The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-16
FEE SYSTEM UNDER A HOT FIRE
JUDGE BRAWLEY DELIVERS 4 SEN
sATIONAL CHARGE.

Hundreds of Gases Brought Into the
United states Courts Just to scoop
in the Fees Attached TO Them.
some of the Miserable Wrefchcs
Guilty OF the OGense Convicted OF
Perjury-The Percentage of Illegal
Prosecutions Astounding.
Charleston. 5. c.. Jan. l5.-In the United
states district court to-day Judge Draw
ley delivered very sensational charge
10 the grand jury just completing its
work. At this term OF the court the jury
have had to find no bills against many of
the parties indicted. and il was becoming
notorious that United States commission
CTS and the marshals were making cases
in order to get the fees. Judge Brawley
devoted his attention to this subject In
the course of a very striking charge he
said. Your findings have demonstrated
that 'ninc-tcnjhs of the prosecutions UNI
der section 2,-l2. have no merit in them:
that they have not been inspired by any
proper desire to advance the cause of
Justice, but by the greed of miserable
wretchCs who have sought to make money
out of them. Some of these men have al
ready been brought to trial and convicted
of perjury, and others doubtless will be:
but this OWL. which has reached the pro-
portions of a gross public scandal. cannot
be eradicatcd by the punishment of a few
obscure rascals. new crop will I'M
doubtedly spring up unless some means
can be devised for reaching the root OF it.
This lies in the Zee system"
My observations on this bench has sat
ished me that more than half of the
prosecutions under this section-in the
lower tier of counties 1 would say fully
nine-tenths OF them-are instigated or
promoted by the deputy marshas. / must
10 Marshal Hunter the Justice of saying
that ne has promptly removed every dep
MY who has been known to be engaged
in this kind of business, but there un-
doubtedly remain many persons now on
his lists who ought to be removed and
would be If the truth could be discov-
cred, and l do not despair OF seeing the
badge OF deputy marshal one of honor,
as 1t should be. Those who hold the COM
mission Of this government ought to he
above the suspicion Of doubtful acts ana
the men who disgrace the service should
be removed. They impair the usefulness
and bring discredit upon the brave ana
honest men who are on the rolls, These
faithless officials and these worthless wit
nesseS would be pOwerless for evil If the
commissioners did not lend too ready an
ear TO the tales that are brought 20
them.
The circuit judge whose long exper-
fence on this bench opened his eyes TO
these evil practices, as mine have been
opened in the last year or two, joined with
me six months ago in a circular to the
unEed States commissioners giving adj
vice and instructions in this class of
cases. These instructions have had little
effect. Human nature has been too strong
for us: / say ii with pain, for / would
not willingly hurt their feelings, and they
are all quite up to the average in charac-
ter and conscientiousness, but the wretch
ed system which makes their income to
depend upon the number of warrants is
sued makes II very hard indeed for them
TO turn deaf ear and a stern face to
those who bring grist to their mill"