The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-12-25
What We Pay For Crime

1878, ranged up toward quarter OF a
million OF dollars. These expenses
might be largely reduced by mere uni
formity in the making out of bills, and
further important reductions ought 10
be effected through changes in the law,
where ii plainly leads 10 extravaganza.
The diyersities of construction and prac.
tice in the different courts is surprising
Take. for instance. the item Of turn
keys Some judges allow the taller
fifty cents, for bringing prisoner 10
court in the morning. and fifty more for
returning him TO jail at night. Others
rule that the jailer shall have fifty
cents for every time a prisoner passes
in or out, during trial. There is a SINH
lar diversity of practice about what
constitutes a days board, some courts
allowing full days pay If the prisoner
take only one meal, or, being jailed late
at night is released next morning after
breakfast.
The criminal expenses OF 1873 have
been itemized as follows: Ordinary,
Sl22, $40; Jail fees, exclusive of David
son and Shelby, SOL, 497; Davidson Jail
fees, Sll ,65S; Shelby Jail fees S20,997 ;
bringing convicts TO the penitentiary,
Sl0,l22, making an aggregate ofS2l7l44.
In the matter of bringing convicts to
Nashville, there have, in the pas, been
many gross abuses in the way of extra
unnecessary guards and overcharges for
mileage. In May, 1873, for instance, a
sheriff claimed pay and mileage as
guards for his three sons who come
here to see the Exposition on half fare
tickets no doubt. The ages Of these
three boys were twelve fourteen and
sixteen respectively, though the law
says distinctly that guards shall not be
under eighteen. Ofcourse they did not
get sny pay from the present State off,
cials.
Under any law, however bad the
courts Of the State should endeavor TO
reach something more like uniformity
in bills Of costs. For this purpose as
well rs to discuss any changes in the
law that might seem desirable, a con-
vention, comprising large number OF
the most prominent Judges and Auor-
ncys-General throughout the State, me.
in this city last January, and devoted
three days CT earnest attention to the
subject. In view Of the early meeting
Of the Legislature Grief review oftheir
proceedings and conclusions may prove
interesting reading to members elect
and the people at large.
A committee appointed to investigate
what would be proper distribution OF
criminal costs, between State and coun-
ty, submitted lengthy report on the
second day of the session. The com
mittee was composed of Messrs. Kicker
son, RUSSELL, Williamson, Fitc, Frazier
Caldwell aud Newton Hacker. We
cannot, of course, detail here all the
changes proposed, as few but lawyers
would understand all their bearings
The most salient ones were the proposed
dispensing with the issuance of SCI ,td
where Forfeiture is taken or n bond nj.
lowing juries to separate during trial
so as to avoid heavy hotel bills that ex-
empted property shall be liable for legal
costs, the same as for taxes; that all
prisoners convicted Of reloniet not CAPT
tai, should be made to work out the
costs Of their prosecution at such pay
per day as tho Legislature may specify
that every county Jail in the State
should be declared q work house, under
the provisions of existing law, 80 that
the inmates may be set to work and
save at least $4,000 n year. now spent
in feeding idle prisoners.
The discussion preceding tho adop-
ton of the report led to strong remarks
regarding the abuse by magistrates OF
their power to assess cost against the
State, one member asserting that the ex-
penses Of Justices court would often
run full Circuit Court.