The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-12-18
Governor is Asked to Act
In Case of Sheriff Ellis
ecsataauaa ron yirst Raee.l

(Coaf1Huad from First Ra&e.l
he varaoum witnease was very active
IN @T1nR1A@ out testimony and explain
lug to fh@ board and the attorneys as
senlbIed the mileage which had been
charged by the sheriff IN the partlcu-
ar cases and the number OF miles he
had actually travelled.
There was q mass OF other evidence,
which had been gathered by Deputy
johnson and Clerk Macgibbon on
hand, but the commissioners decided
TO terminate the investigation when
the witnesses who had been heard, fln~
~ BIG CROWD PRESENT.
when the investigation began yas-
ferday morning the court room was AL
most Alled with interested spectators
and listeners and the interest was in
tense.
The Enclosure inside the railing was
practically filled with the board OF
commissioners the attorneys connect
ed with the investigation, the parties
involved, court officials and the news
paper men.
4 mass OF evidence IN the way OF
documents and records were piled on
the tables In front of the commission
ers, but these were not gone into In
detail during the sessions held yester-
day. However, these documents which
INCLUDE the commitment cards Of the
sheriff. the release cards OF that ofIlce,
the cost bills from the time the present
sheriff went into ONCE and various
other papers are still IN possession oe
carefully audited before the next meet
ing. which is to be held the first Tues
WITNEssEs CALLED.
The names OF the witnesses summon
ed by the county commissioners. all OF
whom were present, were called and
were az follows:
j. T. Cooper. j. c.. stuckey. John
Long. J. J. creemer, ]. D. Archer. Hugh
McCurdy, g. j.. Walker. e. q. Parsons,
r. s.. Gilmore, Jack McCurdy. w. A
Purvis. J. r. Gray, w. G. Beck and
c. G.. Bewley.
The witnesses were sworn In BY the
circuit clerk and we're placed under
the rule and sent into the witness
COUNTY ATTORNEY MAKES
STATEMENT.
Judge John G. Avery, county attor-
ney, stated the purpose Of the meeting.
saying that while on the face Of 1t,
It looked very much like a court, such
'ygaG not the case and the meeting was
called simply for the purpose OF care
fully and thoroughly investigating car.
tain cost bills, because of the fact
that lt had been claimed that some
bills now pending as wei an some al
ready paid to certain officials were ir-
regular and illegal.
He said that this ines ting was held
in order that the board might deternn-
Inc whether or not the bills referred
to should be paid and whether or not
any official or oficials had received
more from the county than they were
entitled to. In which event the amount
should be refunded. He said this body
could simply determine whether or not
sny charge should be made against
any ofnciai and that the board did not
have any authority TO prosecute any
Official, even though 1t should be shown
tat irregularities did exist.
SHEHlFF'S ATTORNEY TALKS.
Hon. Sam Pasco, who, with Hon c.
Moreno Jones, represented the sheriff,
stated that II was not the intention
OF Sher1n Ellis to in any way interfere
with or attempt to hinder the irvesti-
cation but that il any OF the claiiR1s
ct overcharges could be substantiated
and cited to the sheriff he stood ready
and eager 20 pay them and that IL this
was the only purpose OF the investiga-
ton no examination Of witnesses would
be necessary.
Mr.. Pasco said that IL Il couid be
shown that the sheriff had received
any costs to which he was not entitled.
counsel Tor the sheriff and the county
attorney could arrange the matter sat-
'A0'0sAS U T I ysTE eaT minutes.
The first witness place upon the
stand was w. G. Beck the county sur
veyor. It seems that Il is the conten-
tien Of the clerk that the sheriff put
IN bin for serving Mr.. Beck for fury
service in October. Cost bin shows
that "a miles were charged while wit |
ness said he was not summoned
When asked by the clerk IL he had
been suhpoenaed for jury duty during
the month OF October, the witness re-
piled that he had not. In reply ia an
other question, he stated that he was
at home on or about October is. but
that he had not been subpoenaed to az.
tend court at that time, and that he
did not attend court as q juror
Mr.. Beck said that he lived ahn,,t
four miles from Atnore
This witness was not questioned hv
either the attorneys for the sheriff or
oy Hon. =. u. d. Yonges who repre-
scented Chief Deputy Hartsfeld.
J. 7. COOPER.
J. i. Cooper, who, according In his
testimony lives 10 miles northwest az
BIun Springs was the next witness.
he said that he served as q Juror DUR
ing the october term of the court OF
record he said that his summons had
oseu left with his wife and that he
did not know what officer took it to his |
home but that he attended court and
served on the jury. 100 miles charged
on cost bill and testimony shows 90 |
miles actually tsaxsIsd;
]. 9. Skuckey testified that he lived
1ouF miles from Bluff Springs and /
about the same distance from Century,
and that he was subpoenaed by Depu- |
~ Sheriff Graham for jury duty in fhe |
court Or record during the second /
week IN October. He said that he came |
70 court and that his mileage was for I
fifty miles.
J. J. cREEMER.
j. y Creemer, who lives about 10 /
miles north or Blur Springs. was the |