The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-08-30
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have become involved. Mr.. Todd was
bonded by the United States Fidelity
and Guarantee Company but SO far the
bonding company has not been required
to put up anything toward the short
age. The administrator of the Todd
estate, under order from the Circuit
Court, las been making payments on
the shortage until 1t has been reduced
TO only a few thousand dollars. and
there is hope that the estate will yet
pay ont in full when all claims are
settled. Meanwhile. however, the coun-
ty is out its money, and although n
bonding company was employed as Sc
curity. no effort has been made to
require them to put UP the shortage.
During the trial of the Hechler case
last winter Judge Scott remarked from
the bench that he believed the bond
ing company should have bian held
for the shortage, but the Common
wealth's attorney has not entered any
suit against this company other than
"A friendly suit against Todd's admins
tratd.
The Fee System.
There is much complaint Of the sys-
tern of trial OF small offcnses in the
county, there being number of magis-
trates and constables who are de-
pendent on the fees from the trial of
such cases. The fault is largely in
the system, the State law providing
that where a man is convicted lie Shall
pay the costs, which include botI st6S-
istrates' and cOustables fees. When
acquitted the State pays the cost, but
the state only allows one-half as much
as may be charged if the COSTS ave on
the prisoner. The effect Is to place a
premium on conviction, If only for the
l.offense of being a suspicious charac-
ter" Where a tramp or railroad bum
cannot pay the $3.50 fine with seViral
times as much added as costs" he is
sent to Jail for sixty days, to live IN
the new 100000 jail at the expense OF
the county and the profit of the sheriff
who collects his board from the Com
monwealth,
The Pottcr's fricId.
A mere recent exposure of what may
be either inefIicicncy or neglect, is the
careless manner of identifying bodies
found in the county, and the manner of
their interment in the Potter's field.
The story was told In fun in The
Times Dispatch of Monday, and has
been fully verified, that the body of
Il white man. respectfully dressed, and
a train conductor on the Chesapeake
and Ohio road, was found in the river
III an advanced stage of decomposition,
and was buried in the Potter's field
with no effort to establish his identity,
or TO communicate with his friends,
other than to ascertain whether he was
a man for whom 500 reward was
offered. From the published statement,
which has not been denied. this man
had on film when found his switch
key. stamped by the road by which he
was employed, railroad time table
such as employees use, on which was
written his street and post-offce adj
dress in Charlottesville. The con-
ductors body was hurriedly buried in
n rough box in an unmarked grave in
the Potter's field, without either rail-
road company OF street address being
notified, and 1t was only through the
efforts of the city detective force that
the identity of the man was establish
ed and the body cxhumed and taken
away for burial. Although this matter
was published ip fun several days
since, no action has been taken by the
county authorities. and none seems to
be contemplated.
An Improved Electorate.
Last June an official of the Deep
Run Hunt Club was told by a con-
stable that he had found the bodies Of
three negroes near the Belt Limo tracks
where they had been struck by train.
on being asked who they We're, the
constable said he thought they Were
Barton Heights negroes, but did not
know. AT any rate, he got SIS apiece
for burying them, and showed no dis
position TO extend his inquiries to such
a point as To establish their identity.
Possibly lie feared their friends might
take the bodies and relieve him of his
fees. Certainly the system seems ia
put premium on such an Idea.
All of these have been matters of
public knowledge and public comment
and have been repeatedly referred to
in the papers A revival of the public
conscience is believed to have come
! In Henrico, With the annexation, the
criminal element that fringed Il part
of the city has heen taken i'll. With
! tho poll tax and registry requirements
only the better class of citizen Is en-
/ titled to vote, and the new and reduced
electorate in the county Is believed tc
be an intelligent and conscientious one
1t Is also q taS-paying vote. and the
| sovereigns are making but few prom,
| ises to the candidates. but are doing
| some serious thinking on Their owr
/ account