Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-08
CLASH OF AUTHORITIES.
CITY OFFICIALS STAND IN THE
WAY or THF COURTS.

1be Mayor ShuJ- tne Police Record in
the Face of the Acting Solicitor Gen
eral and Refuses to Give Information in
Regard TO Violations of the sunday
Law-The Matter to Go Before the
Grand Jury.
The clash OF authority reported 20 be
Impending betwee- the county and city
officials was the matter Of muca gossip
yesterday.
1t appears that about six weeks ago the
attention Of Solicitor General du Bignon
was called 10 an item published IN the
MORNING NEWS % the effect that nearly
twenty gr0cers ana others had been
placed on the information docket OF the
Police Court, charged with selling liquor
on Sunday. When the cases came up DO
fore the Mayor the accused were fined go
apiece. AS selling liquor On sunday is
violation Of d state law the solicitor
General considered it his duty to take ac-
tiOn on tue cases.
Mr.. duBigu0n had just returned from
the North, and as be mad 70 20 away on
business the day after his return, be asked
Mr.. q. W. Owens, who had been acting as
Solicitor General, 70 look over the docket
and get the names Of all the parties
against whom complaint was lodged, and
also the names Of the policemen who
made the complaints.
City Clerk Reoarer got the docket for
Mr.. Owens, when the latter requested 10
see il. MIR. Owens proceeded 10 make
memorandum OF the names and ohenses,
when Mayor Lester stepped up and closed
the book, remarking that II the solicitor
General wanted information against the
parties It would have to be obtained else
where. Dir. Owens asserted bis rgat as
private citizen 70 examine the record,
but was refused permission both as prl-
Vate citizen and as an Oftlci2l II the infOr-
NATION was TO be used for the prosecution
OF the parties.
The refusal was reported 10 the SOlic-
1tOr General and be has said that the
record Will have 10 be produced wnen the
Superior Court meets. He intends 10 put
the docket IN the hands Of the grand jury
and 20 over the cases entered Oh the
docket with the jurors.
The Mayor when approached yesterday
declined ~ talk on the subject, remark
ing that be chad nothing 70 say There
is an impression with some that he in
tends 70 persist 10 his refusal. In such a
case the matter Will doubtless be brought
10 focus as soon IS the grand jury Of the
Superior Court meets, which will be early
in December. Upon what grounds the
Mayor based mis- refusal Is a matter Of
conjecture as he who is probably the only
one that does know the reasons refused to
say anything about them.
1t has always been understood that the
records Of court are public, aud that
every citizen has a right to examine
them. That seems 70 be the view OF the
Solicitor General, and he says that there
Is law TO sustain the view.
Mr. duBignOn stated yesterday that be
can close up the saloons on Sunday, and
break up the gambling houses, il the city
authorities will cooperate With him, but
he added that they seem 70 be endeayor-
ing TO impede him. The violations, he
stated, have been 50 open that they are
really notorious.
There is much speculation as 10 the re-
suit, opinions being divided as to the out
come Of the matter.