The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-26
( DAILY. $40 A YEAR. J
4 5CENTSA COPY.
| WEEKLY. .i.25AYEAR
SHRIEVALTY STEALINGS.
THE GRAND JURY'5 PRESENT.
MENT AT NEW YORK.

The Condition of affairs Now Exist
ing Declared a Disgrace to Civiliza-
tion-The ONCE Run on Principles
that Made it Impossible Tor an
Honest Man to Become an Employee.
NEW YORK, March 25.-The grand Jury
came into the court of general sessions to-
DAY and handed long presentment to judge
Fitzgerald, in which the sheriff's Office ia
characterized as a disgrace to the city
and shame to civilization. When
he handed in the presentrnent the
foreman of the jury said the inquiry
had failed to reveal a single redeeminc
element in the management of the Office
1t was black record of violated law. tarrlv
Justice, forced settlements, corruption and
bribery. 1t was no longer a question OF
what ought to be done TO remedy the exist
ing evils, but what must be done at once
and without delay. The foreman asked
that copies OF the presentment be sent to-
the governor and state legislature.
EXTRACTS FROM THE PREsENTMENT.
Following are extracts from the present-,
ment: The present method Of sheriff's sale
is highly censurable. Division of commis-,l
sions, while not technically violation OF !
the law, Is in perversion of properl
administration of the sherif's trust.
During the three years ending
Jan. /, one firm of auctioneers had con-
Quoted the sheriff'S sales, from which there
was Sl,357 ,5O5. OF this sum $43, 937 wasl
equally divided between the sheriff and
auctioneer as commissions. The sheriff hada
also under no right of law charged large
sums as extra compensation for services I'M
executing processes. In the year 1889 thea
sheriif'sprotits were fully $50, 900. How muclr
more no received for extra compensation
cannot be learned. His accounts have been
lOOGAlV Kant that nD qot tfzfo oofo lid,
ton can be obtained from them. For overs
twenty years the affairs of the sheriff's
Office have been administered with an entire
disregard OF the obligations imposed by thes
law on the sheriff in office.
NO PROPER RECORD KEPT.
SO far as can be learned, no proper record
has been kept OF the sheriffs acts, or the
manner OF executing processes, nor of the
amount OF legal fees received by him. Dem
uty sheriRs and subordnates have been
appointed without regard to their qualifi-
cations One OF the most startling and
scandalous facts 80 far elected is that
during tho whole period over which
this investigation extends, deputy sheriffs
have been appointed upon the understand
ing that they were to receive no regular
fixed remuneration for their services; that
the fees provided for by law for their official
services should be paid to the sheriff, and in
addition they have been required to employ
clerks and pay them salaries aud to expend
other sums of money for various purposes
as condition OF their employment and re-
tention.
ORDER or ARREST DEPARTMENT..
Abuses OF the most fragrant character
have been practiced in the order OF arrest
department. That department is in the
hands of one person and entirely in his
control
BY reason OF the Juggling in tho way this
one man receives collections ho can estab-
lish his innocence of any positive knowledge
of its tainted source The spectacle of this
individual and Others clearly implicated in
this and oJhor characters of pecuniary cor
ruption shielding themselves behind the
cloak of pIe6ended honesty and quietly
pocheting portion Of the proceeds OF their
ill-gotten gains is one of the most degrading
and contemplate in the whole range of this
investigation.
BRIDES AND GRATUITIEs.
The results Of the abuses have been that
deputy sheriffs and other attaches of the
sheritfs office have accepted bribes and
demanded gratuities as q matter of course.
The county Jail has been grossly misman--.
eyed and prisoners committed there have
found it easy to effect temporary
escape upon payment of sum
of money. ~Under the system in vogue.
for deputy sheriff to realize substantial
pecuniary advantage by reason of his Off
cial position, it is almost compulsory upon
him TO commit crime, certainly to lay aside
all idea of honesty and integrity. The em-i
ployment Of honest men in the departments
is practically out OF the question.
ESCAPING LIABILITY.
The sheriff ard his deputies have escaped
criminal liability By making extra COM
pensation" come forth as gratuity. Guilty
parties have benefited by the unsystematio
methods practiced in its affairs The
sheritf's Office is now, and for long time
back has been. tainted with corruption.
Tho office has been brought into public
scandal and infamy for the purpose OF
gaining an advantage inconsistent with
official sworn duty.
IN VOGUE TWENTY YEARS.
For twenty years past there has been an
utter subversion of public interest to per-
sonal gain and the employment Of men of
ignorance and cupfdity. The management
of the office has been and now is 80 slovenly
and wholly indecent that no confidence.
whatever attaches to its acts
Tho report concludes by saying that pub
lie policy, the administration of Justice and
the rights Of Itigants demand prompt
action, and.the legislature canLaffect speedy
remedy
BRIBE-TAKERs ARRAIGNED.
Bernard f. Martin, Philip v. Walsh, and
Joseph Young, indicted for receiving bribes
while employed lie the sheriH's office, were
arraigned in the general sessions court to-
day. Their counsel interposed demurrer,
claiming that the indictment charged no
offense that could be called a crime. The
cases of the accused were transferred to the
court of oyer and terminer, where the de-
murrer will te argued on Friday next.