The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-03-19
Charles Jordan Will Find Out
Whether or Not Part of
Fines Have Been Turned to
School Fund.
NO GROSS VIOLATIONS
EXPECTED TO BE FOUND.
in Many Counties Justices Use
Their Offices to Further
Their Own Interests Almost
Entirely.

An investigation of affairs Of juSti-
ces' courts of this county will be un-
dertaken by Charles Jordan county su-
perintendent Of public schools incident
upon instructions received from State
Superintendent FasSett A. Cotton,
IKE investigation will be made with
the view to ascertaining why more
money is not turned into the state
school fund. Supt. Jordan stated this
morning he is not prepared to discuss
the matter, as he does not know just
what is to be expected of him. He has
received a letter of instruction from
Cotton. but must await further partic-
ulars before instituting a process Of
procedure.
Jordan's Expectations.
Supt. Jordan said he does not expect
10 find any gross violations of the law
in this county. They do exist in a
number of counties, where justices
have made use of their offices to fur
1her their own interests almost en-
trely. One or two justices in the
county do not bear the highest possi-
attorneys and court officials, but noth h
ing ever has developed whereby it
could be proved malfeasance Of office
has resulted.
Forced to Tell.
Upon the advice of the state super
3ntendent, justices will be taken before
the grand juries, if 1t be found they
will not explain the affairs of their of
fices of their own vo1ition. When the
task of the examination of all the JUS
tices of the state Is completed, Supt.
Cotton expects the state school fund
to have benefited by thousands of dol
lars. The letter received by Supt
Jordan instructs him to take up with
the prosecuting attorney, mayor, and
other officials the question of unpaid
fines and fines which never reach the
school fund, and, if possible, to inter-
est all officials in the movement to in
crease the school fund. Mr.. Cotton
also informs the county superintendent
that the law makes it his duty to exam
inc the public records in the effort to
find out just how much money. if any,
is being withheld from the school fund.
The law prescribes that these records
shall always be open to the county su-
perintendents.
May Go to Grand Jury.
But, after all this is done, the coun-
ty superintendent shall look carefully
into the affairs of justices of the peace
Frequently Mr.. Cotton says. the
costs in a case form the only at
tractive feature for a justice court. If
the county superintendent can not get
a satisfactory report from the justices.
Mr.. Cotton instructs them to see to it
that the circuit court in each county di-
reefs the prosecuting attorney to send
for each justice and his records. and
IL it is deemed necessary take the JUS
tice before the grand jury and let him
explain there just what disposition has
been made of money which has been
paid in.
Mr.. Cotton sets forth in his letter
that it has been asserted by those who
have looked into conditions that at
least 100000 which is paid into justice
and mayors courts annually never
reaches the school fund.
The case of one justice who had col
iected a fine of $50 was called to Mr..
Cotton's attention. This justice turn
ed nothing into the school fund. and as
1t was known that he had collected the
$40 fine he was asked to explain. He
explained by turning the $40 into the
school fund. Mr.. Cotton presents this
story to the superintendents as an il
lustration of what it is said is going on
all over the state. He believes there
should be some way of making public
the amount of fines paid into the coun-
" treasury each year.