The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-11

Reports on an examination of the books and accounts of the Clerk or the City Court and of tho Sheriff of Mont fgomery County, covering period oi six years, were read and submitted to the Board of Revenue yesterday py Judge John Purifoy, who has been en- gagged as special examiner for several weeks to look into the affairs of the various offices of the County
 Judge Purifoy began first with an examination of the books of the Clerk of the Board of Revenue, and a1ter 2 report on this office. he was directed ! to examine other County offices Judge Purifoy was yesterday allowed Slza py sthe Board for the work he has com, pIeted on his last contract. He mas yel to report on the Tax Collector, tne Probate Judge and certain matters III reference to the hire of convicts
 His reports on the office Of CierK oi the City Court follows:
 Report Ca Clerk Matthew's
 To the Honorable Board of Revenue or
 Montgomery County:
 I In accordance with instructions from your honorable body, authority Tor which is given in section 3, of an I zact to establish a Board of Revenue for Montgomery County" approved March lii 1875. (Acts of 1S74-5, p. xxx 514), I have carefully examined and checked the books and accounts of, Hon. Ii. H. Mathews, deceased. as clerk Of the ACity Court of Montgomery with refer Sence, to his collection and payment ot Smonev into the county treasury.
 Solicitors fees. Judges fees. fines end forfeitures. imposed to be paid into Athe City Court are the sources from which he received money to be paid in- Ito the county treasury. under the m Attractions of the Board, my examina- tion covers a period, beginning six xHyffh fhh ftptnhpF Sterm, 1906, of the City Court and in cluded the period, ending with the July term. 1906. & 5~ Of this period Mir Mathews served as clerk to the date of his death. COW ering the February term, 1906 His Fbooks and vouchers show he had paid ako the county treasurer, all money col- Elected by him. and due the county, ex- cept the fees and fines shown in cxhlh- ht A, hereto attached, which exhibit ss asked to be taken and considered a bart of this report This exhibit shows that Mir. Mathews was due the general fund of the coun- ty. on account of solicitors and judges eees collected, less commissions, $139.lT, and the fine and forfeiture fund. less Commissions, $44.65, on account of fines land forfeitures collected by him, total AS1S3.65. This sum was promptly paid to the county treasurer, by his repre- tentative, when called to her atten- lion.
 Section 5 of "An act to regulate the dne and forfeiture fund of Montgomery county" etc, (Aets 1S7S--9, D. 246). requires clerks of the several courts of Montgomery County to report and pay over all money collected by them, be- honging to the county within fifteen Jays after the adjournment of any term of such court. Section 6 of said act. provides thatIfailing to report and pay over money belonging to the county. as required by Section C. the clerk shall be liable to five per centum, nionthIy, damages for every month of such fail ure.
 It being clear, to my mind that Mir. NdathewE failure to pay over the above sums was an oversight, and the fuTth- Ter fact that his representative made brompt payment when called to her att tention. have not insiIed on the pen- alty provided for in section G.
 Fees Go t0> Treasury.
 When the City Court of Montgomery was established by the Legislature in } S63. to provide for the compensation r6 the judge in addition to his salary of $3.00O, he was to receive as a fee s3 for each case not defended, and $5 Tor each defended in said court, to be taken as cost. These fees applied to all eases. whether civil or criminal. and Ito all criminal eases. whether felony pr misdemeanor the fee was uniform.
 Section 1, of "an act to fix the saI-