Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-04-17
TO THE VOTERS OF SHELBY
COUNTY,

}udgeshlp OF me rlmlnal Court OF shelby
county. Respect for you, aud justice to
myself, require a word or Two Cd the
subject. | viii not stultiiy myself by pre-.
tending 10 eschew all personal motives
in seeking the Office. ! should be uujsst
to myself aud false to you in doing so
| have labored at farm work for a sub.
sistence until my physical strength IS no
longer equal 10 the task; hence, l an
forced back, in some shape, upon a pro-
iession that cost NE the prime of my
manhood 10 acquire. In making this
frank avowal, however, would not
have you understand that this personal
motive is the only one hat governs my
action. II | did not feel hal | could
render an important service to the pub.
lie | would not seek the Office. There are
some reforms in the administration OF
the criminal Law that sll feel are needed
and which, 10 my judgment, can be
effected BY the Judge, in Oncert with
the other officers OF the court. 1t is
necessary to restore the confidence of
the county 10 the courts and secure the
safety of society. that the court should
be made a more efficient sgent in the sup
preston of crime and bloodshed in our
midst aud less pseuniarily burdeusome
upon the public treasury. The peace Of
society demands the first, and the peeu
mary condition of the people the other.
OF the former, no word is necessary
from me, aud the matter is open to the
view OF all; and to understand properly
the latter, you should know, first, that
the State pays the costs in all felony
cases where the defendant is acquitted,
or being convicted ia unable to pay the
costs; and the county pays in all other
cases. Now, by reference to the report
of the comptroller, it will be seen that
the cost to the State for the year 1915
amounted TO the sun of $48. 035 80;
and for the year 1876 to $50, 022 IS;
AID for the two years the State has paid
for the administration OF the criminal
law in this county the sum of $84. 058 81.
| regret TO say that after repeated etforte
| have been unable to procure a state
ment Of the costs to the county for either
1875, 1876 or 1877. 1t is some grati6ca.
ton to have before tue public, in the
city papers Of The llth inst, an estimate
for the year 1873. But estimates for the
future are not what the public need; We
want the facts Of the past, and that is
what / have failed to get. | make this
statement with no view to censure
any one, but to explain the absence Of
the information to a large number OF my
friends who expected to zee it 10 this
circular. | had no legal right to de.
mand the information, nor did | demand
it. asked for it as a favor for either of
the above named years in language
courteous and respectful, and | never
doubted but the dictates of common
courtesy would secure the favor. But
the fact is | did not get it.
| do not know whether the author Of
the estimate for 1878 intends to be under
stood to mean that the estimates for that
year are exactly equal to the actual cost
Of 1877 or not, but whether that is so or
not | must say, with all due respect, that
the matter is very impertectly stated.
No one can tell upon an examination OF
the estimate what we're the costs to the
county in the administration of the Grim.
insl law for 1877. But c~astisg up the
items, by the light before us, we have the
round sum Of Sal, 1870 10, not including
the ex oficio pay to the sheriff nor the
cost of the criminal side Of the Bartlett
Court. Now, with all due respect to the
gentlemen who have had charge of the
business OF that court, it occurs to me
that these sums are very largely in excess
CT what they ought to be, and with due
diligence and proper regard to the public
interest, can be made much less. l
mean no unkind Reflections upon any
one; | intend no harsh criticism; | state
the facts. and leave each reader TO form
his own conclusions. | think / under
stand, to some extent, how these things
are done, but shall enter into no details.
leave the field to be explored by those
who may choose to do 30.
] am, fellow.citizen7, your obedient
servant, P. I. ScRUGGs.
April l6, 1878.