The age-herald., 1901-03-13

Jones' Joseph Gagnon, W. G. Meragan, K J. Foy, J. E. Adams. John Gross, Tom Jones, A. s. Sweet, George F. Dearger James Rider and M J. Quigley, each ot whom were charged with the offense ot unlawful riding the train. On the 4th day of March, 1901. the day set for the trial of these cases by request of the defend ants County Court was held and Hon Zell Gatson, Judge. presided.
 Of the above named defendants. the following plead guilty: Nell Peterson James Mcclure, Frank Herman, Lewis Wilkins. John Perkins. John Lewis, James Langford (colored), Charley Jones w. G. Meragan R. J. Foy, J. D. Adams Tom Jones' A s. Sweet; and the follow ing interposed the plea of not guilty, and were tried by the court. Ernest Schlu- ter Joseph Gagnon, John Cross, George F Laeger, James Rider and M, J. Quis- ley.
 The trial was had on the morning of March f. 1901, and after the court heard the evidence in the case, they were each ascertained to be guilty by the court, and in default of the payment of the fine and costs, the court thereupon sentenced each of the defendants to hard labor for the county and ordered that 1 remand the defendants back to jail.
 When 1 carried the defendants, who had not been sentenced, to the jail, the following parties requested that l ask the judge not to have them brought out to the court house to be sentenced. but that he come there and pass the sen tence upon them. Their names were as follows Neils Peterson, James Me Guire, Frank Herman, Lewis Wilkins, John Perkins, John Lewis, James Lang ford (col), Thomas Elliott, Charlie Jones, w. G. Meragan, R. J. Foy, J. D. Adams, Tom Jones and A. s. Sweet
 Sentenced in the Jail.
 I delivered the request of the defend- ants to Judge Gaston at o'clock, and when court was called, thereupon. Judge Gaston went over to the jail in my com pany and passed the sentence of each Of the defendants who had interposed a plea of guilty. This was done at special request of the defendants as they stated they did not want to be brought out into the court. On March 5, 1901, all of the de- fendants who had plead guilty, and who had been tried and ascertained to be guilty, and been sentenced by Judge aGs- ton, were delivered over to the proper authorities.
 In reference to the employment Of MT J. w. Storey as deputy for the purpose of arresting tramps in this county, here with append to this letter copy Of a sworn statement made by MT. Storey on March 8. 1901.
 Since I ascertained MT. Storey was not executing the law properly. I discharged him, and he Is no longer in my service.
 J. H. HARTLEY,
 Sheriff of Butler County
 I desire to say further the complaints in reference to the manner In which Storey Is said to have arrested people was never brought to my attention or knowledge until within the past few days, since which time I have discharged him.
 J. H. HARTLEY.
 Tho two foregoing statements Sub- scribed and sworn to before me this, March g, 1901. MICHAEL L. WOODS, Assistant Examiner of Public Accounts.
 Storey Makes Affidavit.
 Deputy Sheriff Storey made the follow ing affidavit to the examiner.
 In reference to the manner In which l have been arresting parties who have been charged with unlawfully riding rail- road trains and the authority under which I have been arresting said parties, I will say I have been employed by the sheriff of Butler County. on the request of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company to arrest said parties. At no time in the past have l been employed by anybody else, paid by anybody else, or worked under any other authority.
 When I have made affidaVts against parties charged with unlawfully riding railroad trains and vagrancy, l have in vartably made lists of witnesses thought necessary to prove the cases for the State. In many instances 1 have given the same witnesses in different cases, and 1t was, because l thought they were nec- essary to prove that the parties were vagrants and not residents of Butler County, and railroad men who knew that the defendants had not been riding trains on ticket or permission from railroad authorities. I have further given names of witnesses who have heard the defen- dants make confessions of their guilt. While I have given seemingly long lists of witnesses In these cases, I considered them necessary to prove different parts of the States case in the event the. par ties fail to plead guilty.
 In many cases the sheriff gave me the subpoenaes to subpoena these witnesses, which I did, and so reported to him, though they have at times failed to lp- pear, and I understand they claim they didn't get subpoenaed. did subpoena them though. and so stated to the sher- If. I say emphatically that no under standing or agreement was ever had with any one under which, In case I failed to secure evidence to convict any parties arrested by me. the charges were to be withdrawn and not appear on the docket. Given under my hand this Sth day of March ,19O1. Sworn to and subscribed to before me this Sth' day of March. 1901. t4
 A. T. RAMAGE,
 Al.a