The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-08-22
Mr.. McCrayy EXPLAINS

Jog upon and criticising the cXppnsos
required to run county government, AS
appears in the Comptroller Generals
report to the Legislature for 1899 1t is
true mat the gross receipts Of the
Sheriff Office for the past two wears
are considerably larger, but it must be
remembered that Lau:ens county has
an epidemic OF crime prevailing, cs-
p"cially so among the negro race. The
Criminal Courts have been SO much
crowded for the past two years until
clvil cases have not received very much
attention, all for the lack OF time. Dur
ing this epedcmic OF crime, the work
in the Sheriir'G Office has increased
over so per cent, possibly rs per cent.
This increase Of work forced me to
hire additional men ard horses 10
prosecute the same, consequently in
stead OF giving one Deputy employ
ment as heretofore | WAS forced TO hire
deputies all the time and Bird or lth
the most Of the time, besides great
deal OF work performed by me in
dlvidually. 1T is a well known fact
| that the Sheriff cannot issue warrants
| but he being an Executive officer must
| execute all legal processes directed t.
| him by ell the judicial officers Of the
| county. Our statutes fixed the fees OF
the Shertf, so if crime has b en- iu-
creased among the negroes hoN can
I .iHN loii -lllliuCu pttSOU DItnlt me:
! There is a vast difference between
the gross receipts OF the Sherin's Office
and the net proceeds. 1t has been said
| by many that Capt. Sullivan was strik-
| ing at me when he wrote the article
claiming that am the princial clligcr
that same elects fail to believe that
| Capt. sullivan wanted to do M any
injury, because he and are personal
friends. Therefore it may be that he
| ,Nth h, ..,l
SO far rs | am Concerned | seek in
vcstigation. Every warrant and other
process OF law delivered to nc for cX-
ecution is entered upon the Office re-
cord book, provided ior the purpose
Each case is entered separately the
title OF the case, date Of entry. Kind OF
process, by whom issued by whom
served, when served, and the amount
charged by law for the same. Besides
each case is indcXeu separately, so |
respectfully invite the public to call
and inspect these records: check them
up after me as the Grand Jury has
done from time to time. The Magis-
tratc's cOnstables Of LaurcnS county
are paid salary for their services. 50
when warrant is issued by the MAJ
istrate Of township and il is fNund
that the party wanted has fled ont ct
the township, the arrest warrant is
forwarded to me for execution. The
man with whom the negro violated his
contract and ran away from, presses
the Sheriff to apprehend and bring h m
to trial. Most of these Constablcs get
only fifty dollars each annually, thCrc-
fore they cannot afford to occupy all Of
their time riding after the many vC-
lators Of contracts, because the sa'nr
does not Justify same. This increases
the Sheri1's work greater and cost is
the county moro than any one other
matter pertaining to the Office, be-
cause this kind Of cases are so numcr-
Gus. Then again the Shegin of Iau-
rens county serves all OF the dispen-
sary warrants, while in nearly all the
other counties Shcritfs prefer not to
bother with them and will not serve
them only when they cannot get out OF
It. Besides there are many other
kinds OF processes Of law directed to
me, viz Bench warrants, witness war
rants, subpoena writs. etc. During
the year 1899, this Office served 100
warrants, etc, arrested SOB persons
and committed to Jail 206 persons.
| am CAD that Capt. Sullivan has
opened the way, so | am enabled to
point to the citizens OF my county Just
what has been done in my dcpartmc . t
during the year 1899, because my re-
cord shows vigilance and hard work I'LL
the time. When the people elected
me Sheriff they gave me every honest
emoument of the Office, much or lit
tie. | am entitled to the fees as are
fixed by law.
Gu" County Commissioners with the
aid Of the County Supervisor inspcc,s
aud passes upon all my claims-each
claim is itcmized. They have skilled
lawyers paid by the Taxpayers rs coun-
ell. The claims for 1899 were approved
and ordered paid by the Commission
ers Below will be found statement
OF the gross and net earnings of the
Sheritf's office, Gnring tho year 1899
Il copy Of which is already on fiji" in
the County Supervisors otllce since
he first Of the year. This report will
give the public an idea as to how much
money the Sheriff is forced to loan the
county and when paid back helps
greatly to swell the amount OF 'hc
gross receipts of the office, but in o.
der to prosecute my duties | am forced
to make them advances. Only few
Hamlet, n. G asking if a certain man
was wanted. When told that he was.
| another message came announcing
that he had been captured and 20 send
for him at once.
This man was sent for and the fol
lowing items of cash were advanced bv
me and charged against the county:
| Ihrec kilograms, 80
| One Railroad Fare to Hamlet, 1 20
Hotel bill for deputy, 80
| Feed for prisoner while on road
returning, %
| Two Railroad Fares to Laurens,
returning, 04O
Paid officer of N. c., for arrest
| ing and dieting prisoner, 80
Total, $24, 90
There are many cases OF this kind
which swell the amount Of the Shcrin
gross receipts, yet same is not Office
emolumcntS.
In referring to the statement below.
| | desire to say that same is worn
statement and has been been on file
since the first of the year. 1t gives a
| correct idea about what the Sheril's
Office pays after all the necessary ex-
| pcnscs are deducted. In conclusion, |
desire to say that If any citizen de-
s'rc5 he can meet me in the Shcrin's
Office and / will take plcasur" in
showing everything that per-
| talns to same | have tried TO be faith
fnl and | believe my Official record Will
cause the citizens to rc-elect me:
STATEMENT.
| By general amount received from
county for DIETING prisoners Ia