The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-29
TRIMS HIS FEES.
Sheriff NOrtOn's Claims Blue
PenciIed by the Auditor.
Padded Fee Bill in the Bragg
Case.
IN MANY OTHERS ALSO
DisaIIOwed Oyercharges Amount
to $1OO Per Month.
Illegal Items Caught by Watch
full Eye of Official.
IN MANY OTHERS ALSO

Proof of a systematic practice of fee
grabbing in the sheriff's office, was un-
earthed this week. One of the first in
timations Of the practice was brought
to light when Sheriff J. D. Norton filed
a number of bills against the county in
the Bragg murder case which the audi
tor holds are illegal. The office of
sheriff is supposed to be a real gold
mine even when legal charges are
made, it being estimated that the place
is worth $4,000 per year.
One of the most common practices
was to charge the county for excessive
mileage in subpoenaing witnesses who
were to appear in the district court in
the trial of state cases. 1t has been
shown in the recent Bragg murder case
that Sheriff Norton sent SubpOenaS by
mail or telephone to his deputy sheriffs
at Silver Lake and Valencia and en-
tered charges for the full trip at 10
cents a mile, the same as though the
trip had been made by E, member of
the local force from the sheriff's office
in the court house.
Many of these bills were disallowed
in the office of the county auditor. How
many illegal claims, if any, that Sheriff
Norton has collected from the county,
no one knows. perhaps never will know.
But, if none were collected, then the
county auditors office is entitled to the
credit of safeguarding the county
treasury.
Claims on file in the Bragg case show
that Norton asked the county to pay
for serving subpoenas at Silver Lake
and Valencia, when he knew or should
have known that his charges were il
legal. To Deputy Reinheart he sent
subpoenas for Silver Lake witnesses.
To Deputy Wilkerson he sent sub
poenas for Valencia witnesses. The re-
turns on the subpoenas show this fact.
Yet Sheriff Norton asked Shawnee
county to pay 10 cents a mile from the
court house to the Witnesses homes
when his office was not entitled to one
penny These items have been re-
moved from the bills.
On the subpoenas for c. D. Wellman,
court reporter; M. Bundy, jailer;
Charles A. Sloan, a reporter; F. NJ
Bayliss. a. 5aiIer: DR.. c. M. Hensley,
county physician; DR.. H. H. Keith
coroner; and DR.. Amis, his partner;
Norton claimed for each two miles
travel Practically every one of these
men are daily required to be in the
court house and not a mile of travel
was necessary in serving the entire
list.
Auditor SIashes the Fees.
Norton claimed 81 miles of travel in
serving Robert Wilkerson, A. deputv
sheriff and father of the murdered man
Harvey Wilkerson, brother; Mrs. Fred
-'iCC1C anu Ell JCllIi0S. Ills claim was
cut to Is miles There was a claim
for "A miles travel in serving Will Cook,
Frank Cook and James Finley. Yet the
best the county auditor could see was
four miles. Nerton's claim for serving
w. NJ Glidewel, Mrs. N. w. GlideweIl
and Matte Glidewell, was cut so per
cent A claim was filed for so miles
travel in serving Charles Owens, Frank
Snoddy, and Fred Moore. But much
of the work was done by the deputies
in outlying districts and 40 miles was
taken from this item. A claim for 21
miles travel and costs aggregating $4.17
was made in serving the Bragg war
rant The facts in this matter are
that the sheriff's force walked Just one
block to serve this paper. Bragg was
brought here by Deputy Reinheart of
Silver Lake, the night of the Wilker-
son killing and a warrant was served
Bragg while he was in jail.
Sheriff Norton filed claims against
the county for 9S6 miles travel in the
murder case. But he won't receive nav