Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-09

itv TO discharge the case by allowing the
defendant to pay the costs.
Il represent the Commonwealth" he
saiG 'and if such a course is to be taken L
should be consulted. A man is either guilty
or not guilty. If he is guilty, he should be
fined. II not guilty, he should be dis
charged and the costs placed on the prose-
cutors. l understand the Aldermen have
heen discharging cases by collecting only
the costs, and have been thinking of put
ting ston TO it. do not know that Rohe
is doing so. however, but / expect TO either
see OF write to him in few days to learn
the true state of affairs"
Mcclure Admits Cases Were Settled.
That Alderman Rohe is discharging cases
bv allowing defendants to pay the costs
was made evident by statement made by
Agent Mcclure a few davs ago with regard
10 several cases brought before the Alder
man, which he said were settled by the
Squire allowing the defendants TO go free
bv paving costs SIT was their hrst
oifense,' explained Mr.. Mcclure, "and we
let them off easv" Why 1--WE" was used
was not clear, the only inference being
that the Alderman and agent were working
together in the dealing out of justice.
Attorney 1ost, representative of the Law
and Order Society, also confirmed the man.
ner in which defendants are discharged,
when in conversation yesterday he explained
the small amount OF the fines turned over
TO the State bv saving:
'.The fine of S25 is not collected in one
case ont OF ten. The defendants are usually
poor and the fines are remitted. why,
said Mr. Nost as if he were to explain
point worthy of commendation, sit is al
most impossible for The Alderman to collect
his costs
''It is not very important anyway. The
State gets the money" interposed the re-
porter
''Nes." answered Mr.. 1ost. 81 had the
opinion and still believe that if the law was
tested the prosecutor would get one-half as
IN liquor cases. 1t is hardly worth testing
the matter, however, because it would only
be Sl2 so in each case anyway.
Toss Knows Nothing About the Funds.
"Does the society have much trouble in
raising money!"
"WeIl, I guess so,'' replied Mr.. Yost. 'I
know they don't pay their attorney very
promptly" he added, with sad, deep,
thoughtful smile that might have been
taken to convey dozen different meanings.
Don't Won think between 200 and
$1,000 was a rather small amount to be
turned into the State as the collections of
Aldermen in Law and Order cases?"
THAT is not a question for me to consider.
! instruct whatever Alderman does our
business to turn over fines collected to Mr..
Frazer. That is all l have to do about it.
II they fail to do that it is not my fault
Beside prosecutions under the blue law,
the Law and Order Society in its early
history did land Office business in arrest
ing illegal liquor dealers whom they had
tried under a later act, and who were
" ,oI oil Of hoc
already been stated, was turned over to the
Law and Order Society as prosecutor and
the other half went to the Poor district in
which the prosecution took place. 1t was
noticeable fact that in these cases fines were
usually collected, discharge with payment
Of costs being an improbable rarity.
1t is hardly to be supposed that the
number of illegal liquor sellers prosecuted
came near being equal to the arrests under
the law Of 1894 From the amount of fines
turned in TO the city, however, it would
seem the former cases greatly exceeded the
latter Pittsburg alone has received about
$1,000, while Allegheny and the townships
were also given their share.
Earnings Run Up Into Thousands.
Twelve thousand dollars is considered
low estimate for the whole county, and, as
that represents but half the fines col
lccted, it would seem that the So
ciety has prosecuted three times as
many illegal liquor sellers as persons
who have been guilty of selling soda water,
cigars or similar things on the Lords Day.
To person acquainted with the history of
the society the reverse would appear more
like the truth. 1t doesn't seem possible
1uat the Aldermen could have made mis-
takes in returning fines TO the State.
Neither does it seem possible that the So
ciety would have given more money to the
CITY than was due it. The mystery deepens
as The matteris studied. No person spoken
to Yesterday could offer an explanation.
Who can2
The society's attempt to prevent the sal |
ary grab took tangible shape yesterday by
the filing Of a petition by Attorney Yost |
asking for permission for ten taxpayers to |
90 into court and deiend the county in the |
case Of the county officers against the Con- |
troller to obtain their salaries under the |
Philadelphia salary act OF 1888. In speak |
ing OF the case Mr.. NoSt said:
To-day was the last dav an appeal could |
BE- taken, and DELAYED the matter until 3 |
o'clock To give the Controller a chance to |
act. 1t was his duty to take an appeal, but |
he did not indicate any intention of doing |
50. The Law and Order League will push |
The ease 10 a final lest. and think we will |
win.