The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-07-17
THE SHERIFF'S FEES.

The SHERlFF"S FEES.
WITNESSES TESTIFY TO THE EXCESSIVE
CHARGES MADE FOR ISSUING BAIL BONDS
THE LoDoEE SYSTEM IN LUDLOW STREET
JAIL.
After interval of one week the investigation
into the charges against Sheriff Reilly and his sub
ordinates was resumed by Commissioner George
Ticknor Curtis yesterday morning Mr.. Larocque of
counsel for the Sheriff called the Commissioners
attention to the fact that on the record the prose-
cutting counsel were set down as "members OF the
Bar Association" which, he thought might have the
effect of misleading the public and inducing them to
belive that the Bar Association prosecutors.
He moved that such designation be erased Mr.. Cur
tis on looking the record. made such order.
Mr.. j. Blocker Miller, attorney. OF No. AZ West
Fifty-ffh street. testified that in April. 1872 he
attorney for defendant in the suit OF Welp vs.
Meyer; his client. Louis n. Meyer. arrested on
Marine Court order witness went to the Sherid's
Office and saw Deputy Beirne. who made tho arrest
and he told Beirne the charge paid on the bail bond
1871 75) was excessive he said he would Major
Quincy. Order of Arrest Clerk, who would settle it;
some days after Beirne said Major Quincy had
agreed to return portion of the money; at u sub
sequent interview Beirne said 1t was hard to pay
money back out OF his pocket. as he had
given some of it to Quincy and
to others. but that he would see Meyer
and satisfy him; Beirne did not sec Meyer
and witness wrote to Sheriff Reilly asking the
turn of the above the legal charge; the fol-
lowing day Beirne called upon witness with the let
ter to the Sheriff in his hand. and referred him to
Major Quincy. who would give him So back he
called upon Major Quincy next day. who offered
him IS. at the same time desiring to express his
opinion of anybody making such demand, and
said he was not afraid of witness the Bar Associa
ton and that considering the liabilities and ex-
penses of the Sherfs Office the charge was not ex-
cessive he also declared he had General Term de-
cision in his favor, and that it only young
lawyers who made such demands, but that respect
able firms did not; witness said he knew the law
and that he ought not to be satisfied with IS his
CLIENT some days after notice sent witness to
call tor the 50. which was there for him. but he
A VERY SERIOUS CHARGE
At this point Mr.. John f. Knox offered in evidence
a voucher and certificate of the Sheriff for 1877, by
which he obtained from the City Council 81 300 by
improperly certifying that certain prisoners in Lud
low Street Jail were properly subjects for county
charges and afterward charged the county rs cents
Mr.. Bookstaver objected to the evidence on the
ground that the regular Judicial tribunal had passed
tfcate conclusive oil parties. especially
third parties like the prosecutors, who. though
members Of the Supreme Court Bar" had
special privilege to GUST man from Office except by
the usual legal way, and there way to attack
the Sherifrs proceedings except through suit by
the city to reform them.
Mr.. Knox replied that this was question of NAL
versation in ofiice-of honesty or downright dis
honesty 1t was no answer to say that some auditor
had, whether properly or improperly. certified the
account as correct.
The Commissioner remarked that the only diff
Guilty he saw was that this was ordinary case but
proceeding before the Executive to remove public
officer. The question was whether the usual rules
applied
Mr.. Knox contended that the ordinary rules could
not apply where such serious charges against pub
lie officer were preferred If, prosecutors charged
the Sheriff knowingly received from a prisoner
named Outey SIS week board, and then turned
around and charged the city seventy-hve cents day
for the same man, there law by which an
auditors certificate that the account correct,
when in fact it was not correct precluded the Execu
tive from inquirng into the facts. The Commits
soner reserved his decision AS to the admissibility
of the documents.
James Garraghty, police officer testified that he
was defendant in suit or Jackson VS.. Garraghty,
and was arrested in December, 1877; he gave two
bondsmen at the Sheriff office; Major Quincy was
there; alter the bonds were written out the clerk
demanded S21 SIS fee: witness said that
much. but Captain Mount who with him. said
he had better pay; Major Quincy took the money
III mis- hand the clerk said that the usual CHARGE
witness did not complain to Major Quincy.
Michael Harris, police officer, OF the Tenth pre-
cinct, testified that he was arrested in civil suit
July II, 1878; he procured bondsmen and the clerk
jected that it was too much Tor Door man to pay,
and Major Quincy, WHO overheard the conversation,
came in and said So IS enough.
Mr. Bush here called for Deputy Gale. He said,
according to notice, during recess he sent subpoena
for Gale. but somebody got ahead, and Gate went
out through one door while his young went in
by another. Counsel gave new notice that he would
want Gale in the morning.
Thomas +. Moore, clerk in the Order of Arrest De-
partment, testified that for many as $50 times
since January 1871 he has taken Sill Is fees bail
bonds he gives the money after deducting expenses
to Major Quincy.
To Mr.. Larocque-He never paid money to Mr..
Reilly; he is employed and paid by Major Quincy,
and never got any instructions from Mr.. Reilly
To the Commissioner-He does not recollect any
instance in which threat of not drawing the bail
bonds was made unless $1l Is fees were paid. The
then adjourned to this morning.