Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-05-08
THE COUNTY AUDITORS.



squire Frank, o9 Columbia.
This morning the board of auditors
assembled in the Orphans court room.
All the members were present, including
Joseph d. ClarksOn, appointed by the
court on Saturday to ELL the vacancy
caused by the sudden death Of John X.
Reed, president.
The board organized by the election Of
B. NJ. Greider president. Mr.. Clarkson,
who was clerk of the board, stated that he
would continue to perform the duties of
clerk for the balance of the year without
! cost to the county.
The examination of Squire Frank, of
Columbia, was resumed.
MIR. Lightner, of tho board, said to him,
''We find here that one Brady is prosecutor
before you in 239 cases during the past
year that Fisher is prosecutor in 164
cases, Fred Struck in 123 cases, and Geo.
A. Lyle 81 cases-in all total of 5S3
cases, out of s95 cases, nearly all of which
were for drunken and disorderly conduct,
or for assault and battery"
Squire Frank answered that the above
named cOmplainantS were cOIstableS of
Columbia.
Squire Franks attention being called to
his very large number of dismissed cases,
explained that if the accused had been
imprisoned, or the cases returned to court,
the costs to the county would have been
much larger-$2 9J for the constable
and about $500 for the alderman. while if
they were not sent out there were no costs
except for complaints, snbpGnas and war
rants.
Mr.. Greider asked the squire how it
| happened that officers made so many COM
| o1o; hot n
The squire answered that he did not
know the complaints were made, and he
investigated them, and if there was moth
ing in them he discharged the accused.
Mr.. Greider said that during tho month
of November last Officer Stuck had made
IS complaints, all of which were dismissed,
While he did not care to object
to the squire's manner of doing business,
he did object to cOntables swearing to
complaints that they were net ablo to es-
tablish. He then called the squire's at
tentiOn to q case of assault and battery in
which nine witnesses were called and the
case dismissed. The squire explained that
that was q wOman's case, and when they
got at it they didn't know when to stop.
The squire's attention was next called to
fact that he had charged for a number of
recognizances never taken by him. lie
explained that when prosecutor made a
complaint and signed it, he (tho squirrel
considered his signature equivalent for his
appearance for 4 hearing! l: the Case is
returned to court he makes u separate re
, cOgGizance.
Mr.. Greider-Are not q great many of
these cases in which officers arc the pros
ecutors, those of poor people who apply ut
the station house for Il rights lodging,
and against whom some imaginary COM
plants arc trumped up by the officers? :?
complaints until hear them. II there is
) a case against prisoner l send him to
Lancaster; il there is not, discharge
him. .lfa -.is...E
Mr.. Kreider-Does not Officer Stuck
send out his sons to gather in poor people
against whom some charge is trnmpcd uE
for the purpose of making fecs' Al dc
not know that he does. know that poor
people very often call on me for help, and
that l feed them and charge nothing for
so doing.
Mr.. CiarksOn-Do you ever inquire into
the facts of tho case before you take al
officers complaint A.-No.
Mr.. Greider-In the month of June you
had 10 cases which yon dismissed without
a hearing. How is inat? There was a
hearing in each case, but there were nc
subp@nas issued and no witnesses heard
except the officer.
Squire Franks attention was next called
to the fact that some Of the fOOtings OF
his bill were incorrect. He explained that
he made or caused to be made the fOOtings
in lead pencil, expecting that the solicitor
: or commissioners would verify the addi
tions. He did this so that if any items il
: his bills were stricken out, the correct
. totals could be made in ink before the bill
> was allowed.
: Squire Frank was shown one of his bills
,. and asked to verify the addition. lie die
SO, and confessed that the total, as state(
, in pencil, was s. too much, but that tn,
figures were rot his.