Omaha daily bee., 1901-02-13
COUNTY ATTORNEYS NEGLECT
Legal Staff Shows Rank indifference 20
Polics Court.
CASES DELAYED FOR LACK OF ATTENTION
Prisoners Arc JnucccssariIy Kept IN
jail Pending TRIAL. while Prose-
cutting Witnesses give IN IN
Disgust aud withdraw.


and the Office OF the county attorney have
been kept hot for several days in an en-
deayor to attract the attention Of some rep
resentative OF the county's legal depart
ment to the business waiting in the city
iail IL was stated yesterday morning that
not one OF the members OF that stan had
called at the Jail since Friday and cases
have been waiting ever since then for dis
posal.
Late in the day after the court had
adjourned one OF the assistant attorneys
arrived and managed to stay long enough
TO prepare the complaints. but the swearing
Of the complaining witnesses had to go over
until afternoon,
Cases Demanding Attention.
Here is the list Of those who have been
waiting
Charley Davis. arrested last Thursday
night while entering Joseph pezdirtz's sa-
loon also wanted in Council Bluns for two
burglaries.
Frank Rooney. arrested Monday for rob
bling several rooming houses in Omaha,
South Omaha and Council Bluffs and Tues
day identified as the man who, in Septem-
ber 1900, held up Mrs. Joe Wasnlewskl
for her pockctbook containing $50 gold
piece. An engagement was made with the
county attorney to take up his case Fri
day, postponed by county officials until sat
urday. but not considered until this morn
ing.
Harvey Mason. arrested two days ago.
Complaining witness called at the head
quarters several times to see the county
attorney and apparently became tired Of
waiting longer, for he could not be found
yesterday.
Fred r. stone. arrested Saturday night
for highway robbery. Complaining witness.
James Harrington. also in Jail.
Lena Wallace arrested for larceny from
person.
Campbell and two others, arrested yes
| terday for burglary.
How tn. court works.
The custom which has prevailed for some
| time In reference to this business needs
! little explanation. that the situation may be
/ understood. Police court begins work about
! $3.50 or Q O'Clock every morning and an
| other session is held at o'clock in tho
afternoon. The usual grist of drunks and
! vagrants is first put through and then the
Judge takes up any other cases that may
| be on hand. II a prisoner enters plea OF
not guilty his case Is set for some future
! time and he Is given chance to consult
| an attorney
II has been the custom for the assistant
! county attorneys to alternate In attending
to business at the police station. One of
| them Is expected to be on hand every
morning 10 investigate whatever cases may
have been brought 20 light. For the last
| two weeks l.. |. Abbott has been attending
police court. For the fortnight previous,
! Harry L. Burnham looked after the new
! business. though |. J. Dunn appeared In
most OF the cases.
Too Busy ut Something Else.
/ According to the police not representa-
| tive OF the county attorneys Office reported
at police headquarters from Friday after
| noon until Tuesday morning Several re-
quests were made Saturday that some one
be sent to attend TO the business. Monday
the calls on the county attorneys Office
we're repeated. First the promise would be
that some one would be down at once and
when the call was repeated another re-
sponse would be that they were all busy.
Meanwhile the prisoners and the complain
ing witnesses ragged 81 the system, or lack
| of system, and the police were blamed for
unnecessarily OBTAINING persons in Jail