The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-01

Sheriff Frank p. O'Brien has prepared
the following statement:
/ have been daily expecting reply from
the commissioners court of Jefferson coun-
ty to the message of Governor Johnston
and the report Of Examiner CoWan on the
condition of the affairs of said county, as
administered by said board, therefore L
have refrained from noticing portions OF
both documents calling attention to allow
ances made the sheriff of Jefferson county,
which leaves the impression on the casual
reader that such allowances were made
contrary to law.
The governors reference to several items
on page s. are clearly misleading. He
says: 81 will mention some items taken
from the county treasury without the
slightest color of law. The commissioners
pay annually to tho sheriff of Jefferson
county for the keeping of dogs, $500" The
public is led to believe from this statement
that 1 being paid SIS monthly simply
to feed pack Of dogs, without any infor-
nation as to the uses to which said dogs
are put. Now for the facts in the case.
The SIS monthly appropriation is for pack
of bloodhounds, used to track violators of
the law, and handled by an experienced
man to whom 1 pay $50 per month. In
addition thereto furnish and feed horse
at a cost of S. per month, hire negroes to
assist him in caring for and training the
pack weekly and in running before the
dogs, to whom 1 pay SIG per month. have
also built a large stockade, containing KEN
nels, 75x200 feet, on rented ground, for
which pay IS per month ground rent. The
cost of food for the pack will average SIS
per month, making a total of $104, or $29
monthly in excess of the appropriation
made by the commissioners court, to say
nothing of the investment of several hun
dred dollars expended for dogs, a horse,
kennels and stockade.
Has Been the Rule
The allowance for the keeping and hand
ling of a pack of bloodhounds in jefferson
county, has been the rule for several years
during my predecessors term, for a time
the appropriation was discontinued by the
board, deeming it an unnecessary expense;
the increase in crime among a vicious ele-
ment in our county, who have natural
fear of the man-trailing bloodhound, was
so great that the same board instructed
Sheriff Morrow to again secure pack of
dogs and reinstated the allowance formerly
made. s5
The efficiency of the dogs are well known
to the officers of the law of Jefferson coun-
ty. since my administration there have
been fifteen captures made by the dogs,
notably among the number the negro Frank
Cook, who murdered the Southern railroad
conductor, Blackman, and who has been
sentenced to hang, without the aid of the
dogs the guilty party could not have been
detected. They are also standing men,
ace to evil doors, and are well worth four
times the amount expended in keeping
them. The governor is honestly mistaken
In his statement that this expenditure is
| ,unwarranted. The board are authorized
by law to expend money wherever in their
judgment the interest of the county war
rants such expense.
Acts Have Been Repealed
On pages 30 and 81 of the examiners re-
port, he refers to sections 1411, 1413 1414 and
1422 which make 1t the duty of the COM
missioners' court to make special appropri-
L atoms for heating the Jail and furnishing
water etc., and which provide that a war
rant shall be issued payable to the sher-
if IN compliance with section 1411, and also
provides that 1t shall be the duty of the
sheriff to furnish all courts of the county
necessary lights and fuel during their ses-
sion, etc. BY reference to the acts of
the general assembly. 1t will be seen that
Continued on Third Page.