Omaha daily bee., 1901-02-01
RECORD OF CRIMINAL CASES
Assistant County Attorney Kimball Files
Hi, Report for the Y.zr
COUNTY SUPERVISORS TO CONSIDER IT
Average Cost Of Each Case IL slightly
Hish,r-Expense often saved by
Diminishing People from
Litigation.
COUNTY SUPERVISORS TO CONSIDER IT

Assistant County Attorney Kimball who
has charge OF the prosecution Of all criminal
/ cases in the superior and justice courts,
| filed his report for the year 1900 with the
Board Of County Supervisors yesterday. The
/ report will be considered by the board at
| its meeting next Monday.
The report shows the following criminal
| business transacted in the different courts
under charge Of the assistant county at
| torney:
In Justice Terriers Court-Total number
OF cases Gs, cases In which convictions
were had, 20 cases in which defendants
were acquitted. 8, cases dismissed, q; still
pending, 81; total costs taxed to county,
si7s 40; average cost per case. $7.O4
In Justice Nien's Court-Total number OF
cases, l59; convicted, 80; acquitted 2S; dis
missed, SIS; pending, II; total costs, ST.
| 1880; average costs per case. $7.l6.
In the Superior Court-Total number OF
| cases, IS; convicted, 80; acquitted, S; dis
missed, l. pending, 10; total costs, $3.50 As;
| average costs per case 81 SO.
Justice Courts Outside the City-Total
number Of cases. 70; convicted 35; ac-
quilted %; dismissed II; pending, Z; total
costs, s493.4l; average costs per case,
81. 6S.
A comparison with former years shows
that since the appointment OF an assist
ant county attorney the cost to the county
for the prosecution Of criminal cases In
the superior and justice courts has been
materially decreased. In 1896 there we're
3I5 cases, the total costs in which amounted
to $4,33 IS, or an average OF s4ll.57 a
case In 1898 there were Az cases which
cost s3,2ll.13 or an average OF 81. a
case. In 1899 there were 42S cases at n
cost Of S2,4s2 81, or an average OF Sc. so
per case. In 1900 there we're 275 cases at
a tctal cost Of 1l,766.7s or an average OF
| Sc AZ per case.
Referring to the fact that the average
| cost per case in 1900 was slightly higher
than In the preceding year Mr.. Kimball
says:
1t will be seen from an examination of
the foregoing figures that tie average cost
per case Il slightly higher this yea- than
sull less than any Of the preceding years
But while the average per case is slightly
more 1t will be noticed that the whole
amount paid by the county for these cases
Is sil559 less than was expended las; year
anG II is s2573 less than was expended in
iS'6 before this office was provided. The
| fact that the cost of these cases per case
IS slightly larger this year than last Is due
TO the fact that there have not >. N so
many cases filed this year when required
dismissal; which, In turn, is due to the fact
that the magistrates and constabes have
| referred such cases to this Office. II may
also be attributed to the resulting condi-
tion that larger proportion OF the cases
have been convictions than In previous
years, recurring a larger necessary expen-
dlture per case, the number of convictions
being almost double the number OF ac-
Need of Assistant.
Referring to the need Of an assistant
county attorney and his duties. Mr.. Kim.
ball. in his report. has this to say:
Jpder provisions made by your boar1
ahu instructions OF the county attorney the
WORK OF this office is the prosecution Of
| petty criminal cases and preliminary hear
ihss OF the larger offenses to the end that
the same can be better prosecuted than
by the magistrate, who should sit Impair
italy; and that needless expense may De
| saved. This work the law does not require
! the county attorney to do. nor has II been
done by any county attorney In The past
,r nor r. can an It be done by any county attorney
| u ne gives proper attention to the duties ~
MS MS office as required in county OF the size
Of Of, ours RS and having it's population and, city
| cities of the population Of Council Bluffs
and and larger have officers FOR this work
Is trial on an average for nearly every
working day in the year. Besides this
work this office has voluntarily aided TIE
which has been Of some value and much
saving to the county.
Cases tried or disposed of wherein the
| costs are taxed to and paid by prosecuting
witnesses or defendants are not included In
thss report for they cost the county moth
| ing rms office has no contlol over the
Ming OF informations but whenever on in
vestigation II Is found that informations
| are filed malciously without sufficient or
proper evidence or for private ends. with
| out criminal offense, they are dismissed
By, the cooperation of the magistrates
, and constabes In referring doubtful caaes
| to this office. much can be saved 20 the
| county by dissuading parties and advising
| tho magistrates against commencing pro-
| ceedlngs which would ultimately require
! dis smissal | am pleased to report chat
| there has been during the last year tho ut
| most harmony between such OfIlpars nj nd
| this office
Needed expense is not saved wherever Il
| Will aid In the conviction and punishment
| OF crime, but expense Is saved by having
| cases properly brought and preventing un.
necessary calling of and attendance Of Wit
| nesses.