Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-06-09

criticism, and we were not unprepared for
that which has appeared in the Woodstock
Standard from the pen of Hon. Gilbert A.
Davis of Reading, the states attorney for
Windsor county. 1t is proper and desir-
able thing for Mr.. Davis or for any other
person, to point out errors of fact for facts,
and bottom facts at that, are what are
needed to arrive at an intelligent diagnosis
Of the disease, and we do not understand
Mr.. Davis to deny that the disease exists
and, unless checked, a sort of gangrene is
likely to set in which will eat out the vitals
ural, Mr.. Davis seems to think Mr.. Marsh's
article is aimed directly at the executive Of
ficers of the state and especially at himself
as the law officer of the county which fur
nshes most of Mr.. Marsh's examples. Yet
we think Mr.. Davis altogether too thin.
skinned in this matter. We did not, and
we doubt if any editor who copied or gave
abstracts of the article, understand Mr..
Marsh as asserting, or even implying, that
the states attorneys or any other prescott
ing officers were responsible for the state of
things which exists. We did understand
that, under the laws as they stand, states
attorneys, sheriffs and other officers of the
state could, legally, extract fees and perqui-
sites from the state treasury which act upon
it like a leech. And now let not Mr.. Davis,
out of desire to keep up the esprit du corps
among his brother states attorneys, attempt
to defend the laws under which this is done.
There is no occasion for it, at least on his
part for, from all we can learn, he has been
an uncommonly efficient officer. But it is
possible that Mr.. Marsh, in his zeal to show
up these things, has so juggled with the
figures as to make them prove what in
fact does not exist. 1t is an expression
in the mouth of every one that "Figures
won't lie;" yet it is the experience of every
thoughtful man that figures can be and are
made to lie like, say " Truthful James" So
let Mr.. Davis say his "agramento presto
change" and see what comes of it. The
first paragraph of his article we do not touch,
for we suppose his statements on that point
are generally admitted. But he says
Mr. Marsh informed us that the court expenses
and criminal prosecutions and expenses in Wind
sor county for the two years ending November
30, 1878, were S12 1913 20 ocer and above all re-
ceipts for fines and costs during the same period.
| have not examined the public records nor does
Mr. Marsh give the figures by which that result
was reached, and for the purposes of this article
will assume he is correct in his statement. was
not an official concerned in state prosecutions
during that period He has given us the figures
by which he reached the conclusion that the ac-
tual expense to the state of Vermont of the three
last terms of the county court in the county of
Windsor December term 1873, May and Deem
Der term, 1879 as shown by these figures taken
from official documents, was 50, 3i6.66 after de-
Quoting all money received for state fees, fines
and costs. The figures also show that for the last
several years there has been gradual but
slant net increase in the expenses of our courts
and criminal prosecutions. have quoted from
his article TO show the points of his errors by my
statements and figures. | insist that there has
been a large net decrease in the costs of criminal
prosecutions and courts since December /, 1878.
| To be sure, have had no case of murder to pros
ecute, but there has been a long list Of guilty
parties indicted, and it was my duty to prosecute
| Mr. Marsh includes in expenses of criminal
prosecutions OF May term, 1879, SS6.66 paid for
| witness fees, expenses of taking dispositions in
| Boston and other expenses for the state in Bar
rons u.s. State Treasurer, but omts to credit the
S3,977 90 paid in cash to the county clerk, April
90, $780, successful result in that case at the
February term, 1880, Of the supreme court for
Windsor county. lie also includes the expenses
to the state OF prosecuting the State Us. Will
ley, but negects to credit the 1921 90 paid to the
county clerk in that case February IS, 1880.
He also includes all the costs in case State u.s.
Paul Cummings, both before the grand jury, in
the county court, and costs Of commitment to the
house of correction, but forgets to credit the
$500. So collected in that case and paid the county
clerk January 49, 1880.
He also includes all the expenses of prosecution
in case State Us. Edward Tarble, December term
1875 including costs of commitment to house Of
correction, but does not credit the fine and costs
in that paid at the house of correction Febru
airy 49, 1876, amounting to S42S2.
He also includes the costs Of prosecution State
rs. William johnson, December term, 1878, in
GLIDING costs of commitment to house of correc-
ton, but has not credited the S33 90 paid Febru-
AIRY 49, 1879, by johnson at the house of correc-
ton, he having been pardoned on condition that
he pay all costs.
He also includes in the criminal expenses OF
Windsor county as of December term, 1879 the
amount allowed the sheriff for the execution of
Magoon, $3.50 That was Washington county
case and II that item is properly chargeable
against criminal proceedings in this county, be-
cause the sentence OF death was executed within
the states prison at Windsor by the sheriff of
Windsor county, for the same reason the whole
expenses to the state of that prison should be in
cluded.
Mr.. Davis tahnlates. as did Mr. Marsh