New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-10-12
THE COST OF A CONVICTION
JUDGE ABHL'S SENTENCES
is The COMMUNITY REPAID7

| hope; who expect that age will perform the prom
1ses . o, youth and that the Deficiencies Of tn
| 10 the history of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia."
! When the public reads the report Of tn
conviction of some noted criminal, OF So
| the daily list of offenders brought With,
the meshes of the law, and congratulate
| itself on temporary immunity from thei
| depredations, does it ever consider the ex
pense Of this tieeting pleasure: As com
plete statement as the records will admi
of has been prepared, and is offer ed, pill
without sugar, to assist the digestion o
those who pay the bills.
When an outlaw has placed himself, By
lack of the skill or address which secure.
the liberty of his superors in his profession
in the custody of redoubtable Metropoli
tan, he has entered on drama which ha;
many varying scenes. In the stationhouse
ne is interviewed successively by the clerk
whoregisters him, the turnkey who searches
him, the inmates who abuse him, the
reporter who pumps him, the lawyer who
teeces him, and a brace of detectives
to make him "squeal." In the morning
new set of officers, clerks. turkeys and
lawyers ego for him" The magistrate
commits him, if he hasn't fired it. and he
makes the acquaintance in the Parish Prison
Of a third lot Of officials and more lawyers.
Here be receives daily food to the amount
Of twelve cents--some sherifs give thirty.
five. Then the grand Jury. an outrageous
imposition of the time OF King Ethelr ed on
modern prejudices. ''takes cognizsnce." and
after delay the result Of their wisdom is
read to him in the presence OF fourth col
lection Of clerks, officers and lawyers.
Then he travels back and forth from the
court to the prison, till at last he gets the
opinion of twelve men. in compliment to
his supposed innocence called his peers: re.
ceives a moral lecture from good-narured
old gentleman. who seems to have a kindly
regard for him. and much obliged for the
opportunity Of talking. and he is booked for
d residence for an hour. year or minute.
o, the yagaries in the old mans mind hap.
pen to incline him to at the nom ent.
All these things cost money aud are pro.
per items in estimating the cost Of the con.
viction. That this article may not have
any appearance Of exaggeration all expense
Of police is omitted. The majo rlty of their
arrests end in the recorders courts. and
even if division of their services in arrest.
ing petty offenders and crimin ais were
made, there are other duties erformed By
them which give the public an equivalent
for thelr pay.
The coroner furnishes the frs: item. Of
expense in a capita! criminal prosecution.
The greater portion OF his duties relate to
Othe. matters. but n case o. an inquest on
a homicide the affidavit Of the coroner IS
the first stage. 80. such an inquest the
coroner receive, $50. AID his jury $40 eaci.
day. The average cost is $50. Then n
IS emitted. :: IS assumed tha: the
expense to the city Cor tn, weri. Of these
courts in hearing cases OF violations
,s city ordinance. Is compensated by the
returns of fines. and TIE difference between
hem fair estimate 70: the expense o: ac.
ual crinina! prosecution. IL reality. i: is
ar les. than that cost. The salary of tile
Attorney Geneva. is emitted. but his bills
or convictions are included. a. are those Of
he district attorney. The salary o: the
I'd ge, that of the district attorney. the fees
i the clerk. bills against the Parish Prison.
ne sheriff. fees and expenses for the court. |
ills for maintenance and .urnkeys' fees. !
With tie cost OF the jurie-. ma Ike up the ac. |
Ount. This statement is a. complete a. |
an be obtained today for the nine months |
rom January I. 1873. to Sap.em Der 80. 1873.
nciusive. There are many more items
r!ch should swell the amount, but the bills |
ave not We: been rendered. Fo. instance.
he Attorney General has obtained nearly
fly convictions and only rendered bill
Or six. The following Is the statement OF
be expense:
orone-, FIRST District. $50 o,
aroner, Second District. ........ 6o0 90 :! $50 -
unicipal Courts. Las 9!
uneipi.i Courts collections y .oi 35- 80, g
unicipal Courts, other expense s....... 80 o. |
ees OF Attorney General. l...........-...... ~ % !
ess OF District Attorney ........ $3.50 -
.!ars OF District Attorney. nine
siarY of District Judge ................. $50 %
'rk ie.s. - '.' ~
letih 3 fees. es......,.......... !S,1iI IL
le:ifi > espens 80. ............. } 45S 20
,evits maintenance. .aa,9.5 c. - 30 IS
ypenses Parish Prison. .................. $50 rs
Teta. cost. .......................... si!s383 %
In these n.ne months :i,c police courts
ave sent 10 the First District COur, l055
Uses. q. these nineteen wer. dismissed
: the District Attorney and never entered
, Pie docket. OF the balance of 1896 cases.
nyictcns have been obtained in only .0:.-
6 by the Distric: Attorney. and six by the
ttorney General. The expenses for the !
her coDvictlonS obtained by the Attorney
eneral and his assistant no: having been
: ~ not added 60 the con yictions. This
we. So: untred cases whicia have either
en dismissed by no.le proseQ vi, are dis ! !
arged Oh bond. OK wait IN the Parish !
isoU toc trial which may never !:
NE New trials a:e no: included !
these 30. case. Judge Abel: ha.
.:encsi only 36a. The average cost OF q
lviotion, then. i. $26a %. 4 We assume. ;
{. it j, by no means impr0bable. tia: the
rty three Tn.entenced CouyIctS now ont !:
bond. Or in the Parish Prison. viii never Y
aergo the sentence of the law. then the
It u. each OF Judge Abeli'A lectures on
tts-s and things in general, and State 4
rrants in particular, will be much more.
least his 369 sentences have each cost
/; IL. ol
he other side Of :he account appear. AZ g
ovs. the 36s beng disposed OF thus:
Issault-One minute. 2; one hour. I; three
lrs, |; twelve hours, L. one day, Is: five
-s, J.; ten days. 2; fifteen dayt. :; one v
nth. ): total IS G,