The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-12-07
Criminal Charges.

| Auditor Taylor says in his annual re
port: beg again to call the serious atten-
| tion. of the General Assembly to the grow
| ing evil Of the criminal charges. The
amount paid out OF the Treasury the last
| fiscal year, 1876-77, was $l77,941.15;
amount paid the year before, 1876, $751;.
9t3. OF, showing an excess OF payments made
the last over the preceding year OF S22,-
97S.14.
/ have so repeatedly called attention to
this wasteful expenditure OF money, but
without success, that shall content myself
with simply giving the figures and leaving
the matter in the hands OF those who Will
perhaps be better able to discover than l
ana to suggest n remedy for it. simple
illustration will present the matter 10 more
striking light than pages OF theorizing. The
following fact occurred in the city Of Rich
mond, as have been credibly informed: A
thief stole from melon.cart during the
last season cantaloupe, the market price OF
which was .fue cents. He was detected.
arrested, carried before the Police Court OF
| Richmond city, tried and convicted, anu
sentenced to confinement in Jail for ninety
davs and labor the cost OF which TO The
State was $40.
Another, q vagrant tramp, charged with
being without visible means OF support,
committed to Jail at his own request for
three months, in default OF security in The
sum of 800, cost S36.50.
| Another was tried and acquitted at the
November Qs77) term, Hastings Court,
Richmond city. for breaking into stable
and stealing two old brides. not worth,
perhaps, 81. The cost was S48.60.
Another was delivered at the pepitentiary
from Henry county, October 30, 1877, SEN
a. pnr 10 N9n
of petit larceny. which was the theft OF
about one dollars worth Of corn. The cost
OF getting this man to the penitentiary was
about $40. This does not include the eX-
penses OF the trial, &c.
Should.t the present General Assembly de-
cline, as former Assemblies have done, To
require the payment OF these expenses by
| the counties and corporations in which they
were incurred, surely something should be
done, and that promptly, to prevent the
recurrence OF such wasteful expenditures
OF the public money. The evil isa grow
ing one, and requires prompt and decided
legislation to abate it, It he's been OBJ
jected to the policy Of requiring each
county and corporation to pay the expenses
of the administration OF criminal justice
within its own limits that the smaller
counties and corporations might be subject
ed to such expense in the conduct OF Grim
inal prosecutions as would be beyond their
ability to pay. The answer to that obiec-
ton shall be brief: First, such trials AZ
those referred to are OF very rare occur
renee; and, second, should county or cor
poration he unable to meet the expense the
General Assembly would, no doubt, under
the circumstances, render all needed assist
ance. But have said more than intended,
and refer the subject to your careful con-
sideratiOn.
The Auditor might have added dozens OF
instances where county sheritts are allowed
to foot up enormous bills for bringing prls-
oners to Richmond. The trouble Is not all,
or nearly all, here, rs the above examples
would indicate.