The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-08-05
sber,es, Association OF Texas

ment, President Corwin presiding.
The minutes of the first days meeting
were read and approved.
A. B. Norton, United States marshal for
the northern district of Texas, was invited to
address the meeting, and was introduced by
Sheriff Moon to the association. He made u
brief speech, in which he stated that he had
at all times found the sheriffs Of Texas a
clever, social and worthy set of gentlemen.
he spoke of the great amount of labor
done by them and the arduous duties they
performed, and for which they frequently
went unthanked. The sheriffs were not ap-
preciated as much as they deserved to be.
He referred to the policy of the state admin
istration as niggardy in the pitiable arrange
ments made to all the sheriffs in the capture
of criminals The speaker was frequently
applauded, and when he had finished joined
the association.
Judge John j. Good was introduced and
addressed the meeting, reviewing in the
course of his remarks the action of the last
legislature and referring at length to the inef-
fciency of tho criminal law of the
state. AT the conclusion Of his speech he
was applauded in manner that showed that
his talk was appreciated.
General w. L. Cabell was called for and
made few brief remarks, condemning the
criminal laws of the state as being imperfect,
and closed by paying the sherifis of Texas
| the compliment of beng most efficient set
ofoflicers. They had done their uty the
fault was in the laws by which they were
| guided.
Secretary j. P. Kirk moved that COM
mittee Of one be appointed to invite Judge
j. II. Fleming, of Comanche, to address the
meeting The motion was carried and re-
cos, of fifteen minutes taken.
Judge Fleming, on re'assemblng, was
introduced by the chair, and said, in
substance, that he was at ono time
Judge of one OF the judicial districts,
and had during his term Of Office many rela-
latlons with sheriffs, and he was prepared TO
testify that the sheriffs of Texas we're brave,
courageous set of men. Thosein his section
of the country, rs well as other parts, fire.
quently had 70 risk their lives in combating
against odds of desperadoes, who would try
to override tho law, and yet they were but
poorly compensated. He had advocated
that in order to give them chance to make
living, that they be made collectors of
the county in which they officiated.
The speaker cited number of cases in
which the sheriff got no pay, where, in his
opinion, he should be compensated. He ad-
vised them to present their grievances to the
legislature, and to talk with those now offer
ing themselves for seat in that body and
ascertain how they stood in regard to the
matter, and TO cast their influence accord
ingly He spoke of the manner in which the
state was made to impose upon her officers,
and recalled several instances that had oc-
cured under his personal observation, where
they had to wait for months before they
were repaid money they had advanced in
order to carry out justice. Their life was
one of danger, and they should have better
| fees, and deserve to be more appreciated
than they were in reality, The laws of soci-
ety. nevertheless, demand that these laws
! should be enforced, even al the risk of the
officers life and bis own pecunlary loss,
which was nothing short Of the state robbing
him of so much money. Their recourse was
relief through the legislature, and rs he
believed that faithful officers should receive
their just reward, he trusted they would sue
coed in obtaining that which was their rights
Judge j. M. Hurt was loudly called for
and came forward. He spoke of the small
fees the sherifls received, and the expense
they were put to in capturing criminals, and
remarked that whenever the officer was taxed
at his own expense TO catch them and fully
enforce the laws, that it was and would al
ways be a total failure. The officers could
not stand the burden of experimenting crimi.
mails at their own individual expense. They
should explain the matter fully TO the legis.
lature, and through that body seek redress.
Judge Wilson, of Austin, was called upon.
He said that as a whole the criminal laws of
this state were not, in his opinion, inferior to
those of other states, yet they were by no
means perfect One great fault was the
many inefficient county attorneys, who were
young or inexperienced. The salary paid
was not sufficient to command good talent,
and the consequence was that the red-handed
murderer who employs able counsel walks
forth from the halls of justice free man.
The salary of this office, in his opin-
ion, should be raised, and no
good citizen who wished 10 see the laws
properly enforced would begrddge the small
additional tax to salary an officer to protect
their lives, property and the laws of city
In reference to the office of sheriff he had
pretty much the same to say. The sheriff,
who hunted down the criminal and brought
him to Justice, should be rewarded. His task
was hard and frequently a dangerous one
He believed that standing reward should
be offered by the state for every murderer
and those guilty Of the higher felonies. The
sheriff was not sufficiently protected in his of
fee. The speaker mentioned instances il
illustration oe this fact He spoke of tn,
defects of the jury laws and condemned tho
practice of excluding an intelligent man from
the jury simply because he had read the news
papers and putting in his stead an ignoran
man who either does not or cannot read tn,
papers.
II was moved and carried that committe,
of five on resolutions be appointed by thu
chair.
The chair appointed the following commit
. tee Worden, of Collin county, Welch
of Marion; Butler, of Smith; Long. of Erath
and Russell, of Blanco.
An invitation was extended to Colonel w
L. Crawford to address the meeting at it
afternoon session.
The association adjourned to meet at
o'clock in the afternoon.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The meeting was called to order BY tn
chair.
. The committee on resolutions asked TO
further time in which to report. Granted.
Colonel w. L. Crawford appeared in tn,
association and was greeted with applause
The chair introduced the speaker, who ad
, dreased the convention. He said that stand