Smyrna times., 1900-05-16
BRIBERY CASES EXPENSIVE,
Oo'tR STATE SENTINEL" SAYS AN Ex.
PLANTATION is DUE.
Kumor Touching the Conduct of soms A.,
ia'rs In Attorney Generals Office
Excessive Allowances.

Ia erection bribery cases II
.'S iaSC issue 1t states the matter NOR
.uiiy' ana asks the Attorney Genera
Tor an explanation, as follows.
Last week we referred to corto; :,
rumors touching the conduct of affairs
IN tne Office of the Attorney Genera
ana promised to give them to the nnh
nc II, upon investigation, thew wert
round to have basis in fact. W.
nave investigated and the evidence
ga'nereo appears to furnish iustifica.
ton for their publication; and here is
the story: ID
Frank Reiman was charged with
tne unlawful use of money at the last
election. Complaint was lodged
against him and warrant issued Ho
was not arrested and did not annear o+
court. George A. Carter and Corbet
Ilmmons, the two witnesses relied
upon by the State in the former trial
against Reiman, attended the daily
sessions of the recent court. No
subpoena was delivered to the Sheriff
OF MS deputies for either of them. as
witnesses. On Wednesday of the
second week, and the seventh dav of
the session. Carter presented at the
county treasurer office an order for
SOS ior attendance and mileage, which
was paid. When Carter left tho
treasurer's Office he was met. inst ont.
side the door, by the Attorney Gen
eral, which the latter was seen to mt
in his pocket.
Shortly after this transaction Cor
bet Timmons inquired of an officer
for Carter; he was informed that Car
ter had received his money and left
town. Not long after, Timmons an
peared at the County Treasurer's office
with county order for $41. go, having
presented one before for $40. 40. the |
two making $52. Both were paid.
Ilmmons then went to the court- |
room, found the Attorney General and |
was seen to hand him one or more
notes, which the Attorney General
pocketed.
Excessive Allowances Made.
These men presented to the Clerk
OF the Peace an order for the amounts
paid them, signed by Attorney-Gen-
eral White, and thereupon the Clerk
of the Peace gave them orders on the
County Treasurer. By these orders of
the Attorney Generals, each witness
was allowed ten days attendance.
when IN fact the court had only en-
tered upon its seventh day of the ses-
sion. By the Attorney General order
they were allowed for seventy miles
travelled, when they gave their res
ldence as Wilmington, which by lib
eral construction is placed at fifty miles.
They were allowed the seventy miles I
Tor each of the ten days, making seven
hundred miles allowed to each and
paid for. 9
by the law the Attorney General I
Is authorized to compel the attendance
OF witnesses at his Office or at any time &
and at any place he may designate. ,
Hence he had the authority to COM /
pei the attendance of Carter and '
Ilmmons at the court, without sub c
pena by the Sheriff; but, the same law !
says it shall be the duty of the Attor- Il
ney General to transmit to the Clerk t
81 the Peace a certified list of the r
names of witnesses, the time of at C
and the distance travelled. I
The law further says that said list d
shall be transmitted to the Clerk of s.
he Peace at least three days before r,
he opening of the next session of the p
court tc
Now, in view of the law and the N
acts stated, the taxpayers of the n
ountY are entitled to know why ten tc
lays were allowed to these witnesses, I'll
or seven days actual attendance; why
evenly miles were allowed if only
MY miles were actually travelled;
'hat authority exists for allowing mile ', -
ge Tor each days attendance; whether :.
he Attorney General, as required by ~. ~.
aW' furnished the Clerk of the Peace ="
WITH detailed list of witnesses which "
Moulded the names of Carter and Tim ''
lons, and whether the list was trans
litted to the Clerk of the Peace at
cast three days before the session of n
ourt. -
The Facts as They Appear. y" 0s
Iaking the facts as they appear, it ad
'ouid seem that reasonable allow A..
b Hce 10 those witnesses would place ~
ne figures thus: ~ ~
SasL1ter, days attendance. ....S 100 III
MY miles travelled first week, at 6
iity miles second week. k.............. 500
Ill $500 pa
"Ae amount for Timmons. ..... 80. 1900 It