Smyrna times., 1908-09-16
PRISONERS ON sHERIFF's FARM

PRISONERS ON SHERIFF'S FARM
Kent Levy Courts Investigating Com
mittee Sends Case of County Graft
To States Attorney General
An adjourned meeting of the Kent
County Levy Court was held Monday
for the purpose of hearing the ad-
dltional report of the investigation
committee into the alleged irregular
tiles OF certain county officials, in
eluding Sheriff William F. Hartnett.
Justice of the Peace E. F. Wood.
and Constable John w. Foreaker.
Before proceeding with the report on
Justice Woods and Constable Fore
aker's bills, Thomas C. Frame. Jr..
stated that he represented the sheriff
and Justice Wood, as we'll as Con-
stable Foreaker, and as such attor-
ney, desired fair and full investiga-
tion. He intimated that the investi-
cation should be made in the pres
ence of the accused men and that if
was for the court to decide whether
any Irregularities had been disclosed.
Attorney Anderson for the court. in
formed Mr.. Frame that a full and
fair investigation had been made and.
that the Levy Court was fully cogni-
zant of the facts as secured by the
committee. After considerable dis
cussion between the two attorneys
as to the sheriff's bill, Mr.. Frame
stated that he was ready to produce
the sheriff to answer any questions
that might be put to him.
Prisoners Worked Sheriff S Truck.
Question arose as to number of pris-
oners in the Jail in June when the in
vestigation first began, it being con-
tended by Attorney Anderson that
on the day he and the committee.
Messrs. Hudson and Walker, visited
the Jail, there were but five prison
ers confined therein, when there
should have been IL. Sheriff Hart
nett was brought before the court to
explain this condition of affairs. and
did so by stating that the other six
prisoners were working in his truck
patchA When the sheriff made this
explanation a motion was made bv
one OF the commissioners that the
answer be made a matter of record
and spread upon the minutes, which
motion was carried unanimously.
Further inquiry showed that on the
day they visited the Jail the commit
tee were informed that there was
but l8 cells in the jail and that often
four and sometimes five men were
confined in one cell. That when
Sheriff Hartnett took charge of the
Jail there were 48 prisoners, and that
shortly afterwards more than half
were removed to the New Castle
County Workhouse, leaving compara
lively few men in the Jail. At this
point Attorney Anderson for the Lew
Court took up the last bilr of Sheriff |
Hartentt's; amounting to 50, 1O8. 81 |
for the months of March, April and
May of his wear, which he contended
was incorrect, excepting SLAP. II. The
bill submitted was for the board and
of tramps. This bill.
Attorney Anderson claimed, could |
not possibly be correct, as in order
to have bill of that amount it
would have necessitated the keeping
In jail at that time of 136 prisoners.
when, according to the statement of
the turnkey of the Jail, a brother
of the sheriff, the highest number of
prisoners they had ever had in the
jail was go.
Justice of Peace Wood Makes Report
The committe then submitted the
report on Justice of the Peace E. F.
Wood, a committing magistrate of /
Dover and Kent county, which was
read by Attorney Anderson, as fol-
lows: Bill from January I'd to March
oIh' 1SOf, 944. 81; oVercharged, 81. as;
should have been $39. .85. Bill fom
March 9th to June Both, 1907, S129;
overcharged, $9S.5O; should have
been $3.50. Bill from November
18th, 1907, to January 7th, 1908.
SAG. 10; overcharged, $28. 80; should
have been S17.2O. Bill from January
7th to March End, 1908, S165. rs;
overcharged, S149.2O; should have
been $22.05. Bill from March I'd to
May 4th, 1908, $2S9. 30; overcharged.
S2l5.2O; should have been 1924. 10.
Amount paid Wood, 1923. 95; amount
overcharged, 1882 should have
been paid, S13s.7O. The account of
John W. Foreaker, constable, was
then taken I'M and rood &c eoI1