Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-25
CORTLAND. Va. February q. 1896.


T, the Editor OF the Dispatch:
Your kindly reference to the letter Of
Sheriff Pulliam, published in the Dispatch
of yesterday, has emboldened me TO ask
for little space In your valuable paper
in which TO express my hearty concur
rerce in what he has 30 well said. and
by your permission to express some Of
my views on the recent act Of the Le-
gislature changing the law in regard to
the conveying OF convicts to the peniten-
tiary.
fully agree with Sheriff Pulliam. We
have not been fairly treated. This mea-
sure was not carefully considered, ex-
cept from one standpoint. Had we been
Informed OF what was being done we
would have made any concession con-
slstent with justice and right, as we are
willing and propose to- do now. 1t is
our purpose (as many Of us CAM to as
semble In convention i'm the city OF Rich
mond on the 18th instant. and appeal to
the Legislature to give US Justice; repeal
the committee bill and substitute the
Vale bill, with such amendments as
the Legislature in their wisdom may
think proper TO make, only allow the
poor, hard-worked sheriff the one plea
sure that pertains TO his office-that OF
an occasional visit to the capital OF his
state. This, / think, they cannot refuse
to do. We are citizens of this Common
wealth, taxpayers, and are as fully i'm
bued with the principles OF economy, re-
trenchment, and reform as the members
or the Legislature or any other class OF
citizens of this Commonwealth. We only
object TO being the special subjects of
GCnDOmV lot o1tl all
But Is this economy, and will II re-
duce criminal expenses as its patrons
claim? j think not. and will give a few
reasons why. Under the old law the
sheriffs would frequently get the Clerk
df he was an old, experienced one. and
the Judge would allow ~ to make up
the records and take his prisoners to
the penitentiary several days before the
adjournment of the court. Under the
new law this cannot be done. Notwith-
standing the law says the Clerk shall
forthwith transmit TO the Superintend-
ent of the Penitentiary copy OF the
judgment, II cannot be done until the
records are made cut, the minutes Of
the court signed, and the court finally
adjourned for the term; because II Is no
judgment until 1t Is matter OF record.
and has the signature of the presiding
judge. Then. and not until then. can the
Clerk officially transmit to the Superin-
tendent OF the Penitentiary a Copy Of
the judgment. Meanwhile the prisoner
languishes in jail, an injustice to him,
because his time only commences upon
his registration at the penitentiary. and
an unnecessary cost to the Common
wealth. l think that II will take several
additional guards at from $40 to $50 per
month. There are seventeen counties that
hold court on the first Monday. They
are scattered all over the State
from Allegheny in the West TO
Princess Anne on the Atlantic. Also,
seventeen hold court on the second Mon
day. ranging from Wythe In the South
west to Northampton across the Chesa-
peake. Eighteen hold court on the third
Monday ranging from Warren In the
Northwest and Smyth In the Southwest.
Twelve hold court on the fourth Mon
day, ranging from Fauquier in the North
to Brunswick on the North Carolina
line in the South, with the other
thirty-six counties and the cities sand
wiched between Monday and Friday.
You can see how utterly impossible II
VIII be to have prisoners promptly re-
moved without large guard force at
regular salary, work or play. / never
heard that guard could travel cheaper
than sheriff. nor did 1 know that the
distance was shorter from Richmond to
the court-houseg of the counties than
from the court-houses to Richmond.
The cost Of transporting lunatics is evil
IDENTIFY less, and should not be compared
with that Of convicts. The reason is
very apparent. There are three State
hospitals. situated in different parts OF
the State, therefore more accessible.
Thanking you for your kindly words,
and hoping you will lend US your aid in
securing a compromise measure satisfac-
tory alike TO the Legislature and our
selves. am. yours truly.
j. w. WILLIAMS.
Sheriff of SOUTHAMPTON.