The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-08-22
DALE COUNTY OFFICIALS
Make a Good Showing, Says As
sistant Examiner Foster.
ALL ARE EFFICIENT MEN
Shortages Are Due to Misunderstanding of
the Law-Feed Bills Figure Largely
In the Deficit.
Special 10 the Age-Herald.

Special 10 the Age-Herald
Montgomery, Aug. 21.-Assistant Ex-
aminer Foster has sent in some ieports
on the Dale county officials. On the office
of sheriff he says:
have examined the books an ace curtis
of Mr. E. M. c. Bowling, from November
l. 1896, to June 80, 1897, inclusive 1
checked and compared his bills for feed
ing prisoners with The jail docket in his
office, and found all cf said bills to be
correct. I find further thar all moneys
collected by him from prisoners on ac-
count of feed bills have been duly turns q
over to the clerk.
W. r. Sims, Ex-Sheriff, and A. P.
White, Ex-Sheriff-In my investigation of
the sheriff's Office from 1892 to Move mber
l, 1896, find tina. during the tsrm Of Mr..
w. R Sims he collected on executions
which he failed to turn over to the clerk
feed bills amounting in all to s9S.70 in
terest on the above ito August 90 1897,
S1465, making a total due the state of
s113.35. The feed bills covering the above
amount were also collected from this state.
L exa mined Mr.. Sims under oath as to
why these collections were not turned
over to the clerk. and he stated that he
was under the impression that he had
settled with the clerk until I called his
attention to the fact that the records
showed he had not.
This examination further shows that
Mr.. A. P. White, who upon the reslgna-
ton of Mr.. Sims was appointed and
served out the rest of the term, also col
lected and fail=d to turn over Ito the clerk
feed bills amounting to $21.S0. Interest
to August 20, 1897, $1.75. Total due the
state, $23.G5.
MIR. White being examined as to why
thes5 collections were not paid over to the
clerk said there was settlement pending
between him and Mr. Thomas at the
time of his death, which settlement would
have included The above amount, hence
his failure 20 pay over the same
Total due by Mr.. w. R. Sims. $113.35
Total amount due by Mr. A. P.
WHITE 1905
$136 40
p c. Steagall Circuit Clerk have in
vestigated the books, papers and ac-
counts of Mr.. P. c. Steagall. This ex-
animation shows that all the money COL
lected by him on account of solicitors
fees and otherwise for the use Of the state
have been duly reported and paid into
the state treasury
find that he has failed to tax upas
a part of the costs and issue execution
therefor feed bills in cases of conviction
amounting with interest to date added
to S107.62, which is more fully set out in
exhibit A and made a part of this re-
port
Mr.. Stegall states under oath In this
connection that until recently he did not
know that the law required him to tax
up and issue execution for these feed
bills
The examination further shows that
with this exception his Office is in fine
shape, and he is proving himself very
careful and efficient officer
George H. Thomas, Ex-Circuit Clerk
l find in examining the accounts of ex-
Clerk George H. Thomas that all solic-
itrs' fees collected by him while in Office
have been duly reported and paid into
the state treasury, except one fee of sis,
collected from the sureties of Eben Wells.
This amount was paid to him only few
days before his death, hence his fail
ure to report the same. The interest on
the same to date amounts to AZ cents;
he is therefore due the state on this ac-
count $15.47.
up as part OF the costs and issue execu-
ton therefor fes d bills in a number of
cases where conviction was had amount
ing, with Interest TO date added, 20 $685.
He is therefore chargeable with this
amount, which IS more fully st out in ex-
hibit "a" and made part of this report
exhibit ga" gives cases in detail)
The Investigation of this office further
shows Mr.. Thomas TO haveAbeen very
methcdical thoroug hgoing business man.
and the affairs of his Office are in an I'M
usually good condition suppose he did
not is ue executions for these feed bills
because, like most clerks, he was not in
formed as to the requirements Of the law.
Ind in all cases of confession this cost
was taxed up, and In most cases was col
lccted by the sheriff, he Cthe sheriff. in
many instances of this kind making no
charge againsi. the state for the feed
OF such prisoners, butt retaining these
fees so collected. 1t seems to have been
the custom in this county 10 tax up feed
bills only in eases where confession of
Judgement was taken.
REHABILITATION.
To amount due feed bills. :. 1929. 81
TO amount due account solicitors
uees... 49,. 15.47
iiotaf... 80 $945. 90