The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-13
NOT AFRAID TO SPEAK OUT
JUDGE 4. W. BROWN POINTS OUT
AND DENoUNCEs CRooKEDNEss.
How Some Men Seek once for "Revenue
Only" no Matter How 1t Comes, and
How They Whoop the Business Up
Magistrates and the Police.

III there is a man in the city whom
every scoundrel feels at the delightful lib
erty OF abusing that man is myself"
When Judge I. w. Brown took this
shoot in the midst Of a conversation with
an APPEAL reporter yesterday afternoon,
it naturally provoked an inquiry as to the
cause.
"Why? Because / have never stood
upon the order OF exposing their rascality,
but have helditup whenever and wherever
found. And there is something before the
public now, on which TIE APPEAL has
had something to say, but it doesn't seem
to have found the kernel Of it yet"
Lets hear from you on the point" the
reporter interrupted.
ut is the robbery Of the county and
State by regular system on the part OF
some OF these magistrates.
Judge DuBose seems to be taking a
pretty lively hand in the matter, II his ut
terances upon and disalowing OF costs on
dismissed warrants furnish n good critic
rion."
"Quite true, but it is hardly probable
that even Judge DuBose realizes the enor-
NIFTY and extent OF the villainy, and even
II he does, he should be encouraged in the
good work. A number OF men who seek
the Office OF Magistrate and are put there
by the ward bosses and cliques, II cut down
to an income thereirom derived fairly and
legitimately, with no possibility OF per-
quisites in the way OF County Court nilu-
ence, would retire in disgust, for more
money could be made by them at ditching.
These are the men who could no more get
down into the merits Of a civil suit than
they could enter the kingdom OF Heaven,
and you seldom, II ever, hear OF them un.
dertaking 10 do 80. Some OF the Magis.
trates, am glad 10 be able to state, are not
OF this stripe. Ii fellow comes 10 them
with petty ollense that no body or no law
would stop TO consider Tor the purpog OF
punishment, they would throw II ont with
disregard OF all ceremony. But the kernel
OF the outrage is what will be interesting
for all the public officials who have de-
iaulted have not hit the county for half
the amount these interruptions Mags-
trates have robbed IL uf.
"Do you understand the methods by
which this robbery Is accomplished?'
'Do |? That / do, and | have de.
nouuced IL wherever | could do So with
any hope of attracting attention that would
lead to a reformation. Whenever one OF
them who goes into the Office for the one
purpose OF revenue only and the deter
mination TO squeeze MS much revenue on.
OF IL rs inflated conditions will tolerate.
his iirst step is TO fix up an Office. Then
hfs laos al
Deputy Sheriils about him, encourages a
gang OF hangers on ready 20 work up
cases ON the ilimsicst prOyocalion, aud
the machinery is in position Thus
equipped, the grind begins. These officers
and hangers on circulate in colorcd
neighborhood. by means Oi pecring
around, they hear OF q little tilt Between
two parties, which really amounted 90
nothing, aud everyone cared not 20 re-
member II Is richness % tie revenue
hunters, however, and they proceed 10
find every witness possible. Then one OF
principals in the trivial affair is persuaded
10 swear out a state warrant against the
other, charging l. Ian with assault aud bat.
terry, and all the witnesses located by the
workers are summoned A trial is had,
the case is dismissed, aud the other fellow
is prompted TO swear out counter war
rant, charging malicious pros cutiOn, Ia
which soiuc Of these same witnesses are
ushercd, aud Il falls through, TO be- fol-
lowed, more than likely. by one or two
peace warrants. Just consider, now, what
all this yillainous business draws FROM tho
taxpayers a. sustain gang OF fellows who
ave nothing but ward Dummers at best
And II Is not only this class oi magistrates
and their machinery that the public has
10 live under. but our police force u cor.
rupt ~ the devil Unless check Is put
upon the Whole business, aud rliri
brought about. / will not DO surprised to
see the outraged public rise In iis might
aud take hand that means business"