Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-04-17
SPURRIER EXAMINED.
HE DOTH PROTEST TOO mUcH =.


One Man Committed Five Times In Ten Dsys
Constable Andy Eschh0ltx Of Lam
castor Township.
Alderman Spurrier bObbed up sarsnely
before the board Of county auditors this
morning, and with docket and documents
under his arm entered the orphans court
room at 10 o'clock and bado them
all good morning. He looked rather
the worse for his Illness but confidently
claimed his ability 10 apsver sll, fair ques-
tions which The board nigtt lAve y sSk
him. Mr. Reed administer ed the ainrma-
tion, and had proceeded a. far az the
second question Of tho series with which
it has been customary to begin the pend
ing inquiry, when the sherman roso and
presented the following paper, with q re.
quest that it be read and made q part of
the minutes IF the proceedings.
Alderman Spurrier's Protest.
GENTS respectfully submit that you
have no legal or lawful authority or right
under existing laws governing and Sfsjting
a board of county auditors to examine my
judicial and official business in relation to
tho number Of suits or criminal cases en-.
tertained or disposed of, or to question
the causes or reasons leading thereto, or to
inquire into tho motives OF causes for %
doing.
Notwithstanding this position and pro-
test, shall be pleased to enlighten you, if
possible, upon any matter or thing that
will assist you in adjusting the accounts of
the county commissioned treasurer,
sheriff or coroner, and ascertaining the
balance due from or to them.
A. X. SpUnRIER.
LANCASTER, Pa, April II, 1882.
Auditor Reed Wants to Know. w.,fE
MI. Reed wanted to know whether it was
on ground that he might possibly criminate
himself that the alderman based his re-
fusal to answer the question just asked,
which was, g. whether he had at any time
during the year 1881 made or had any ar
rangcments or understanding with any
officer or any other person or persons, to
bring or procure any prosecution or arrest
of any person or persons, and such cases
upon hearing were dismissed with county
The alderman replied that he had not
refused to answer the question-that he
simply entered y general protest and de-
NAL of the auditors right to inquire into
his official and judicial proceedings add
ing that much had been said and done by
the board which they had no legal right to
do, and that hs had perfect liberty to re-
fuse to answer questions which we're not
asked by authority Of law.
Mr.. Reed rcjoined that the county au-
jitOrs' right and duty were to inquire into
every dollar Of outlay by the county.
The cOllOquy was maintained for
some time. Mr.. Reed claiming that the
alderman's position was calculated to
stop the proceedings. Alderman Spurrier
fiually returned . negative answer to the
question above reported. The other in
troductOry questions were then put, the
alderman responding /" no" to each one.
Mr.. Greider then took up tho examina-
ton and asked the alderman whether he
made out his bills monthly. Mr.. Spurrier
said he did not-that he made them out at
his convenience, and mSntioned an in
stance in which he had allowed it to run
for six months before presenting his
bill of costs to tho county commits
sOners.
Five Commitments in Ten Days.
Q.-Was Thomas Bennett brought be-
fore you ON the Sd of September and COM
mitted as q tramp? Aft the bill shows
it, he was.
Q.-WhO made tho. arrest 2 Al can
not tell from .mcmory. The docket will
show it.
Q.-Have you tho warrant A.-No !; l
do not keep them.
HereupOn another discussion ensued as
the propriety and necessity of retaining
the warrants issued, Spurrier claiming that
an alderman's docket was good in any
court in ChristendOm.
Further inquiry aud reference to the
alGerman's docket showed that on the Sd
k<~r - A~l
as tramp. On the 6th, 9th and 18th he
some for hearing and others after
hearing, on charges. Of tramp, malicious
misc hief and drunken and disOr1erly con-
duct. "Five commitn ents in ten days."
remarked Mr. Grcit.er.
Yes," said Spurrier, and there was
| a complaint in each case.
Q.-Was Thomas Quinn befOfe You on
the Sd of September for drunken and dis
orderly conduct ? Ayes. if the bills say
A number Of other names were then
read, all Of whom had been tried aud COM
initted by Alderman Spurrier on similar
charges, and who, the latter said, belonged
to the same gang that had been infestiDg
tho neighborhood where they were ar
rested. -. -..- ..fT
"Who were the complainants ?" in
Iuired Mr. Reed, and the alderman said
he couldn't tell he only knew people
from the section Frautz's Meadow, near
Bird-in-H Handy would come into his Office
and complain of the depredations and an
noyances inflicted by these psstiferous fel-
lows, and he himself (the slderman) had
been one of party of officers who went
down to capture them. The name of
Christian Musselman was finally discovered
by Mr.. Grcider as q complainant in the
case. f'F.F'! ~I'
Nineteen Deiondants-Sixty.tw Commit
"What we fail to understand" Mr..
Greider said, is, '.how man could be COM
mitted'on the Sd. and again Oh the 5th and
9Th, again on the 9th, for sixty days and
on the 18th. The prison records show
that on the Sd sixteen Of these men were
committed on the 9Th nineteen, including
the former sixteen on the 9th thirteen Of
the same gang and all committed. "Spurrier
answered that this was 30 and they were
convicted and sent to Jail in all for nine
months.
Mr.. Greider-When these are in Jail can
you still commit them without bringing
them before you. A.-Yes.
Mr.. Recd-Did't you find out they were
professional tramps until after committing
them? A.-The fact that they were con-
victed is tue Dest evidence in the world
that they wore such.
He Draws HIS Pay.
Q.-Did you receive costs from the
county for these nineteen uen whom you