The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-28


there are six bailiffs allowed yet only five
are detailed and paid for by the county.
In reply to his query: do the bailiffs draw
this amount in compliance with the law or
is the amount paid. TO the sheriff? found
nothing upon the books in regard to the pay
of bailiffs except in the vouchers of the
sheriff.. the affdavits of the baillifs
hereto appended will show how near cor
rect the statement is which closes the par
agraph above quoted:
The State of Alabama -
Jefferson County,
Before me- Albert Stradford, a notary
public in and for said county and state,
personally appeared, Thomas F. Parker.
bailiff of the city court of Birmingham, and
A. w. Burgin and A. A. Vines, bailiffs of
the criminal court, who being by me first
duly sworn, say upon their oatbs that GER
tifcates are issued to them, and they draw
their compensation for services direct from
the county authorities and that Sheriff
o'Brien has nothing at all to do with pay
ing them.
(Signed) T. F. PARKER,
A. w. BURGIN
A. A. VINES.
Sworn to and subscribed before me, this
9th day of February, 1899.
ALBERT STRADFORD,
Notary Public.
l, Albert Stradford, a notary public, do
hereby certify that In my own personal
knowledge, T. D. Reeves the bailiff of the
grand juries for Jefferson county draws
his compensation from the county author
tiles. and that Sheriff O'Bren has nothing
to do with paying him.
February q, 1899.
ALBERT 6TRADFORD
Notary Public.
And again:
"In February, 1893, the legislature passed
an act authorizing the sheriff to summon
two guards to be in attendance at the jail
at compensation of not exceeding two dol
lars per day for each guard. The law pro-
vides that this amount should be paid upon
the affidavit of the sheriff that such guards
were summoned and attended. I found no
affidavit on fle"
Warranted by Special Act
SHERIFF OBrien' Is again thankful to the
Impartial examiner for admitting that his
misleading reference In his "impartiaF re-
port to the governor as to the fact that
1.-THE sheriff of Jefferson county was also
allowed to draw for two guards at the jail
at 81 per day." was warranted by a spe-
cial act Examiner Cowan, the guards are
summoned according to law and are always
on duty.
Again he says: "I did not have suff-
cient time to go into detail of all the
amounts allowed the sheriff on account of
the jail and otherwise I might have re-
ferred to amounts allowed for meals and
deputies at elections, cartridges for sheriff's
office. $50 paid for building stable for
sheriff, and at the last August election $50
paid for the services of fifteen deputies at
the polls. The last item seems to come
under the head of ex-officio services. Per-
haps these were proper charges, perhaps
not might also have mntiond the
amounts for soap, pearline. insect powders,
etc, for the Jail; but I only mention these
things in order to throw some light upon
Sheriff O'Briens motive in defense of the
commissioners.
JAMES G. CowAN,
Asst. State Examiner of Public Acts.
montgomery, February Is. 1885,"
The statement that meals were allowed
the sheriff at elections is absolutely untrue
Meals were ordered for managers and
clerks at the two large beats in Birming-
ham by the commissioners court for the
reason that 1t is neither safe or expedient
for them to leave the polls to get meals
and for The additional reason that 1t always
requires them two days to hold an election
and count the votes, and the law only pays
them for one day, regardless of the amount
of work to be done. One thousand Win
chester cartridges were purchased for the
sheriff's office last June for rifles which
are the property of the county to be used
IN case of emergency should posse COM
itatus he summoned. There Is no law
which requires sheriff to furnish arms or
ammunition to posse.
The Stable Near the Jsii
A stable was built adjoining the old jail
on the county property which cost the
county $50; hospital has been recently
erected in the game building at cost of
about $500; why not suggest that the sheriff
nav for this improvement also. See section
1863, code, 1.-THE printing and delivery Of
the baots and cards OF instructions to
voters shall, in municipal elections be paid
by the several cities or towns and In all
other elections by the several counties re-
s,..ctiyely' in lieu of this item fifteen ex-
ira deputies were allowed at the larger
| polling places in the county to insure good
| order.
Sheriff o'Brien recognizes the impartial