New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-08-16
CLEVELAND AS SHERIFF.
4 HIGH-PRlCED HANGMAN.

VOUCHERS.
IRON A STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF TIFF TRIBUNE.
BUFFALO, Aug. 13.-There is perhaps Office IN
the State better fitted to show the character of its
head than that of Sheriff 1t is not Office Of much
dignity, nor does it require great ability to admin
lister ITS functions But it offers a wide field for
economical reforms. From the peculiar way in
which Shers bills are made ont 1t also offers. TO
person disposed, an opportunity to make ex-
charges without tho public beng made
aware of the fact The case of Sheriff Davidson.
in New-York, now one of Cleveand's chief
supporters. will we'll illustrate this fact
He was regularly charging for the transportation
of prisoners 10 court when there were courts IN
session. and he collecting thousands of dollars
from the city for carrying prisoners at 81 10 each
from the courts 10 city institutions. although the
city was paving another department for doing that
work and the Sheriff had nothing to do with It,
For his excessive charges for the board OF prisoners
and for making reports 10 the Secretary of state,
and for other things bad they we're, he had legal
warrant in the action Of the Aldermen or Board OF
Supervisors. But the public had no knowledge OF
those things until legislative committee clothed
with the power of the State, brought out the facts
or course the public understood that when an
official could afford to pay a campaign as
sessment of $4,000 his Office could not
be administered wholly in the interest
of the taxpayers. But had il not been for
the legislative investigation Sheriff Davidson might
have served out his time and have then become a
reform candidate for Mayor, Governor of the state,
or President So far as serving out his time
is concerned however he Is probably in no danger,
as Governor Cleveland said shortly before he went
to the North Woods, that be had not even read the
charges preferred TO him against Mr.. Davidson.
TRYING TO Hold TWO OFFICES AT oNCE.
Under these circumstances IL Is Of interest to
know how the Governor administered the Office OF
Sheriff of Erie County, which place he held Tor
three years In this countv-as in New-York before
the pas age Of the reform bils-the Sheufs charges
are only limited by his influence with the Super
visors. In some things his compensation IL
fixed by statute and in others it is fixed
by the Board Of Supervisors. And in that body
the whole thing is practically left TO the Committee
on Shcrhs Bills Hence IL becomes of interest for
the county officer, 10 secure the election of their
friends TO the Board Of Supervisors. That body
fixes the compensation Of the District-Attomey
also, and when Mr.. Cleveland was an Assistant
Attorney he at the time for super
VISOR of his ward. He was defeated, but had he
been successful he would have been MEM
Der of the body which fixed his com
pensation az an Assistant Dlstrict-Attorney,
and which named the salary Of his chef aud passed
EXCESSIVE CHARGES As HANGMAN
4 careful examination of the records of the Board
of Supervisors shows that all tho Sheriff. bills are
referred to the committee that subject, and their
report Is invariably adopted. Sometimes the com
mittee allows the Shelih's bills in full. but when
they are particularly excessive they are cut down.
Sometimes a large bill will slip through
without any cutting, and. far as the
appearance of the bill is concerned. without
any examination. In New-York the Sheriff Is
Obliged To give an itemized account of his claims.
Thus Sheriff Davidson charged So for a BARRIERS
services in shaving Edward Hovey, who was to be
hanged. But in Sheriff Cleveland's time he was re-
Ieved from the necesstvof itemizing in such cases
He merely charged a lump sum for his services
as executioner without going into any par
tculars The Board of supervisors had
fixed upon $500 as the Gum to be
allowed the sheriff for his services and expenses in
hanging "a man. But sheriff Cleveland vslu.d his
services higher. and he put In bill OF @ooo Tor
executing Patrick Morrissey." Although this
was large increase IN - regular rate and no
items were gwen, the supervisors allowed the bill.
WHERE ARE THE -~eHEksi
That IN the first H~r g. -. JisVeandsterm.
In the last half of ms terri - executed another
man. but no comparison can be 5sade as to the
charges. because his bills for that part
of his term have disappeared from the
archives of the county. diligent search has
failed to reveal any trace Of them. All that can be
found is the record the total amount OF his year
" bills and the sum allowed by the Supervisors
Hence so far az the particulars Of his al ninistra-
ton of the office of Sheriff concerned the exan-
nation has t. be confined largely TO the FIRST part
of his term. the bills for which, as sworn to by
him. are still in existence. There has been only
l., +.n ,frv o.
land went ont of Office as Sheriff in
1873 For this last execution the Sheriff
then in office. not profting By Mr. Cleyelands ex-
ample. charged the regular rate of $500, with
additional expenses of S6 b. so that for Mr..
Cleveland's services as hangman the county had 20
paw in the first case an increase of $43 70 over the
price charged BY his predecessor or successor.
Whether or not Mr.. Cleveland charged more in the
second execution. when be was more expert n the
business cannot in the absence of the bills be
known.
INCREASING THE COST or HIS OFFICE.
What is true Of his services as hangman appears
to be true of his entire administration of the Office
of Sheriff When he was afterward chosen Mayor
of the city he said IN message to the dermen
When by design neglect we allow greater
sum to be applied TO any municipal purpose than Is
necessary we have to that extent violated our
duty In the light OF this uuism Sherln CIeNe-
lands bills specially interesting. His prede-
cessor in Office a Democrat. Mr. Darcy HIS
services rs Sheriff for three years cost the
county, according 10 the records OF the
Board of sus 'visors S26, $50 81 The total
of Mr. Clcvelands bills was $50 900 SO. an IN
crease over the amount paid Mr. Darcy of Sl3'-
268 So To he sure, Sheriff Cleveland was not al
lowed all of this amount Hrs bills were cut down
$i.471 50. even a Democratic Board Of Supervisors
taking part m the work of pruning. AS Mr. C!eve-
laud has never made any clam upon the county for
that $4471 so which il refused to pay him. al
though he made affidavit to the correctness of his
bills he must have recognized that at least to that
extent he by design neglect eudeavored 10 have