The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1874-08-22
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convention NJ lhp shefllls NJ lcxns, The
body met M C0fslcnnn The meeting
was called 10 order by General Ross, oi
Mclennnn county, Who said that lac
did not suppose the fOrmnllty Of par
llamentary bodies would control this
convention, aud hc would, therefore,
simply move that i. H. linrklcy, al
Dallas, should take the chair ~ prcsi.
dent Of the convention.
On motion, G.. Is. Iimplemnn was
unanimously elected secretary.
On taking the chair, Mr.. Bnrklcy
spoke rs follows:
Gentlemen of the convention-WC
have met for sundry purposes; but
would call your attention especially to
two subjects which should meet the
earnest consideration of this conven.
ton: First, to consider the financial
aspect of our duties, and second, t.
form more perfect bond of union and
who are defying law, justice and order
1t Is well known to all of you that
you are subject to the process Of justices
of the peace to transport prisoners UNI
der arrest for misdemeanors and felo-
MES, and If the case is not prosecuted,
or no true bill found, that there is nc
law by which sheriffs are compensated
for their trouble or reimbursed for the
money paid out for the transportation
of prisoners.
Again, when sheritis serve process
for committal courts, there Is no law
by which they can claim any compen-
sation whatever.
Gentlemen, the performance of this
duty makes our Office burden, and
takes away the compensation to which
we are entitled for our labor and time.
Secondly, earnest, active cooperation
in putting down lawlesness and crime,
and bringing punishment those men
who defy the power of the law. This
can be done by Geographic communi-
cation, and such other means rs you
may devise.
There are other combinations in our
state that, under pretense of executing
the law, assume the power of the regu-
larly constituted authorities, and exc
cute, without trial or mercy, those up
on whom suspicion may fall.
Those men stand equally guilty be-
fore the law in executing their self
cOnst tuted authority. This state of
affairs must be met firmly. We must
vindicate the law. We must devise
some means to pursue these c0mbina-
tons and bring them before the bar of
justice.
| submit the question, sincerely hop
ing that you may so act that good citi-
Zens may no longer look upon our eff
forts to execute the laws with contempt
or the bad citizens no longer defy its
power.
In conclusion, 1 would call your at
tention to the necessity of some kind
of uniOn for self protection. The faith
full discharge of our duties brings upon
us the enmity of those men who seek
revenge in darkness rather than in
light l, myself, receive anonymous
letters, which, while it does not deter
me from II strict performance of my
duties, is yet annOyingto me.
Let us, then, resolve that on the
death of one of us, while in discharge
of our duty, we will spare neither time
nor expense to bring to punishment
the murderer within the courts of our
state.
1 thank you, gentlemen. for the hon
or conferred, and now announce that
the convention is ready for business.
The following named gentlemen
came forward and reported to the Sec
retary: Colonel J. l.. Carroll, sheriff,
Red River county; l.. S. Ross, sheriff,
McLennan county; 5. Nj. Strayhorn,
sheriff, Williamson county; John A.
Gose, sheriff, Lamar county; J. w.
Love, deputy sheriff, Limestone coun-
ty; w. n. Merritt, sheriff, Collin coun-
ty; l.. Smith, sheriff, Washington
county; Bonnet, sheriff, BeXar county,
and proxy for sherifis of Kenall, Me-
dina and Comal counties; j. M. Gibbs,
sheriff, Grimes county, and proxy for
James Ellains, sheriff, Walker county;
John L. Cox, sheriff, Hill county, and
proxy for Belle, sheriff, Bosque coun-
ty; j. n. Vanden, sheriff, Grayson
county; w. T.. Micherson, sheriff, Mi
lam county; Il. b. James, sheriff, Ty-
Ter county; S. j. Il. Johnson, sheriff;
Navarro county, and proxy for S. l..
Ash, sheriff, Harris county; j. +. Bark
ley, sheriff, Dallas county, and proxy
for Colonel Ross, sheriff, Hunt county;
g. b. Zimpleman, sheriff, Travis coun-
ty.
On motion of G. b. Zimpelman, a
of three were appointed to
frame the resolutions embodying the
reason of meeting.
Your committee appointed to draft
resolutions regarding the sense of this
beg leave to report the fol-
lowing preamble and resolutions, to-
wit:
That we, as sheriffs in convention,
have assembled for no political pur-
pose, but for the purpose of more eltec
tually assisting each other as officers
to execute the law against criminals,
and for the further and better protec- ,
ton of the citizens of our respective |
and the state at large.
Resolved, That the legislature be re-
specially requested to pass a law to |
tor executing writs or pro-
cess of any kind in civil causes prior
to serving them.
Resolved, We respectfully request
the legislature that there be law !
passed paying transportation of pris-
Dners under attachment in INSIDE |
meanor or felony cases, when such
cases are not prosecuted or Indictment
found.
Resolved, That the district or crimi-
nal judge Is alone authorized to regu-
late the guards that sheriffs should re-
luire to transport prisoners to the peni-
or other places.
Resolved, That it is unjust to require
The sheriff or constables to execute pro-
,ess i'm criminal cases before the COM
hitting courts and not be compensated
for their labor.
Resolved, That we believe the labor
er is worthy of his hire.
Resolved, That the legislature be re-
,pectfully requested to so modify the
aw in regard to the arrest of prisoners
20 that, in all cases, the officers may
Ise such force as may be necessary TO
compel the criminal to obey the man
lates of the law.
On motion, the convention adjourn
ID until 2::30 p. NJ.
Pursuant to adjournment, the con-
,ention met at $50 i. NJ.
The minutes of the morning were
cad, and, on n otion of their adoption,
IN animated discussion occurred upon
he third resolution, but was finally &C.
,epted:
Mr.. Gibbs offered the following reso-