The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-05-24
LETTERS on VARIOUS TOPICS.
AN UNJUST InocErp1YG.

squire l'eckwlth Ut Pnrkorsburg the Vic.
Tim OF an Unfair Systcn-h Case Which
ChIis Attention 10 tho SCed OF u Reform
In tho Law Governing justices.
TO hc Editor Ofhe in'eui7suc,r
Sit: Tho administration Of Justice In
this slate some timoI presents strange
anomalies. Tho statutes OF this state
require iusticea Of the peace 10 perform
great deal Of professional or judicial
labor relating TO criminal matters for
which services specific fees nrc allowed.
but after tho services arc rendered and
tho OllIs presented tothe county court or
10 The auditor OF state these officials
simply decline to pay and lCavO tho
Just ices without redress. These county
and state officials seem TO think ii no
harm to take tho labor Of justices with
out making any remuneration, al.
though without these services IL would
DO almost impossible to administer tho
criminal laws and protect society
against the unruly and vicious.
A striking iluatrnton of tho injustico
oil our lave was cXCmpliGGd in the 70.
cent case Of Squire A. b. BGckwith, who
wac indicted NJ tho present term OF our
criminal court for failing to pay over n
certain iino amounting to 81 50, which
Ito had collected rs justice in nu as.
sault aud battery case, immediately
aitor receiving tho same.
Tho word immediately" has in fact
no legal significance, although SOME
times used by ignorant lawmakers. Tho
legal photographers explain or define it
us meaning within reasonable time"
Squire Bcckwith, during tho timc hc
has been in office, has rendered moro
service in tho enforcement OF criminal
laws than all the other Justices in the
county, very small portion OF it be.
Ing OF such n character ne brought into
his hands money for fines. For these
services the squire has repeatedly rem
dcrcd his bills to the county commits
sioners and tho auditor OF state and
urgCd'a settlement OF the matters in dit
ference between them, but these off.
Gals have turned deni car TO all his
opportunities and At the same time in.
sisted upon his paying over tho last far
tulHb uuo lOT INES TtCBlNeu.
States and communities ought to deal
with men upon the same broad and
honorable principles that one honest
man deals with anOthcr-and all honest
claims should be allowed pro and con.
But this mode OF dealing with tho
squire did not suit the views OF the
county commissioners and they, like
Shylock, insisted upon the payment OF
the last cent OF their claims against the
justice, while they left him to whistle
for what was due him. and in order
TO make good their demand they resort.
cd to the criminal court and had him in.
diCted.
To all fair.mindcG men this proceed
ing will be regarded as very unjust.
Squire Bcckwith without o partical
OF delay promptly met the issue, and
on Saturday last his counsel appeared
to tho indictment Immediately and de-
INJURED to i. and moved to quash il.
After able Arguments on behalf Of the
state by Mr.. ". G. McCann, the assist
ant prosecuting attorney, and Messrs.
Z. 7. Caldwell and W. 4. White, for the
defca dant, the court took time to con-
slider the matter until to-day, when
after an able opinion the judge, Hon. J.
NJ. Jackson. decided that tho demurrer
was well taken and quashed tho indict-
mcnt, and the defendant was dismissed
Squire Beckwith is an able and iutelli-
CONT gentleman, who has held several
important and responsible offices IN this
county, and has always acquitted him.
sell with credit to himself and benefit
20 the community. His many friends
will rejoice at his acqulttal, and public
opinion demands that tho same meas
urc OF justice shall he metod gu. to
those who render service to tho county
and state in preserving good order in
the community rs if done for private
individuals. OBSERVER.
ParkersGurq, ". Va, Nay 81, 1894