The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-01-18
0|I1N!Q|IC5RERE:.AI
MONEY T'AKEN|IN
FROM 'YOST Law L
Less Than $500 Collected in
Total of $500 In
Fines.
OFFICERS GOT $1,000
Costs Fifteen Dollars To
Prosecute Each Viola
ton Of Law.

Fines, aggregating $500 and court
costs estimated at more than $1,000
have been assessed against the viola
tors OF the Yost prohibition law by
justices of the peace in Marion county
during 1915 according to the reports
completed today in the Office of Clerk
of the County Court A. G. Martin.
The reports show that fines have been
assessed against 73 persons. In addi-
tion each of the persons fined has
been sentenced to work for at least
so days on the county roads.
The reports show that $4S3.10 has
been collected in cash and turned over
to Sheriff C. D. Conaway. The amount
OF Yost law fines uncollected amounts
to $7,716.90. The law requires that
uncollected fines shall be worked out
on the county road gang, the prisoners
being allowed 81 day credit on his
fine.
Justice of the Peace R Leigh Flem-
ing has sentenced the great majority
of Yost law violators. He has sentenc-
ed SO persons, nine of them to pay
fines of $500 each and 54 to ay fines
of s100 each. Justice. M. r. Musgrove
has sentenced seven persons to pay
fines of 500 each for violations of
the Yost law. Fines of 500 have been
assessed against one man each by Jus.
tice L. L. Parrish, of Worthington;
Justice ]. M. Barrack OF Warrington,
and Justice Lee Toothman Of Farm
ington. The half score or more of 9TH
er justices in the county haye sentenc-
ed mo one for violation of the Yosti
law. III
On account of the large amount of
fines uncollected and which must be
worked out. on. the county road gang
1t is difficult to estimate to what eX-'
tent the enforcement of the Yost law
has affected; the finances of the coun.
ty. With less than $500 of'the $500
in Yost law fines collected in cash it
is evident that the money return is
not large. The cost of $15 on an av-
erage for prosecuting each Yost law
case making total of more than 81,
900 In costs for the year in most
cases it is said by the county to con-
stables, justices and witnesses but 1t
must be returned to thr county by
the prisoners either in cash or laUur
on the county roads. During 1915 the
most Of this amount has undoubtedly
been returned in labor.
With between $500 and $4,000 in
Yost law costs and fines worked out
on the county roads against $500 col
lected in cash the question of to what
extent the county profits financially
by the enforcement of the Yost law
must therefore be determined by what
has been accomplished toward the
improvement of county roads by pris-
on labor. 4
A credit of 81 day is allowed the
prisoner against his fine for each days
work and the sheriff is paid 60 cents
a day by the county for feeding priso.
ners working on county roads as
against so cents allowed for prisoners
confined In Jail, In addition guards
for the road gang must be paid, wag.
ons must be hired to carry the priso-
ners to work and certain amount Of
shoes and clothing must be furnished
poorly clad men before they can be
compelled to work on the roads.
Closely associated with the enforce.
ment of the Yost law is the enforce
ment of the law against drunk
enness. During 1915 total Of IS
persons were fined 81 and costs each
for drunkenness by the justices OF Ma
rion county. OF these fines 81 were
imposed by Justice Fleming, 80 by
Justice Musgrove imposed fines of H$5
Parrish. Fines Of S. and costs were
imposed on one man each by Justice
Fleming and Justice Musgrave for
drinking on trains. A fine Of SIS was
assessed against one man by Justice
Fleming for drunkenness in mine.
Justice Musgrave imposed fines Of IS
each on 81 persons for smoking ciga-
rettes and Justice Fleming fined is
persons for the same otfense. Justice
T. G. Price OF Monongah imposed one
fine for. smoking cigarettes. &jI
Fifteen persons were sentenced to
pay fines. OF from SO. to $25 each by
various justices of the county for un.
lawful hunting. Justice Musgrove fin
ed 10 persons for speeding aueomo-
biles.
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