Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1884-06-30
AeE GRAND JURY's REPORT.
How Hs.xes. A p,sintere.'ea Out
slider.

hO 4 III EsRHoSs PCuui'iS uudt uiSposdl
of tie request to call another Grand
Jury, scruPulously refrained from
criticising the report of the last Grand
Jusy. This twas in Difference to the
cuseom Of all respectable newspapers,
to refrain from commenting upon any
case or other matter brought before
any court, until it is adjudicated.
THIS rule does not, however, apply to
other than local newspapers; and, in
this case the Boise Statesman, for in
stance, can very properly discuss the
matter freely, even though the TINES
js not at liberty to do so. The issue
of the goth instant of the Boise paper
named contained an article which was
undoubtedly written In an impartial
spirit, and as it comes from an en-
tirely DISTINGUISHED source, it will be
given due weight. Here it is:
The much talked Of corruption in
the management of Alturas county
affairs appears, from the report of the
Grand jury, to turn against the County
Commissioners for allowing f. r..
Leonard, County Assessor, per diem
pay AS we'll as fees for collecting
property and poll taxes for the year
1883. The jury also say in the mat
ter of c. H. Furey, in collecting mile
age in certain cases, is contrary to
law, either expressed or implied.
They also end that the County Com
missioners appointed one of their
body as superintendent of the court
house. thereby acting in dual Ca
pacity. Also in allowing compensa-
ton to thief District Attorney in vari
GUS cases DOT warranted by law. The
jury further say: ave do not find
in our deliberations that the above
officers wilfully and corruptedly &C
cepted the money, but rather followed
the precedent long established and
practiced by their predecessors"
The Grand Jury find that the docket
of George A. Hodson, IA Justice of the
Peace at ketchum, is badly kept, and
that with-a large criminal docket run
ming for three years, he has never re-
turned but FIVE dollars into the school
fund. They express strong disappro-
baton of the acts Of the above officer
and recommend that the County Com
missioners take action against him al
their next meeting.
They find that several ex.county
officers ARE deficient and have no
made their accounts good, and recon
mend prosecution. "Further, that The
District Attorney will see to it tina
persons do not throw refuse or gar
bage INTO the running streams, thereby
/ il,i.ss;t.g public health" The Court
4 attSntbn is called to the violation o
the game and fish laws. The record
of the Recol der, Probate Judge, Treas
urer and other affairs of the count,
were reported satisfactory in the main
and many of them highly approved.
Taking the report for true, we d.
not see why the Grand Jury is not a
ccpsurable as the officers they hav'
sought to censure. If the game an,
fish laws have been violated, why wer
not the guilty parties ferreted out AM
indicted by this Grand Jury? Is i
not asking a good deal to have tn
District ATTORNEY watch all the run
ming streams in Alturas county "an'
see to it, that persons do not throw re
fuse or garbage into them p Woul
r it not be better to indict the first ma
, that did so? If George A. Hodson o
any other Justice of the Peace ha
failed to pay over money in his hands
why did not the Grand Jury indie
/, him ? Is it fair to insinuate a Grim
against man? If Sheriff Furey too
, illegal fees, why did not the opposin
counse! object before the Court an
have the fee bill cut down TIL
{ Grand Jury may be the best judge
. but the law does not contemplate tn;
4. they are, and provides another vel
\ simple remedy. The idea Of the Hor
orable Courts reprimanding II
County Commissioners, is to us a lit
- novel, although we believe there WI
J, a case tried where petit jury four
e a defendant innocent Of murder, b'
asked the Court to reprmand hin
! Without the aid Of an indictme'
found by the Grand Jury, we do n
see how the Court will get the Con
J. missioners in proper shape to hear h
: reprinaud Either member of Il
e Grand Jury or any other Taxpayer HI
y right to appeal from the order allo,
= ing Leonard Or any other officer fec
Z and it would be a simple way to deci
the question of illegal fees. Howev'
A we presume the Grand Jury OF Altur
he county has done good work, and '
d trust that everything will move alo1
s. serenely in the future.
r. Just received at Fuld's Mil
II NAVY Ck~~o thu lo%ook Ckxx1oc