The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-07-21
THE CHARGES.

On the 18th the Auditor sent the follow
ing note TO Judge Christian
RICHMOND, July Is, 1880.
Hon. George L. Christian, Judge Of The
Hastings Court Of Richmond:
Dear Sir,-I deemed it my duty some time
past 10 call YOUR attention to the fact that
ten dollars was the maximum sum which
courts are authorized to allow for clothing
any prisoner confined in Jail in one year,
and TO the further fact that the charges
made by the Sergeant OF the city OF Rich.
mond, and certified by your Honor to me
for payment, greatly exceeded that sum.
Your Honor expressed willingness TO take
proper steps TO prevent a repetition OF these
violations OF law, and 10 redress the wrongs
already committed whenever ! could put
YOU i'm possession OF necessary Information
unon which 10 base your action.
| The law which authorizes the purchase
OF clothing for prisoners is as follows: ga
court NAV. when 2 person in its
iail charged with or convicted OF an off'neC
is unable to provide himself with sufiicien!
clothing, direct the iailer to provide him
clothing, and allow therefor not exceeding
ten dollars in one year."
| have carefully examined the accounts OF
the Sergeant OF the city OF Richmond
which have been certified TO me for pay
ment, and many OF those which were paid
by my predecessor, and | am forced to the
conclusion that they exhibit not cnly total
disregard OF law, but reckless eXtrhya'
gance which, in my opinion, Is wholly In
compatible with either econ0mieal, faithful,
or honest administration. You may THINK
this strong language, but think the facts
not only Justify but demand emphatic con-
demnation and prompt and vigorous Judi
cial investigation.
II is unnecessary to give you the names
OF all the prisoners who are alleged to have
received clothing at State expense. They
would make verv long list. will, there
fore, only give you a sufficient number to
satisfy you as to the general character ol
these accounts. The following persons are
alleged TO have received clothing 10 the
amounts stated: Holy Brice, S25; Nat
Campbell, $2S Claiborne Cunningham,
pos: Lucisn Davis, s2S; Mary Evans, $50;
Fred. Gibson, S2S; James Hicks, S2O
Sarah Jefferson, S22. so; Sarah Wilson, S25 ;
Annie Lipscomb, $50; Joe Richardson,
500: Jacob Randolph, Sl750; Robert
Smith, &27 so; Alice Stewart, S25; Charles
Fusche, s20.50; Charles Thompson, $50
B. J. Ware, $50.
These charges are for only six months.
They show an average OF S25 worth OF
| clothing furnished. or alleged to have been
| furnished, 10 each one OF the aboye-named
prisoners within six months while they
were lying idle in jail. Similar accounts
have been made of by the Sergeant
certified by the Court, and paid by the
| Auditor, each month for years past. For
many months these accounts were more
than four hundred dollars per month. The
State has been ROBBED OF thousands OF dol-
lars, which have been wrnng from the hon'
est tax. payers Of Virginia.
I have good reason for believing that out
Iliti,e OF the clothing charged In these ac'
counts was ever given to the prisoners VINO
are alleged TO have received II. Evidence
upon this point can be had whenever ealieo
for. This evidence is strongly corro.
borated by the facts that the amount s1n
charged for clothing in December .;oa isyy
was sisl so; In January, 1850, slsv
February, sI7O.75; March, sl!o.1o; APR,
si72; NAY, Si9l.5O; and In june, amer
had protested sgainsr these accounts III. n,'
commenced investigating them, II Was o"