The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-18
NINETY-SIX WERE FINED.
a NOVEL COURT AT TIE OGEE-
CHEZ CANAL BRIDGE

I
gums Efforts She Commissioner
Thinks Of Calling Gu. the Citizens OF
Other Districts-He VIII Give No
Indemnity Bond
Justices Endres and McDermott moved
their court out to the Ogeechee canal bridge
at Puder & Downs Office on the Louisville
road yesterday morning to try the road
cases. Ninety-six penalties were assessed,
the charges in each case being 81, and exc
cutions will be issued as soon as Chairman
Bourquin, Of the board of road commits
s1oners can obtain blanks, which the justices
require him 70 furnish them.
1t was few minutes after 10 o'clock
when Justices Endres and McDermott, ac-
companied by Special Constable Thomas
McNish and MORNING NEWS reporter,
arrived at the place Of holding court. JUS
tice McDermott took a seat in a sulky as his
temple Of juslics, while Justice Endres held
court standing, and Officer McNish was
| provided with desk from the office, the
court being held in front OF the Office in the
street.
There were about twenty-five persons
present who were IN default when the dual
court opened and the number was aug
mented by a dozen more before the court
adjourned. In addition to these there were
others present attracted by the unusual
| proceeding, and no little merriment fol-
lowed the reading II some excuses.
ALDERMANIC POLITICS DISCUSSED.
The calling out Of the citizens OF the First
district was discussed freely, and it was
remarkable that Of all the complaints not
one reflected upon Mr. BOurQuin, the blame
In every instance being laid at the door of
the city council 1t was the generally &C
| cepted opinion that the First district being
| unrepresented 10 the board of aldermen has
occasloned the neglect Of the road, and if
Tue district was represented by an alder
man the Louisville road and the western
extension OF Gwinnett street would have
| oeen Kept In repair. II was mutually un-
derstOod that the First district will demand
at least one or two members, and that the
extent and population Of the district Justly
| entitle 1t to two members on the board.
After listening 10 the discussion and COM
Inents preliminary to the opening Of the
road commissioners court, Justice Endres
announced that the court was open to hear
| the excuses of those in default He pro-
| ceeded to call the roll Of those whom his
officer had summoned TO work the road.
Some written excuses in the shape of certifi-
| Gates from physicians We're read, and the
| grounds being considered sufficient the
| penalty was not attached.
The oath was administered to but two
| persons, one white and one colored The
| white man swore that he belonged to a vol
unteer military organization, and he was
| excused. The colored man sworn, said he
was sick, and In bed, on Feb. II and IL, and
hardly able to be out yesterday. Two per-
| sons were excused because the summonses
were not served upon them until the after
noon preceding the first day of road work.
One was let Oft because he had a broken
hand, and another because rheumatism rem
dered him incapable of road duty. L. FL.
Williams showed his certificate that he
served on the jury while the road was being
worked, aud was excused.
ENTERING UP THE PENALTIES.
When Justice Endres' roll call had been
concluded, it was found that his officer.
while he had been given 1913 summons to
| serve, had served but 81, two of these only
| the day before the time fixed for road work.
and had failed to serve 109 OF the 81
| served, 10 worked, 26 were excused, and a
| penalty of 81 adiudged against As persons
in default c. T. Jordan, q lumber inspec-
tor, paid Justice Endres 50, under protest,
and later IN the day two Others paid 81 each.
| One man paid substitute 50 to work two
| days but his sub" worked but one dav.
and the principal agreed to pay to Justice
| Endres 81 for the day the substitute was in
default.
AN EXPENSIVE SUBSTITUTE.
A Mr.. Campsen is said to have paid 50 so
Tor substitute, promising in addition to
let him have something to drink, and the
substitute is said to have run up a bill to
the amount of 81 IS on the strength of the
promise, aud Campsen says the next time
he is called out he thinks he will save money
by working the road himself
ii. L. Muller, when served with his sum-
mons, is said to have remarked that "Mayor
Schwarz will work the road for me-" but
as Mr.. Muller's substitute failed to appear
| either day for duty, and refused to furnish
| carts to help out, penalty of 81 was en-
tered up against the joker.
Justice McDermott called the roll of those
summoned by his officer. One man was ex-
cused because he was an all round good fell
low, member Of base ball club, and net
otherwise liable for road duty One man
was excused on account of his being mem
Der OF the fire department, one was excused
because he is average. some on account of
their connection with the military, some
for sickness. and others on the grounds
given by Mr.. McDermott in yesterdays
MORNING NEWS, that he will not enforce
the penalty upon any poor man whose
family is dependent upon days labor He
excused fifteen out of seventy-nine.
When the call of his roll was completed it
was found that Is had worked the road. Is
we're excused, and penalties Of 81 eacn were
entered up against 81 in default. He had
issued 1874 summonses but IS were never
served, as a sneak thief carried off Officer
Coleman's coat with IS unserved summonses
In it, and it was too late to reissue them.
AN UNSATISFACTORY SHOWING.
A summary of the first effort to compel
citizens of Savannah to do street work
under section 652 of the code shows the fol-