Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-07
OFFICIAL DATA.
Charles B. Ferry Furnishes Fig
ures on Liquor Expense.
Statements of "Tax Payer" Refuted and
Attested Document Produced
from Court Records.

EX-assistant clerk of the central dis
trict court, Charles B. Perry, Esq, and
clerk of the Millbury board of selectmen
for the year, 1895, takes exception to
statements made by Taxpayer" and
present member of the board of select
men of Millbury," as printed in the Spy
of Feb "a, pertaining to the disposition
of certain monies connected with liquor
officers fees. Mr.. Perry writes the Spy
as follows:
MilIbury, March 8.
To the Editor of the Spy: The state
ment is so full of errors and so mislead-
ing, probably by intent, and so full of
insinuations and thinly yelled accusa-
tons, it seems to call for correction. 1
do not wonder that Taxpayer is in the
dark but how "a member of the present
board of selectmen" can confess his i'm
ability surprises me, especially when we
are told that he must be elected another
year because of his intimate knowledge
of everything pertaining to town affairs
1 trust this article will enlighten not
only them, but all who may have been
mislead by the above article, and who
care to know the truth. The foot-note
quoted may be found on page II of the
town report for the year ending March
l, 1895, and the explanation as to where
the money went is an easy task. By
laws passed in 1890 and 1891, expenses of
officers in criminal cases are paid
by the town, and fines paid in the lower
courts are paid to the town in which
the offence is committed. Should the
defendant appeal from the decision of
the lower court or be imprisoned or be
discharged, the expense is borne by the
town, so that Taxpayer is right in so
much; but is wrong in stating that 1--WE
have to stand the cost of the court and
also the cost of the prosecuting officer"
for the only court expenses in such con-
tingencies as are mentioned are the ex-
penses of the prosecuting officer, as
witness fees are paid in all cases by the
county. Taxpayer is not entirely
right in his statement that when a pris-
oner is convicted we receive a portion Of
the fine as a reimbursement" With
the exception of few complaints for a
violation of law, such as keeping an un-
licensed dog, violation of fish and game
laws, and peddling without a license,
where portion of the fine is paid to
the person making the complaint, the
entire tine goes to the town In the usu-
al offences against public order the en-
tire fine belongs to the town. When an
officer takes a prisoner before the court
one is imposed, the officer is usually
paid at once, if the fine imposed is suf-
hcient to cover his fees, or if there is
enough money in the hands of the clerk
OF the court belonging to the town. If
the prisoner does not pay his fine or
should be discharged, and there should
be no money belonging to the town in
the possession of the clerk, then the
clerk sends a certificate to the town
treasurer stating the name of the officer
ana the amount due him These certifi-
Gates are usually sent each month
Checks for funds belonging to the town
in the possession of the clerk of the
court are sent to the town treasurer on
the flrst of each quarter beginnine
Jan of each year.
The following facts are taken from
the records of the central district court
Of Worcester:
Central District Court of Worcester in
Account with the Town of Millburv: