Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1912-10-23
A STATEMENT TO THE PUBLIC.

Fred Biermann has devoted space
in his paper for my answer to his
charges of extravaganza. Here it is
and | have also given a copy to each
of the other newspapers in DEBORAH
for publication.
The editor of The DEBORAH Jour-
nal, after trying to defeat me at the
last election by aiding in an election
contest and in getting himself APP
pointed one of the judges, had me
counted out of office without regard
to the law or justice of the matter
and then put me to the expense Of
appealing to the District Court to
protect myself.
Now this same Biermann seeks to
discredit me in the eyes of the voters
of this county by publishing what
he calls extravagant bills for board
ing prisoners.
Now, in the first place, / say to the
public that l have absolutely nothing
to say as to who shall or shall not
be imprisoned in the Winneshiek
county Jail, and that l must under
heavy penalty of law keep all per-
sons entrusted to me as keeper Of
the Jail.
Neither have anything to say as
to what the Board of Supervisors
shall or shall not pay for boarding
prisoners.
The Code of Iowa, Section 511,
provides, the sheriff shall receive as
compensation for boarding prisoners,
for each meal and lodging IL 1-2
cents, for waiting on prisoners such
compensation as the Board of Super
visors shall allow, and l have been
allowed from 10 to 20 cents per
day, for receiving prisoners % cents
and for discharge of prisoners %
cents. So at the prevailing prices /
am compelled to, and have been con-
Quoting boarding house for any
one whom the Magistrates of the
county send me at the rate of so
cents day and / get from 10 to 20
cents extra for waiting on prisoners,
which bill the Board of Supervisors
audits and allows.
AS far as the % cents for receiv-
ing and the % cents for discharge,
these items always go to the county
and these two items should be de-
Quoted from the board bills and are
deducted from my salary when paid
by the county. In other words these
two 25 cent items for each prisoner
go to the county.
Now, Mr.. Fred Biermann, the
original official records and bills per-
tanning to the boarding of prisoners
are on file in the County Auditors
office.
1st. They show the names of each
prisoner
End. They show the number of
days served in jail by each.
3rd. The amount allowed by the
Board on each bill, the price of which
is fixed by law.
"a mittimus for each prisoner can
be shown and the length of time of
Imprisonment. The jail records
show when received and when dis
charged, and l ask you to publish
judge me.
AS contest judge you were palp-
ably unfair to me and cost me a
good part of my salary to defend
myself in court, and i think you are
still unfair.
Now, Mr.. Biermann, don't attempt
to condemn me by comparison with
Allamakee county.
Clayton county's bill for boarding
prisoners for last year exceeded Win
neshiek county's by $1,072.20. You
know that there is severe penalty
attached If l were to collect any
thing but lawful bills from this
county.
Just point out where / have done
wrong, where l have collected one
dollar that did not legally and right
fully belong to me. Don't talk
around the stump at me. Come
right out and give the facts and be
fair. Respectfully submitted,
THOS. j. QUALLEY.