The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-28
WILL NOT SUPPORT
JAIL PRISONERS
Auditor Notifies Sheriffs and Ser
geants That State Mantle
nance Is at an End.

Following the recent decision OF the
Attorney General concerning the en-
ploymcnt Of the prisoners in the iails
OF the state ON the public roads. Au
ditor &. Lee Moore Yesterday sent out
a letter notifying the sherins OF coun
ties and sergeants Of cities that he Will
no longer allow accounts for the keep
OF iailbirds after reQuisition has been
made for them by the Superintendent
Of the Pcnitcntiary Major Wood will
call for the prisoners rs fast as they
can be used by the state Highway
Commissioner, and after he has done
so, scrgcants and Shcritrs cannot claim
money for their support.
Letter Of Auditor.
The Auditors letter is rs follows:
Commonwealth of Virginia.
Office Of tho Auditor OF Public .Ac-
counts.
Richmond. Va. March -. 1918.
To the Sheriffs of Counties and Ser
Ecants Of cities:
Gentlcmen.-Under the law tho State
does not pay for the board or other OK
pcnSc Of prisoners confined III Jai. Tor
violation Of city or town ordinances, nor
does the state pay for the board and
other expense Of state prisoners con
fined in Jail who arc used upon the
chain gang Of = city OF town. The
board and other expense OF such pris-
onerS must he paid out of the funds
Of tho city or town.
Tie State has, by law. made all
prisoners confined in jail for violation
OF STATE, law or failure To- pay amy
fine OF penalty imposed upon such
prisoner for violation Of state law,
except such prisoners who show to
the Judge good cause ana except such
prisoners under the age Of sixteen
years and except such prisoners
over the age OF sixteen years
/ \. nf ON a,
/ years. 1t being discretionary with
/ the court OF judge to deliver the pris-
/ oncrS between these ages, =, part of
/ the state convict road force 1t is
: mandatory upon the judge Of every
I Circuit, Corporation or iIustiuCs
Court of the Commonwealth upon do
mand OF the Superintendent Of the
4 pcuitcntiary, to require the iailcr
+ Ohat is tho sheriff or sergeant uC
3 every county or city To deliver TO the
Superintendent Of the Pcnitcntiary.
upon his order, all such prisoners. The
has made and sill continue To make
demand for such prisoners: therefore,
no state prisoners, other than the
three exceptions noted above, after
such demand has been made, can lac
allowed to work upon town or city
chain gang, nor can their board and
other expenses hc paid to the sherins
and scrgcantS out az the state treas
urY.
YOU Will find printed below copies
uf correspondence between certain
state officers and the Attorney Gen
cr;,l bearing upon this matter.
ann having prepared forms upon
which aiicriffs and scrgcants Will make
out their accounts for board ~: Stat'
prisoners, upon which forms arc print
ed the affidavit to bc made by tn.
sheriff or sergeant, and a copy Of the
order Of court TO be entered by The
court aud certified to the Auditor %
Public Accounts.
These forms will lac furnished ever!
sheriff and sergeant as soon rs print
eli.
Until receipt Of these forms account,
for board of prisoners hereafter sen
to this Office should have attachc'
thereto affidavit and court order il
the form printed below.
Yours very truly
tSiSncdJ q. LEE MOORE,
Auditor Public Accounts.