The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-19
ALTMAN'S CHARGES ABOUT FEE SYSTEM ARE SENSATIONAL Cites Cases to Show Iniquity of System as Conducted
 in Jefferson HUNDREDS OF CASES THROWN OUT OF COURT Because Arrests Are Made by Spot ters," But Citizens Have
 to Pay Fees Just
 the Same

John W. Altman, county chairman Of the campaign in favor of the proposed anti-fee amendment in an interview to- day brings strong and almost sensational charges against the system as 1t has op- erated and Is alleged still to be operat- ing in Jefferson.
 He declares that deputies have em- ployed negro spotters, and that to land victims in jail these negro spotters have started craps games. Hei 'rges that so venemous has become the fe- stem that certain men have made it their business to swear out warrants against alleged of- lenders, and he cites instances.
 Another interesting matter he recites is in reference to the cases thrown out by the courts.
 Would you believe" he asks, that in the criminal court alone 1000 cases were thrown out during the month tuner
 He then adds that the juds.% so acted in accordance with their sense of jus tice. but that. at the same time, the peo- pie of the county were compelled to pay the fees produced by these untenable cases.
 MT. Altman's Statement Mir Altman's statement concerning these matters follows:
 No man who does not frequent the criminal courts. who has not actually observed the inmates of the jail or who is uninformed of the number of arrests for trivial offenses in this county, can appreciate to any degree the great good which will result to suffering humanity by the abolition of the fee system in this county. A world of unnecessary hard- ships and human suffering will be, avoid ed in the future by the adoption of this constitutional amendment. To my mind, the outcome of the election on this amend ment Is of far more importance to the people of the state of Alabama than is the result even of the presidential elec- ton.
 There has been a time in Jefferson county when certain deputy sheriffs had negro spotters. It was the duty of these negro spotters not only to spy around and find out where craps games were in progress, but also deliberately to work up games, to start games. then notify their utpuiy ao thdt thc baiAiNiPoiifS in the games could be arrested and jailed. The spotter was usually arrested along with the others, and turned loose when the jail was reached. This was one way 10 make business. It was one of the ways that the state and county were mucted of fees.
 Tt was commonly known that at one time in Jefferson county certain deputy sherffs were paid on a sliding scale they were paid according to the business they brought in. Their compensation in- creased with the number of arrests made. These conditions are possible because of salaries the incentive for such work will have been removed.
 Those Who Suffer
 Do you know who suffers by reason of the present existing fec system? Do you wish to know? We'll, in the first place. the poor man, the man without iniu- ence, the man without friends. The man who needs most the helping hand. These are the persons most likely to be cast
 into prison for some trivial offense and carted from the prison to the penten- tiary.
 'I know of one case where a poor ne- gro was kept In jail all one summer. The records did not show what he was in there for, or upon what authority, and no one remembered-an he did not know. He was probably put in with lot of others caught in raid, and was lost sight of. He had been lost in jail. Fin- ally he was turned out. l presume that the county or state paid his board bill.
 There are hundreds of cases every year |, ~a1 ttf frtxr ial offenses. and, if they are fortunate enough to find some one to pay the fine and costs or confess judgment therefor they-and In many instances their wives and little chidren-endure the pinches of unusual poverty in order that they may either reimburse their benefactor who paid the fine and costs for them or that they may in installments pay the amounts due on the confessions of judg- ment, as the case may be.
 Paid for Warrants
 There was an instance a few days ago which came to my personal attention in which poor Italian woman, the sole sup port of five children, whose ages range from months to 10 years, had been ar rested on Il different warrants. The warrants had been sworn out at different times during several months. and il sepa- rate cases docketed against her for vio- ldt1ng the revenue lhW. The tOtdl or tne fines and costs had she received the usual fine would have been about s11Oo. I ex- plained to Solicitor Heflin and to As sistant Solicitor Locke that if she was fined in any one case she would have to go to jail, take her sucking baby with her and that her other little children. two of them little girls, would be without her care When the matter was called to the attention of Judge Greene he readily agreed that justice did not demand that this woman be imprisoned. and the cases were dismissed. The man who swore out eight of those warrants is so thoroughly discredited before our courts that all cases in which he makes the affidavit are dismissed But the people foot the bills. It appears now that he has been making a business of swearing out war rants, having sworn out several hun dred of them He was told by the pre- siding judge the day before this wom- ans cases were called that if he swore out any more warrants the costs would be taxed against hims Today. another man stated on oath in open court to Judge Cahalan when he was taxed with the costs in certain cases and ordered to jail himself that he was paid q each for every warrant sworn out by him. A man whose sbusiness 1t is to swear out war rants, Think of 1t. This Is the fee sys- tenn in Jefferson county Will any man who reads this refuse to vote for the amendment which, if 1t carries, will make impossible such a condition? I think not.
 Thousand Cases Dismissed There would be great deal more suf- ferIng because of the fee system than