The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1905-02-10


mentioned, but we suppose that
was just added for good measure
and to make the amount look re-
spectacle. Now, let us take up
these items, follow them closely and
see if they are correct.
1st. Clerk hire, $500. The bill
provides that the Clerk shall have
$500 for his services and this item
is correct.
2nd. Rent of courthouse and Of
fees, $500. This is his second item
of expense. 1t is put in to deceive
the dear people in whose interest
he claims to write. Everybody
knows, our Representatives know,
and the author Of that article knows
that the town of Obion is to furnish
at its own expense the courthouse
and all necessary rooms for Clerk
and grand jury, and for holding
court; and the mentioning of such
an item is made solely to deceive
and is absolutely unfair and unjust.
Srd. Minute book and docket,
$lG0. In answer to that item we
will say that we people in the lower
end of the county lead somewhat
simple and frugal lives and are not
accustomed to writing on such ex-
pensive paper. We don't want any
minute books and dockets bound in
silver and embossed in gold, we
will be contented with ordinary
court books which cost about $500
each, and $40 worth of books will
be fine enough and last us two
years. We don't propose to get
extravagant. Ordinary ink and
writing peHs win do us, aud here is
an item that was omitted, but we
will say now in case it is hereafter
brought up that we doH't want any
gold pens in diamond settings. and
a 5-ceat bottle of ink will last MS 6
months.
4tt- Transporting .prisouer $,
$500. From this item one not ac-
quaiuted with the facts would con-
clude that quite a nUanber of our
dear people are jatl birds. How-
ever, this item is ridiculouslg alb
surd, and is too unreasonable to be
believed by aay one. If you avant
to get at the eexact,expense of trans
porting Pclsoners to Obion for trial
the first question to ask is. how
many prisoners will have to be
transported eEery year. In E904
there were six prisoners In Jail at
Union City frosn this end of the
county, and this is more than ANY
previous year would average.
Read the following letter from ].
T. Chiles, Sheriff of ObiOn County. |
TO T. o. Morris at Obion:
Upion City, Tenn, Feb. g, 1905.
Il. d. Morris. ESQ, Obion, Tenn.
Dear Sir: You asked me to render to i
lou a statement of the number of |
prisoners that were held ia jail to be
Tied at the January, May and Sep
ember, 1904, terms of the Circuit
COURT for the 5th, 9Th, l1th, l4th and
5th Civil Districts and that part of
No. 8 lying west and south of the Troy
md Trenton road and the Troy and
Iornbeak road to District No. 5. 1t
S as follows: Coleman Fox, January,
day and September; Oscar Bridges,
lay and September; Will Stanley,
January: Martin Leonard, Pete Bran
lam, j II. Porter, September.
Very respectfully,
j. Il. CHILEs.
Now, you can see that during the
,hole year OF 1904 there were six
risoners in Jail in Union City from
hese lower districts, and the dis
inguished gentleman who writes
o freely for the good of~the dear
eople would have you believe that
would cost Obion County $500 a |
ear to transport six prisoners
rom Union City to Obion. The I
abroad fare for these prisoners
iould be altogether for a whole
ear about $50, guard could be
often for $50, and we suppose that
le other $3.50 would go to the feed
Ig of these prisoners for the very :
lort time they are at Obion. .
bion County would certainly not 7
Il such good table to her Jail !
irds, and the learned gentleman a
no speaks for the dear people GER !,
Linly knows that these prisoners I