Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1913-08-28
Officers Divide The Spells.
Poe Reports To Governor On
The Methods Of Sending
Prisoners to "The Cut"


Prisoners to "The Cut"
Here is what Attorney General Edgar
Allan Poe has revealed to Gov. Colds
borough of Maryland as result Of his
investigation into the charge that men
were being "railroaded'' to the House
of Correction:
When men are arrested for train riding
near Brunswick, Md, they are taken to
the bunkhouse at Brunswick and chained
to radiator.
Some time between and $50 O'Clock
in the morning magistrate comes to
the clubhouse and tries them. He does
this 80 that the convicted men can be
put on the 7 O'Clock train for the House
of Correction.
The deputy sheriff who takes the con-
victed men to the House of Correction is
given by the State of Maryland fee Of
SO, if there be but one man, or So for the
first and SIS for each additional man if
there be more than one.
This beneficence OH the part OF the
State, as represented by Frederick coun-
ty, has resulted in squabbles over d.
vision of these "spoils."
Mr.. Poe saw checks in the Frederick
county clerks Office showing that the
deputy sheriff was "divvying' the money
with the special officers of the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad.
The Baltimore and Ohio special men
arrest the prisoners; the magistrate sen
fences them; the deputy sheriff takes
them to "the Cut" and the special officers
want part of the easy money.
Deputy Sheriff S. E. Thomas "came
across" according to Mr.. Poe, with a
division of the money with the Baltimore
and Ohio men when he first was appoint
ed, but when he "bucked' and refused
to divide he was suddenly taken off the
work of transporting the prisoners, and
]. Emory Nelson was put on the job.
Mr.. Poe says the presumption that
Nelson is dividing is Irresistible. Mr..
Poe also points out that while Nelson is
only authorized to handle prisoners from
one district, he Is allowed to do it from
two, since Thomas refused to "come
across
r. C. House was appointed deputy
sheriff and he was told that if he kept
quiet about the fee he would be allowed
O transport prisoners. House fatty said
lie would not keep quiet and he would
not divide.
He did not get the job of transporting
the prisoners.
Charles Meters is the magistrate at
Brunswick, who does IA great part of the
trying of the cases. Mr.. Poe says Meters
office hours are supposed to be between
8 a. m. and p. m., but as a matter of
fact he tries his cases at the clubhouse.
Morgan T. Runkes is the other magis-
trate. He tries his cases at his Office.
Neither of them. says Mr.. Poe, has
jurisdiction over the cases they have
been trying, according to decision of
the judges of Baltimore city who have
sat in habeas corpus proceedings.
Mr.. Poe says the division of the fee
with the special officers is "highly repre-
hensibe" and that the conduct of Mr..
Meiers in trying the men in the bunk
house is grossly improper.
Mr.. Poe says that to the credit of the
magistrates he has found no evidence
that they participated in the division of
the money.
The Attorney-General found that at
Sykesville, in Carroll county. the magis-
trate, who is o. o. Millar, sends his COLI
victed men down to the House of Correc-
ton in the care of Baltimore and Ohio
special officers.