The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-11
THREE HEADS ENDANGERED.
CHARGES AGAINST T4MMANY HALL's
CHIEF OFTTCEHOLDERS.
The Sheriff. the County Clerk. and the Regis
ter Accused OF Illegal Acts and OF Other
Things-Going before the Governor.

NJ HucttH, inc touutt ttefks ana the heGts-
ter Accused OF Illegal Acts and Of Other
Things-GoinE before the Governor.
The rumor of charges TO be made before
Gov. Robinson against Sheriff Reilly. County
Clerk Gumbleton, and Register Loew was crcu-
lated with greater dcnnitcncss yesterday than
before. and it was the only topic among the pol
iticians The Tammany Democrats styled it q
canard intended to scare John Kelly.
But II happens that for once rumor Is based
on fact. Charges have been drawn up. and they
are supported by hundreds OF aflldavi6 against
the Sheriff the Register and the County Clerk
and those who make the charges believe that
the Governor will feel constrained to remove
these officials. The charges are soon to be pre-
sentcd to the Governor
The investigation was begun three months
ago in a quiet way by n number Of lawyers
The charges. summarized from the afIldavits
make out apparently. at least so far as the
dircctncss OF the proof goes the strongest case
against the Register. His fees arc explicitly
limited by law to ten cents per folio. whereas
tho anldavits show that the fees charged from
the LIST Of January last averaged. in ordinary
cases fourteen cents folio. and in preferred
cases. or whore the applicants for record were
not eminent lawyers. the charge was very much
more. 1t Is charged that after taking possess
sion OF the Office the deputies Of Regis
ter Loow were furnished with q schedule
Of charges. which was substantially for
every ndcnture Of eight folios or less.
81 25 for every ten folios or less 81 so for every
twelv" $l75. and 50 on These charges were
! entered upon the grantees book until within
three weeks. when public inquiry having been
made for this book. the entry OF moneys re-
| itself has not been So fully at the disposition Of
| the public rs before. II Is made 10y law mis-
| dcmeanOr for the Register 10 charge more than
Ill
Of any Grand Jury TO indict officials who
| make excessive charges, and OF the Governor
| the fees received by Register Loew as per tho
| schedule furnished To- clerks. without regard
TO s3i 00Oa yenr. They are higher than any
| foes charged hy any Register since Connolly
ON the other hand. the, compensation II the
| employees has been cut down. NJ clerk II al
| lowed more than five cents per folio. and while
the number OF folios charged q lawyer may be.
| Tor Instance, fifteen. the clerk Is allowed for
| only six. or in that proportion.
| IL Is charged that there has beon great dill
Guilty in learning the cxact nature and extent Of
| the Irregularities. because no such book M the
ton has been Kept TGs Is as9 y law ' sseG
prisonment. Further it is avcrred that the re-
/ ports that the Register Is required by law
To- make to tho Secretary 81 state. OF his Ices and
| office expenses. have not been made
II Is said that the Regster cannot plead ig
norance Of the law. and that he stultles him
self 10y doing SO. and setting up the apology
! that he has done what his predecessors did.
! Some years ago these overcharges were exam
ined by q Committee 81 the Bar Association.
composed ot Dwight IL. Olmstcad of Tracy,
! Olmstrad a Tracy Geo. II. Parsons and others.
| They reported that the charges oftho Register 3
| Office were excessive And now il Is asserted
| that the fees are mora cXtortionntc than were
| those Of the Registers predecessor
| The charges against County Clerk Gumhle-
! ton are generally like those against the Regis
ter. and seem TO be equally well supported by
In the ShorfI's case the charge takes wider
! scope. IL Includes not only Illegal fees. hut also
! eNturtionate demands ~ deputies. which are
| said to be 50 hanitual as TO imply compiiciiy on
the part u the sheriff. ltalso takes In the Lud-
! low street mil management. which is character
led AZ an abom nation Specifications 81 grey
| Gus crueltics there are made. and the entire
| system in that institution Is charged Uhc
charges are supported by Affidavit 10 be sys-
tenn OF extortiOn. II is avcrred thnt prisoners
| who are held on civil charge cannot send q
message TO their lawyers If they are unable TO
i demanded Tor hall a cell. Unless this IS paid
| the prisoner Is thrust into common apartment
% In2g c Ell arc mna ,hs
time Of imprisonment even To day. the pris-
oner must pay half weeks hoard. e. so in ad-
prisoner cannot consult with either friends or
c9unsellors; 1t is, charged that the sheriff
shares in the profit derived from the jail and
single day without his knowledge.
1t is admitted that the charges are made al
| this time with view to the political situation.
! hut It was also said Yesterday 10y the lawyers
who make The charges that neither Gov; Tilden
ton of tie investigation
The thirty or more lawyers who make the
! charges say that Gov Rybu-on cannot with
| stnnd the proof. II - probable that h. Will not
take any steps rarl after tho 10th OF October.
| that heiul lr-s than thirty days prior 20 gen
! cral election; for IL he should remove the in
cumbcnts and appoint new officers within that
| time the new officials would merely Ill the I'M
! expired term OF thos" removed.
| Sheriff Reilly said yesterday that as he had
! received no official information, he did not
| know what his defence would he. " II any at
| tack Is made upon my official character h.
| snid. shall strike back. and strike from tho
| shoulder. The opponents of Tammany Hall
will be- disappointed If they get possession 81
these three offices for the patronage II small
and will be Of no advantage in the coming cleo
! uon.
Under Sheriff Cunning said that the SherifY's
fees are fixed 10y statute. and that IL Deputies
oyercharged. the Sheriff always rectiled the
errors.
Register Loew said that whom he entered
upon his duties he instructed his deputies a.
charge what his predecessors had charged and
no more. Only one complaint had been made
10 him and he had rectifed the error.
County Clerk Gumbleton had nothing TO con
ceal concerning his Office. His duties wore
fixed by law. and he knew of no charges that
could fairly he sustained against him. II,
turned into the county treasury the first yeui
h. held the Office more money than had been
returned in any one OF the preceding fifteen
years.