Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-01-17

FIRGT DAE.
TUESDAY, January Is, IS74.-The con-
vention of Judges and attorneys general
was called to order at half-psst eleven
O'Clock SIN. in the senate chamber
Judge Guild being called to the chair,
sud Acknowledgement Newton Hacker,
of the First district, was elected secre'
tary. The following is list of
THE JUDGES AND ATTORNEYS GENERAL
PRESENT
at the assemb!sge of the convention:
First Circuit-Newton Hacker, attOT.
ney-general.
Second Circuit-P. G. Fullerton, at
tOrney-general.
Third Circuit-N. S. Welker, attor.
ney-general.
Fourth Circuit-JOhn S. HOyt, judge;
J. A Frazier, attOrney-general.
Fifth Circuits. NJ. Fite, judge; Geo
H. Morgan, attOTney-general.
Sixth CiTCuit-W. p. HickersOn, judge
J. H. Holman, attorney-general.
Seventh CiTcuit-W. II. Williamson
Judge; NJ. w. Mcknight, attorney
general
Tenth Circuit-J. f. Rice, Judge.
Sixteenth Circuit d. K. Young
judge.
Memphis Criminal Court. R. Flip
pin, Judge.
Davidson County Criminal Court-T
H. Frazier, judge; A. J. Caldwell, attor
ney-general.
Criminal and Law Court, Davidson
county-Jo. C. Guild, judge.
AttOrHey-G General and Reporter
B. Heiskel.
Criminal Court of Williamson, MauTy
Giles, etc.-W. s. Mcmillan, judge
10. II. Fus9el, Encouragement.
THE OBJECT Or THE CONVENTION.
At the request of the convention
john c. Burch, comptroller OF the State
briefly stated the object in view in call
ing the convention. He said that wheI
he came into the Office of comptroller
he was unaware of the very great differ
euce there was in the minds Of the
Judges with reference TO the points in &
hin of costs. There has been 8
general desire that these differences
should be regulated. Take, fol
instance,
THE ITEM OF TURNKEY5.
some Judges rule that the law which al
lows the taller fifty cents for each turn
key mesns that he shall be allowed tfty
cents for taking a prisoner out in the
morning and fifty cents for returning
him to jail az night, while Others rule
that he is 10 be allowed fifty cents for
every time the prisoner passes in and
out during the trial. Upon the subject
of day board for prisoners there is a great
diversity OF opinion, some judges hold
ing that il a prisoner takes but one
meal per day it counts days board, ,or il
he 20 to jail after dark, and is released
after breakfast the next morning, day:
board is allowed. The cost to the peO'
r3Ie Of the State for criminal prosecutions
amounted last year to not much les:
thaD a quarter Of million of dollars
That expense can be very largely re
duced without 4 change of the law, anC
still more reduced by changing the law
No parties are better able TO make wise
suggestions tothe Legislature, on thos'
points, than the judges and district-at
t0rneys of the various courts OF thl
State.
JAIL, GUARD, AND OTHER FEES.
The speaker presented the following
memorandum of the expenses Of las
wear: For ordinary items, Si22 so; jai
fees. exclusive of DavsdsOn and Shelby
81 .4g7; Davidson jail fees, ,S1l ,65S; Shel
bv iaiI fees, $50, 997; for bringing convict
10 the penitentiary, SO, ,I22; making al
aggregate Of nearly S225, 600, for which
snm the people Of the State are taxed
Wnh reference to the item Of bringing
couvicts to the penitentiary, the speak
er cited gross overcharges for mileag
and for an excess of guards. One mai
stated, in explanation Of an overcharg'
in mileage for sixty miles, that he ha
been bringing prisoners to Nashville 10
six years, and that his bill had Away
been made out for that distance, anC
pavment for the extra sixty miles hal
never been refused before. Another OF
fetal, who brought in
SIX PRISONERS, BROUGHT TwELYl
GUARDS
Notwithstanding that the,pTisoners wer'
hapdcufed. Payment was allowed only
three Of these guards. In another III
stance a sheriff from the western part o.
the State brought a sick man as far al
Bon Aqua springs, and there left him
Coming OF 10 Nashville with his prison
ers. tie sheriff not only claimed pay fol
this sick man as guard, but aist
claimed for the entire distance tC
and from Nashville. Another sherlf
who brought convicts to the peniten
tiary last May, had three of hii
cons, aged twelve, fourteen and siXteeI
respectively, come along for the purpose
of visiting the exposition, and clalmet
pay for them az guards, though the laV
saws distinctly that guards shall not %
less than eighteen years OF age. TIT
speaker thought il was high tim
for evils of this character, and man!
Others which arise under the pre-
sent diversity OF opinion Ol
the part Of judges, to be corrected
APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES.
Judge Williamson offered the follow
ing: ,-
Fjrgt-That a committee Of six be ap
r,sinted. who shall report what items
cost are charged to the state or countl
I'm criminal prosecutions, and report th'
items.
Second-That & committee OF six bt
appointed who shall consider and repOr
what reforms ought TO be recommended
20 the legislature, with a view TO secure
more efficient execution OF the crl nina
laws and the saving expense to the tax
payers.
The resolution WAS adopted, aud tn
following were appointed said commit
tees;
Hoyle, and Attorneys-General Frazier
Holman, WeikeT, and Heiskell
Seeond-Judges Hickersen, Fite, Fra
zier, Williamson, and AlloIheys-Hen
eral Caldwell, Hacker sud usseil: -
THE COM mittees were instructed 70 re
port at two O'Clock tomorrow evening
COLLECTION OF THE gT4TE's DUES.
Judge Holman offered the following
which Was adopted:
Res0lred, That a committee Of thre
be appointed, whose dutyit shall be
ascertain and report what defects,
any. there ia the law as lt now Is, an
what legislation, if any is necessary {
facilitate the collection Of debts due IN
Stale. ~.
Attornev-Genelal Holman, Nc
Knight, Morgan, A:tOrney-Genera
Heiskeil, and Judges Fulksgson an
McLem6rs were appointed said Com
mittee.
APPEAL IN CRIMINAL CASES.
Acknowledgement Heiskoll offered ia
following resolution:
BesolUed, That the law allowing ap
peals ia criminal cases Teqnites modin
cation and restriction.
Ia support of this resolution, Genera
heiskell said that a vast amount of eX
pense woaid be saved the State, il, il
eases where there is every reason TO he
aieve correct the Judgment OF the c0uI
and jury finding them guilty, prisoner
were sent at once 10 the peDitentiRry
sHG there await decision Of their case
il carried up. tie felt that We are to
lastidious about names, and net partieT