Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1896-03-10
CASE OF OFFICER ACTON.
Testimony OF witnesses Confined OH
Ger Acton Tss'ifies in His own
Behalf

The defence in the charges against Oh
ficer Harry e. Acton, of Brooklyn, for
false, fraudulent and exhorhitant charg-
es against the county, began its testlm0-
ny today. Justice George W. McDOn-
aid testified that there were summonses
issued by him for a number of witnesses
living in the city OF Baltimore in the
case of William II. Nails. This is case
where the officer was charged with put
ting in bill for summonSing witnesses
from the city of Baltimore when there
were none summonsed IN the case. MIS-
George w. Mcdonald testified TO help
ing to take care Of weak-mindcd lady
who was In charge of the officer, and to
the expenses incurred by Officer Acton
in taking the lady to Philadelphia. In
this case the officer charged over $40. as
his expenses were over 50. lie took care
of the lady under order of the county
commissioners. Nathaniel Arnold tes-
titled to going after Booze Blum with
Officer COlbOurn, in whose name a charge
was made, which the complainant said
there had been nOservices rendered. Geo.
L. Mcdonald testified that Officer Acton
had paid the fare of John Clark to Ann
apOlis for court. Clark testified that
Acton had not paid it. Officer Colbourn
testified that he and Officer Acton would
buy coal quarter OF a ton at a time for
the lookup at. Brooklyn, and would,
when the amount would reach a ton or
two, put in bill for the whole amount
to the county commissioners. This was
in contradiction to Mr.. John II. Gels
testimony, who proved from Lis books
that only half ton of coal WAS purchas-
cd from him, whilst the county in the
same period. was charged over a ton.
The county commissioners, before whom
the hearing was had, then took a recess.
Oaicer Acton was put upon the stand
this afternoon and testified in his own
own behalf. He said he got out search
warrant Rector, and went TO Kelley S
place, and COlbOura took a seam up; ii
was necessary to have tean-could not
get along without one: it WAS great
saving to the county to have team as
he had to pay as high as So for team.
Warrant was issued fol- Mrs. McCor-
mack, but could not find her; she was
hard woman to get; would run away and
hide; took team and went to Masons-
vile for her. Sarah Dale had charged
Gurke with assault and we kept her at
Stewards and reported the case to the
States attorney: was ordered by State S
attorney TO bring her down to Annap-
oils: did not summons anyone but DR..
+. Il. Robinson and Mrs. Mcdonald, to-
gether with other witnesses in the case;
bought eight ticket for them; had to buy
medicine, hire hack to take her to the
courthouse and pay for their dinners
the whole expense of which was S13.S9.
He said he paid the expenses of the wit
nesses, Clark and Brooks to Annapolis:
all the witnesses that were brought here
were by the authority of the States at
torney, which cost the county $500 for
every witness. Vouchers were shown
where former county boards had paid as
much as S1l.00 per witness. In the case
of the Tucker children, he said he acted
under authority, and that in similar cases
the county ha1 paid $1,000 for taking
persons to institutions of commitment,
while he only charged $500, while under
the law he could have charged 80 90. AS
to the coal charges, he said that while
the coal and wood was purchased in
quarter of toll lots, he was requested by
ole of the com missiOners to wait until
it amounted to ton and render his bill
for ton, which he did, and it amounted
to that February lst; he SAID the county
still owed him for ton and a-quarter
of coal, which he never charged; that he
never bought coal in quarter of ton lots
for his private use. Here the witness
was turned .over to Mr.. Munroe, the
attorney for the prosecution, and the
case closed for the day.