Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1899-12-29
ANSWER FOR THE GRAND JURY



OF the present term Of the district
court In their report take occasion to
call the attention Of the court to the
fact that Sheriff Bradbury during IL
months OF his term has turned over to
the county auditor the sum OF 81, 1865
license money, as against Sl6, 493 turn
ed in by ex-SherifI Ryan during his
full term OF two years.
Perhaps the grand jurors imagined
they were doing their duty In calling
the attention Of the court, and incl
dcntally, Of the people Of kootenai
county to this fact, but l think they
should have gone farther. The insin-
uation contained in this portion Of
their report can only be construed to
mean one OF two things, either that l
was guilty of embezzlement in retain
ing license money which / had collect
ed, or guilty OF malfesance in Office in
permitting the sale Of liquor without
license. In either case ! would be
liable to criminal prosecution, and
contend that 1t was the sworn duty of
those "most potent, grave and rever-
end" grand jurymen, II they thought
! had been guilty Of any crime or mis-
demeanor, to have Investigated the
matter, and II they found sufficient
grounds for indictment, to have in
dicted me.
II there are no such grounds, then
1t was a cOwardly and unmanly act to
take advantage or their Official position
to endeayor to condemn me by such an
insinuation.
But why did they not tell it all?
When those wiseacres were drawing a
parallel between Sheriff Bradbury's
administration and mine, why did
they not include all the business and
cost Of the sherifT's Office, and take
some note of the changed business con-
ditions prevailing in the county? AS
they were either unwilling or incom-
petent to do so will supplement their
report with few facts and figures
taken from the county books.
The amount Of license to be paid by
saloons Is based on the vote cast for
governor at the preceding election. If
100 votes have been cast for governor
in the precinct, the license fee will be
Sl26 per quarter; II less than that. it
Will he $40 per quarter where there are
two or more saloons
During my term OF Office only one
town tRathdrum) paid 1926. There
was then In Harrison for one year, one
saloon paying S26 per quarter, and the
next year two saloons paying S76 per
quarter each. There has been during
the present year in Harrison seven sa-
looms paying $l26 per quarter each
There has been in Boomers Ferry
this year Is saloons paying each 1926
per quarter, where there was during
my term four saloon paying each S76
per quarter.
There has been in Porthill IL sa
looms paying each s76 per quarter,
where during my term there was one
paying $26 per quarter. There has
been at different points in the kootc-
mai valley this year | saloons paving
each S26 per quarter, where there was
none during my term There are six
saloons at Standpoint, where there was
TWO during my term. There is a sa-
loon at Cataldo, one at st. Maries. and
one at Lane, where there was none
during my term. The saloons In Coeur
d'Alene are paying Sl26 per quarter,
against s76 paid during my term. ANY
intelligent man, even member of
mat grand jury, could have accounted
Tor the increase Of revenue without
imputing dishonesty to any one.
with equal justice the grand Jury
might have reported that fer the fun
year OF 1926 ! received from all sources.
including board of prisoners. as pay in
The sherltt's office, $500, while for tho
hrst nine months of this year Sheriff
i'radhury has already been paid. for
Ike services, Slal6 with the most OK
Pens've auartcrye remaining To settle.
do not mention these facts To reflect
any discredit on Sheriff Bladbur, who
is an honest and efficient officer. and
justly entitled to every dollar allowed
MIN. l merely wish to show the All |
sardity ot making comparisons under
s'eh changed conditions unless All Tho
facts are taken into consideration As
70 my et'icial record, court thu fun. |
est investigation; never permitted l.,
prisoner to escape from the jail: | left |
tue office without having lawsuit ON
my hands as the result of an OFFICIAL
and gave kootenai county
the cheapest administration She ever
haa Tor the amount If business dome /
In conclusion will say to those SIN.
lem grand iur,mea that | am vet a |
'ssiuett ~ huotenai county: that INV /
a.