Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-03-18
In examining the commissioners in re-
gard to their
OFFICIAL DUTIES

OFFICIAL DUTIES
1t was found that their practice invaria-
oily was to issue warrants upon every COM
plant made before them without knowing
anything about the merits OF the case un-
til the defendants were brought before
them. See their answers, Exhibits II and
~. Samuel and George Patterson and 6.
W. Morris were the only exceptions, and
the result IS Ihey have done very little friv-
ol0us business. The numerous cases dis
missed show how improvdently the war
rants were gotten out, and the United
States always had two or four witnesses
and the defendants seldom one. Such be
Ing the case, warrants we're issued without
regard to the interests of the Government,
and frequently merely to crafty personal
| revenge and those interested in making
fees. Commissioner Gildersleeve, at Alb
| ingdon. is a man of too much intelligence
| to offer such an excuse for the immense
! amount of unnecessary work he has done,
| and the conclusion forcibly presents itself
| that he knew better, but was ANXIOUS to
make all The fees be could out of the of
| flee.
examining the clerks accounts. it was
found that they were charging excessive
folios for making complete records by put
| ting in unnecessary matter, such as all
the commissioners papers, &C.,
IN ORDER TO INCREASE THEIR FEES.
They were informed that such unnecessa
| ry work would not be allowed in their ac-
counts, and they must. conform to the gem
eral practice of other United States CLERKS
throughout the country by charging from
| five to twelve folios, instead of from thlr-
ty to forty folios. B. Gildersleeve, CLERK
| at Abingdon. has charged all through his
| accounts excessive folios for entering re
1 49, tiv,f, lie
| missals, orders to file informations, &c.
as follows: Order of continuance, one TO-
lilo, fifteen cents, he has charged two foil
| 0s, thirty cents; order to Gle information,
one folio, fifteen cents, he has charged
| three folios, forty live cpnts-making a con-
| siderable item of disallowances. [See Ex-
| hibit rs. For such state of things to
exist for such a length of time i'll this dis
| trlct, without any practical effort to correct
it, shows there must have been callusio
on the part of the marshals commissioners,
clerks. aud district attorney to manufac-
ture fees. If not on the part of the lat
ter, why did he file information agains
parties for selling a pint of liquor tw'
| years before the complaint was made? [Sef
| copy of testimony. Exhibit 26 The
| Commissioner of Internal Reve. ue, !,
his circular for 1880, to revenue and Judi
! cial officers, gives no announcement t.
such prosecutions; for on page rs he says:
When persons have knov ingly anc
willingly violated the law, with evil
dent Intention of defrauding the Gov
eminent of its revenues, vigorous meas
ures should be taken to bring the parties
TO trial and punishment; but it is sugges-
ted that no encouragement should be CIV
en- to the commencement of prosecutions
for merely technical, slight, and ouainten-
tional offences, involving no loss to the
Government, and where no question of
fraud is involved; and all complaints pre-
sented by professional informers should
receive careful scrutiny before the com
mencement of prosecutions thereon
While these frivolous prosecutions, or
rather prosecutions, have been carried Oh
in this district apparently for the purpose
of protecting the revenue, it is in realit,
cloak to shield the true offenders of law,
the illicit dstillers.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
|. lSlgnedl C. &. LANCASTER, Jr.