Rosebud County news. [volume] (Forsyth, Mont.) 1901-1906, 1901-09-12

the judge been able to attend to his
docket. But as he was in no physical
condition at the time to look after the
clerical work of his court, he had dele
gated the work to others and under the
direction of Acting County Attorney
Lyndes. the following order was spread
upon the docket:
STATE OF MONTANA,
REGINA GEDDES, Er AL.
On complaint
OF the acting county attorney. !. G.
Lyndes. charging defendant with keep
ing house of i'll fame. The defend
ants plead guilty to the charge and
were fined $50 and said fine was paid
and turned into the county treasurer
and defendants discharged.
Treasurer 5 receipt No TO-
| That is the way it stands orr the
docket and it is unsigned Judge G ates
refusing to place his signature to tn.
order. Following this order, which i.
dated Aug. 10, are four other orders.
all with dates prior to Aug. 10, show
| that these cases were entered up at one
time and by the same person. Tw
dollars and tifty cents are charged II,
in the costs as justice fees, but there i.
no entry showing a payment and Judg,
Gates denies having received any sucl
sum, OF having issued any papers IL
the case or having any personal know.
ledge Of 1t.
coarse, even the entry in the docket
showing plainly that it was irregular.
Note the reference to the disposition oi
the money which was ''turned into the
county treasurer" and "Treasurer's
receipt No. 1o'' was given in return.
Since when has ii hecolne customary
to make such notatons in a Justice
docket? In what other entries will!
such clause be found? Do justices
run to the county treasurer every time
the collect a fine and turn it .into''
him?
Note the various dates. the original
Geddes receipt is dated Aug. !, the
"tria!" Aug. 10 ana the treasurer's
receipt Sept. I. The treasurer was
asked to date back the receipt to Aug.
10, but declined to do so.
SO the people Of Rosebud county are
,1frn,,t.aG u.iti, -
that permits an under sheriff to collect
fines without process Of law and tax.
ing his own time bout notifying the
same to the authorities. And if moth
ing is heard of it, of course the time for
reporting tbe fine can be prolonged in
definitely. 1t is a very convenient ar
rangement that will! doubtless be well
coined by a class OF petty criminals
who do not care TO answer in court.
and the office in the hands of an un-
scrupulous person person might prove
a lucrative one. 1t is fortunate for
Rosebud county that these two officials |
are above suspicion in this respect of |
course, but suppose some man not
quite SO honest as j. c. Lyndes, the
acting county attorney or his brother.
the under sheriff, happened to fill one
OF these offices, what then? Would they
hasten to the court house and have the
money in the hands of the treasurer
be fore the month expired as did these
faithful officials!
Again, the News wishes to disclaim
any intention of being unfair; the facts
as here given are culled from the re-
cords quoted, the receipt is copied ver-
Datum from the original and the rec-
al OF the case is from original sources.
In justice to the county attorney, +.
2. Gibson, it is but fair to state that
he was not party to the transaction.
ie was really not to be blamed for it.
AS he has been absent from the county
he greater part of the time since his
nculc5tion into office and delegated J.
:. Lyndes as his deputy, he, OF course,
ant be held morally responsible even
i his bondsmen are jeopardized. It is
, physical impossibility for man to
Iisit relations in one end of the state =
or prolonged period and keep an eye
IN his job at the other end, so the onus
II the deal must be borne by his deputy
md partner.
The News does not believe that
Sheriff Davis should be held account
lble either for the peculiar methods in
Qmue in his Office III. Du..is ..