Gilpin observer., 1906-08-02
|ND|CT OFFICERS
TELLER COUNTY GRAND JURY
FINDS EIGHT TRUE BILLS.
SHERIFF. BELL IS NOT HELD
Two Months Session Finally Results
in Bringing Many charges-Forme,
Deputy County Clerk Indicted for At
tempted Bribery.

tempted Bribery. s....,...,
Cripple Creek, Colorado.-The Telle,
county grand jury, after two months OF
practically continuous session. was dis
charged yesterday by Judge Sheafol
after submitting it's report True bills
we're foundl against eight individuals
six of them public officials. All with
TWO exceptions were for misdemean
ors. The report was a lengthy and
wordy on6, containing fifty-seven pages
of foolscap, closely typewritten. Those
indicted, together with the offenses
charged, are as follows: 1
Edward Bell, sheriffyof 1TsHer county
malfeasance in Office. 'fhe specific
charge against Bell is the charging OF
$3.50 to the county for the feeding OF
twelve prisoners. This amount had al
ready been refunded to the county.
j. A. Curry, justice of the peace at
Victor, excess charge Of fee to the
amount of $500 and $500.
S. G. Patrick, justice Of the peace
at Cripple Creek, similar charge, the
amount specified on two counts being
65 cents and so cents
F. o. Weak, constable, Cripple Creek,
80 cents.
F. P. Sheafor, constable, Cripple
stables are charged with excess fees
C. A. Gillett, four counts, viz: NAL
feasance in accepting the sum of So in
cases which were dismissed. In this
instance in one case a charge OF as.
sault and battery brought by a wife
against her husband, was dismissed,
the defendant paying the costs. Other
cases were similar in that the defend
ants paid costs, saving the county
considerable money.
G.. S. Hoag of Victor, captain Com.
pany X, Colorado National Guard, for
mer deputy county clerk, was charged
with attempted bribery on two counts.
Those of offering $4,000 TO County
Commissioner w. E. Meek and $500
to County Commissioner C. S. Dawson
in return for a contract to trauscribe
the records of Ell Paso and Teller coun-
ties.
Tom Brown of Goldfeld, who was
arrested about two weeks ago, had a
true bill found against him for the
murder of Chris Miller at Goldfield on
election day, November 8, 1904.
The bonds of the parties were fixed
at from $4,000 for Brown to 5000 of
those accused of malfeasance. The
charge against Sheriff Bell was imme-
diately nolled by District Attorney C.
c. Hamlin and approved by Judge
Sheafor.
Immediately after the true bills were
returned and informations filed, Dis
trict Attorney C. C. Hamlin nolled the
case against Sheriff Bell, and, in Ian
guage most sarcastic, referred to the
untiring efforts of the jury in conduct
ing a thorough examination. In stat
ing that the case would be nolled he
seemed to treat the investigation as
travesty on justice, and during the
course of his remarks said:
Il wish to say, however, that up to
the time that my active service before
the grand jury ceased a condition of
affairs was disclosed by the evidence
before the jury in the sheriff's office
which passed my understandings
condition of graft conducted month
after month, aided and supported by
perjury, forgery, falsifying of receipts
and records; but it seems that the
jury, in its wisdom, has seen fit to
pass over all of these charges. 1t has,
however, returned one indictment
against the sheriff of this county, and
has returned it upon a charge which
1t would be utterly, entirely and abso-
lutely impossible to convict him before
any jury"