Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-04-25
THE CRIMINAL COURT.
Tie Cost Of Running the Same, and
Various Facts Of Interest TO
Tax Payers.

To the Editor Of the Ledger:
As the election Of August is approach
ing, when officers Of the courts of this
county are to be elected, the voters of
the county have been called upoa to look
at the expense Of administering the
criminal law in the county by a gentle
man who is an aspirant for judge Of the
Criminal Court. In his letter published
in the LEDGER of date April 10Th, be
says: by reference TO the report Of the
comptroller it will be seen that the costs
to the State, for the year 1875, amounted
to :he sum OF s4S OBS 50, and for the year
1876 to $50 .O22 IS; and for the last two
years the State has paid for the admins
trstion Of the criminal law in this county
the sum Of $S4,O5S 81" 1t should be re-
m~embered that the criminal law in this
county ia administered by the Bartlett
Circuit Court as well as the Criminal
Court in this city. Upon examining the
comptroller's report referred to, l fad
the following for 1878, which covers the
expenses of administering the crimi.
nGl law in the Criminal Court
aud the Bartlett Circuit Court 10
felony cases, ts-wit: $44 500 80, instead
of $48, O35 50. as stated in the letter re-
ferred to. The expenses for the same
for 1876 is $50 496 81. instead Of $36.
O22 IS, as stated Included in these
amounts are for the year 1875 the %jailer's
fees for feeding prisoners charged with
~felonies the sum Of Sl6.6j7 80, and for
1876 the sun for feeding the same was
$40, 1863 60. This expense for feeding
prisoners is not a part Of the expenses
OF the Criminal and Bartlett courts, for
there are many prisoners who are con-
fined ia the Jail whose names never ap
pear 10 either Of these courts. For in
stance, justices OF the peace commit
prisoners to jail during the continusnces
Of their cases from day TO day; fugitives
from justice from other States shd other
counties in this State, etc., are confined
in tie county jail and their names never
app ar upon the records Of either OF the
courts. Bat it is the duty Of the judge
Of the Criminal Court to certify to the
~jail.r's bills each month after examining
the same and finding them correct. So
it viii be seen that the feeding Of prison
ers at the Jail is not a part Of the ex
pensss OF administering the Criminal
Cour; aud the Bartlett Court. Then
We will deduct the item Of %j4iler's fees,
(Sl6, 1857. 30), from the amount Of S4i,
$685. above given as the expsnsss Of
these c9urts 'or 1875, aud we have the
sun Of 1904 90 as the expense to the
State Of running the Criminal Court aud
the criminal docket Of the bartlett court
for the year 1875. Now, deduct the last
named amour from $48, 035.52. and you
have a difference Of sl9, 994 50 in the
calculation made by the gentlemen, and
the true figures taken from the comptroll-
or's report. Again, take $l0,363 60
(which is the amount Of j%ailer's fees for
feeding prisoners in State or felony cases
IN 1876, from the amount Of 1913. 496 81
and you have S23. 1873 OF as the expenses
Of these two courts for 1876, instead of
S36, O22 IS, as stated by the gentleman,
and a difference between bis figures and
the comptroller for 1876 of $l2,Se978
All of this expense comes upon the State,
aud it is reimbursed by the amount paid
by the lessees OF the penitentiary, under
a contract made with the State for the
convict labor, and also by amounts col.
lected on fines and for'eiturss aud a
State tax OF Eve dollars in each case
tried in the court.
Again, the gentleman refers to the
estimate made by the chairman Of The
County Court Tor the expense to this
county Of administering the Criminal
Court for the year 1873, which il is stated
is based upon the expense for running
the same court for 1877. He seems ia
have had the estimate before him, which
puts the costs OF the Criminal Court al
S2l, 1897 SO for 1877, and the pay Of Jurors
for same year at Sl4, 8S2 so, aud adding
these two amounts together we hav,
. $50, 28O,l 10 as the expense Of the Crimi
nal Court per Int in m%isdemeanSi
/ cases and pay Of jurors. You must beaI
in mind the State pays no part OF tn,
. jurors per diem-the counties pay tka
in all cases. Now, $2l, 1897 67 seems L
be a large amount for running that cour
; in misdemeanor cases, but It must b
remembered that that was an estimate
of the costs, and the public is not giveI
the amount of credits that must be en-
tered. The county is reimbursed b
!. fines, forfeitures and costs paid init
the hands Of the clerk of the Crimina
Court, the amount of 6nes and cost
and the county tax in all cases OF 81 81
each that are paid by prisoners into lb.
+ hands Of the chairman Of the Count.