New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1912-08-10
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GORDON A. SANDOI.


final report, which ] am informed
was prepared by Mr. Muller, the
Dis rict Attorney, went out OF It's
way and devoted an entire para
graph to the efficiency OF the
present District Attorney, and
apparently endeavored to reply to
my letter issued to the voters OF
date June 5, 1912.
This report is being used by
Mr.. Muller quite extensively IN
his present effort at reelection to
the position which he now holds,
and. in order to clear up the mat
ter of this report as well as the
statements this gentleman makes
in his announcement as published
in the local press, have censld-
cred it wise to put some facts De
fore the voters so that they may
have an opportunity to decide Tor
themselves which is correct, nay
Letter, the report Of the Grand
Jury, or the published announce
ment of the District Attorney.
charged, among other things,
that the present incumbent has
made it n rule to indiscriminately
compromise, dead docket and
"nolle prosequi" indictments,
The report is silent as concerns
all but the dead docketed eases,
and sets forth that none were
dead docketed except where the
accused was a fugitive from JUS
tice. This is probably correct,
and as there are but II such cas-
es, the matter is not very import.
ant The report is silent as to
compromises, Of which there are
SO, and as to eases nolle prose-
ouied, Of which there are lO3..
The District Attorney is vested
with authority to do these things
in the interest of justice, but 4
deny that the ends Of justice rem
dered it necessary to so treat 1916
cases in three and onc-half years.
the period covered by my exami-
nation.
| charged that the Jail has been
almost constantly crowded with
accused persons awaiting irial,
cntailing a great EXPENSE to the
axpayers, and resulting, besides,
in y great injustice to the unforS-
unates who being charged with an
offence against the law, though
innocent Of the charge, are KEPT
incarcerated a long period OF
time awaiting the pleasure OF the
District Attorney to call up their
eases in order that innocence OF
the offence can be shown.
The jury has reported that bu'
a small number Of persons were
awaiting trial in Jail, and thoss
were charged with felonies and
were entitled to trial by Jury.
This was no doubt true when the
report was made, during July,
1912.
Tn his announcement Mr.. Null
Ter states that the Jail has been
kept virtually empty, and that
the criminal expenses have been
greatly reduced. To prove this
fact he refers You to the record.
IT these statements by him are
true, then he should present the
record to you so as to establish
their truth. Only casual exam
nation, however, will disprove
both of these statements; for IT
is a fact that the criminal expen-
SEES Of the Parish has greatly IN.
creased, and as proof Of this as
sertion ! remind you that when
Mr.. Muller assumed the office OF
district attorney, some four years
ago. the sheriff was working for
fire Parish under a contract OF
$500 per annum. This sum the
Police Jury thought excessive
and so determined to have the
sheriff work under the fee bill, as
fixed by law. A few years exper-
fence under Mr.. Muller's admin
istration Of the Office Of district
attorney revealed to the Police
Jury the fact that the fees OF the
sheriff under the fee bill were
much in excess of the original
contract price of $500 per an
nun, and it effected another ar.
/