The Elbert County tribune., 1906-08-02
.INDICT OFFICERS
TELLER COUNTY GRAND JURY
FINDS EIGHT TRUE BILLS.
SHERIFF BELL IS NOT HELD

Two Months Session Finally Results
In Bringing Many chsrges-Forme,
Deputy County Clerk Indicted for At
tempted Bribery.
Cripple Creek. Colorado. The Teller
county grand jury. after two months oil
practically continuous session, was dis
charged yesterday by Judge Sheafor
after submitting its report. True 5ills
were found against eight individuals
six of them public officials All with
two exceptions were for misdemean
ors. The report was lengthy and
wordy one, containing hfty.seven pages
of foolscap, closely typewriter. Those
indicted, together with the offensee
charged, are as follows:
Edward Bell. sheriff of Teller county
malfeasance in office. rhe specific
charge against Bell Is the charging of
$500 to the county for the feeding OF
twelve prisoners. This amount had al.
ready been refunded to the county.
]. 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.
80 cents.
f. p. Sheafor, constable. Cripple
Creek, 40 cents. Both of these con
stables are charged with excess fees.
c. A. Gillett, four counts. viz: NAL
feasance in accepting the sum of IS in
cases which were dismissed. In this
instance in one case charge OF as
sault and battery brought by a wife
against her husband, was dismissed
the defendant paying the costs. Other
cases We're 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
ner deputy county clerk, was charged
with attempted bribery on two counts.
Those of offering $4,000 TO County
Commissioner w. T.. Meek and $500
to County Commissioner G. S. DAWSON
in return for a contract to transcribe
the records OF Ell Paso and Teller coun-
ties.
Tom Brown of Goldheid, who was
| arrested about two weeks ago. had a
true bill found against him for the
murder OF Chris Miller at Goldfeld on
election day, November 8, 1904.
The bonds Of the parties were fixed
at from $4,000 for Brown to 5000 of
lnDbe ucCuBeu OIL mliIcdSnnCe. Inc
charge against Sheriff Bell was imme-
diately nolled by District Attorney c.
G. Hamlin and approved by Judge
| Sheafor.
Immediately after the true bills were
returned and informations filed, Dis
| trict Attorney G. G. 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
ana records; but 1t seems that the
| jury, in It's 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 1t upon a charge which
it would be utterly, entirely and abso-
lutely impossible to convict him before
any jury"