The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-30

prisoners by causing them to sur
fer the indignities of travelling as
prisoners in charge Of an officer, besides
curtailing considerable expense to them
for travel and board, besides causing
them trouble in getting bond in a strange
city. All of this was averted by the firm
stand taken by Commissioner Lehman,
and the positive statement of Commits
sioner Beckett, that after investigating
the matter he would have nothing more
to do with it.
The law in regard to the proceedings as
related in the foregoing is very plain. I'm
der an act of congress dated May 26, last,
and effective July l. all marshals through
out the United States were placed on sal
aries. Under this new law, by approval
of the attorney general, the United States
marshals are allowed an Office or clerical
force, who are also placed on salaries. In
this instance Deputy Wilson of Savannah
is on a salary and Is not allowed fees,
but is allowed to charge his actual ex-
penses where he conforms to the rules
and regulations.
Under an act of Aug. IS, 1894, the fol-
lowing restrictions were placed on the
United States marshal and his deputies
Under the provisions of this act
the deputy has the choice of two (2) Off
GERS. before whom he may take person
charged with crime. The first is the cir
cult court commissioner nearest the place
where the arrest is made. The second is
the judicial officer having jurisdiction
under existing laws nearest to the place
where the arrest is made. When the COM
missioner nearest the place Of arrest is
absent or for any reason refuses to hear
the case, a certificate from him setting
forth the circumstances fully must be OBJ
tanned and attached to the page of the
voucher to which it relates"
From the above it will be seen that the
case could have been heard before any
commissioner in the southern district of
Georgia the only responsibility resting
upon the marshal in the matter being the
deputies fees.
AS it could have been clearly proven
that Commissioner Lehman was present
and willing to sit on the case Marshal
Wilson could not have collected his fees
from the government. He would have
been paid by the Spanish authorities as
they so agreed.
The act of May 26 last, provides as to
writs: when writs are received at the
marshaTs Office they must at once be
mailed for service to the field deputy
most convenient to the place where the
writ is to be served, unless it is practical
BILE for the marshal or Office deputy to
serve them. The practice of delivering
'vrits to deputies at places other than
where they are regularly located, that
they may charge greater mileage. will
not be tolerated in the future"
In addition to the above statements 1t
is known that Messrs. Crovatt and Whit
field were notified by the chief deputy,
that by all means Commissioner Lehman
should have heard this case.
Commissioner Lehman places no blame
on Marshal Harrell. or his chief deputy
for the affair, beyond the fact that caution
should have perhaps prompted a query to
him as to his status of the case before re-
moving it from his jurisdiction. AS he
has received assurances of personal and
official consideration of a high character
from the marshaPs office, with full ex-
PLANTATION from that source, which places
them in a much better light than at first,
he is thoroughly satisfied in regard to
those gentlemen, and entertains no feel
ings other than pleasant ones for them.