as rapidly as
possible. Your committee must report
that some of our officers have retained in
their hands sufficient of the funds Of the
county to pay themselves the fees which
thew claim to be due them by law, on
lands condemned and sold for taxes. This
is a fruitful source of trouble, and some
action should be taken to determine
whether the county is liable for fees
before they are realized in cash from
the lands said to have been sold
for taxes. You have had reports
for many years, of lands condemned fer
taxes at the sales. We have been informed
thew were bid off TO thescounty in mary
instances, yet the owners have retain ed
possession, and while you are asked to Ad-
vance the fees to the officers and prln tiers
in a great many cases, the taxes rel main
unpaid TO the county and the fees also.
We find no law authorizing the coun ty to
buy lands Of delinquent tax-pay ers- An
other difficulty is presented In these So
called tax sales-the lands are not suf-
fcisntl described, and m q number Of cases
the tax had been paid to collectors, AID
thew have failed to mark them paid on
their books and the lands we're advertised.
The detection of such cases requires much
time and work.
To obviate difficulties, the committee
suggest that books shall be prepared for
the collectors. which shall contain receipts
properly filed up for each taxpayer, with
a margin like check book, which shall e1-
hibit The name of the tax payer the
amount due and the date Of payment.
When the taxes are paid the receipt there
for can be detached The commit ee have
been constrained to refuse payment to the
potters or other parties employed by the
Judges of tie several courts, because they
find no Law for their appointment.
The committee call the attention
of the court to the Code, arti-
Gle G, on the misconduct of pub
lie officers, section 4,SIa. For any
judicial, ministerial or executive officer,
either directly or indirectly, to speculate
in State or county claims by purchasing or
trading for them at less than their nominal
amount, is a misdemeanor. Section 4, 81
prescribes the aui,ishment The commit
tee refer to this, having hsard complaints.
At the April term tSe committee were d.
rected to sell the unc1rrent money then in
the hands of the County Trustee. The
committee report as follows:
l-.O 81