The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-01-07
10 the Editor of the Daiiu DiSD0tcL

~ Wt EuIOT " Ie DdHy DtSDuCC
On the 7th of December there aDneqred
an article in your local column in which nv
name is mentioned as having dismissed a
case against Joseph Crumpa az station house.
! This article would have met my Immediate
response but for the fact that n the tune Of
its appearance ! was absent from the city,
and since my return my pressure OF bu>i-
ness has been sach as TO require all my
| time.
[ desire 10 make the following eXpIana.
ton, and in doing so do not believe that
your reporter intended TO do me an lniuS.
tice. At The same time have reason to be-
| leve that said article has made an erroneous
impression on the public mind, which only
desire to correct.
Your reporter concludes this is the first
case that has been disposed Of since ihe
Police Justice rendered his decision in this
| matter.
| My action, in my judgment, was in STRIFE,
conformity with law, and not in conflict
with the recent decision OF Police Justice
| Richa dson, h5 not baving cOnte plated or
embraced o facsimile case TO this in his
opinion. Ny action was based upon the
powers conferred by the Code-chapter
cXcx.. section 10, page 1894.
most heartily endorse and will cheerfully
support lin the future az in the pi>r) the
opinion OF the Police Justice, which think
was the very letter OF the law which have
sOlemniy sworn 10 obey and enforce.
have Known for years that the law was
being violated; parties fined aud cases dis
posed Of at station-bou>e'. Others. charged
with receiving goods under false pretencps
and misrepresentation, have been dis
charged on payment Of cost. Prisoners
have been iRdtScriminqteLy balled on their
own personal recOgnizance, and the only
rjtdt question Seemingly involved was the
officiating officers fee. Parties thus bailed
have been charged fifty cents, while the law
only allows twenty-five cents. Several par
| lies thus feeCed have gone TO said justice :
and demanded tbe return OF the twenty five
cents thus illegally charged, which has been
reluctantly returned. Aud yet the mill
continues TO grind as before, and up to this
hour. Warrants are often issued, in my judg-
ment. thIt should not be issued. The Com.
monwealtb ls run TO an unnecessary eX-
penSe, as it Is now uncertain whether the
complainant has the fund or not; il not.
why the same is charged to the Common
wealth and drawn from her depteted, Hs.
pOcerlShed Golfers, to what extent | know
not.
Probably have felt more interest in this
matter than your reporter has yet imagined.
Months before the Police Justice gave his
opinion rhere being 80 great diversity OF
opinion as 10 the duties, fees, &c. OF Justice
IN this city | wrote a communication to
the Honorable Judge OF the lIusting, Court,
and therein pTOpounded TO him several
questions, the answer OF which would have
strengthened and supported me in the
faithful and efficient discharge Of my
duties under my OATH and the law. But in
Ibis, misguided judgment on my part, re-
suited in disappointment, as the Judge
promptly replied that il uaS out Of his
scope and therefore improper for ham to
dnStcer my questions.
| assure you tnat | have no ambition to
appear before the public through the press,
and the disclosures here made are I'M
pleasant, Nevertheless they are stern facts,
and challenge q denial.
The pitcher may frequently 90 10 the well,
but IL will finally get broken. The building
erected upon sand must eventually fall, and
so far as am concerned shall studiously
eBde2vor TO stand from under.
When the people OF jefferson Ward elect.
ed me TO my present position | believe that
they expected me to do my duty (as I un.
derstood III under the influence Of nv
oath and the law, aud from this path Of Of
tcial rectitude cannot consent 10 depart.
Respectfully,
W. +. GRANGER, }. r.,
Jefferson Ward.
December A. 1880