The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1916-08-30
Mr.. GURR WRITES
OF The CITY COURT
ANSWERS DR.. WILLIFORD, AND
GIVES COMPARATIVE FIGURES
AS TO NUMBER OF CASES.

Editor Dawson News: In the last
issue of your paper was accused by
DR.. Williford of telling the people of
| Terrell county that there is not
enough business to keep either the
superior or the city court busy. !
would not take the trouble to refer
to this statement of DR.. Williford
but for the fact that some people
might read his statement who did not
read what said; if, therefore, l per-
NIT this statement to go unchalleng-
ed some people might believe it re-
CARELESS of who the person is making
the assertion.
stated that the only revenue arts
ing from the city court of Dawson
was the proceeds of fines and for
FIXTURES, and that during the last two
or three years the fines and forfeit
ures had greatly diminished in both
the superior and city courts. / also
stated that during the two years fol-
lowing the panic the fines and for
FIXTURES were very light, due in part
no doubt to the reason that the Grim
inal element was less able to pay
fines. did not make any statement
comparing the number of con-
victs during this period with previous
years. Though it is true that much
greater per cent of people convicted
of crime after August 1, 1914, were
unable to pay their fines and went
to the changing.
While it is true that the fines and
forfeitures arising from the city
court of Dawson were reduced when
the panic started it is also unfort-
unately true that there was a great
increase in the number of civil cases
filed in the city court of Dawson.
From August, 1914, to August, 1916,
there were 264 civil cases filed in
the city court of Dawson, while for
the three years prior to August l.,
1914, there were 252 civil cases filed
in the city court of Dawson. 1t
takes just as long to try civil cases
as it does criminal cases, and usually
much longer. The jurors and Off
GERS attending the court receive the
same pay while the court is trying
civil cases that they do while Grim
inal cases are being tried.
DIR. Williford suggests that we re-
duce taxes by doing away with the
least important court The superior
court docket shows that for the first
two years after the European war
commenced there were IA civil cases
filed in that court, and that during
the three previous years there were
los cases filed. SO that during the
last five years there have been 179
civil cases filed in the superior court
and SIC civil cases filed in the city
court. 1t might, therefore, be troub-
lie for a voter to decide which court
is the "least important" 1t takes
just as long to try civil case in the
superior court as it does in the city
court, while the daily expenses of the
superior court will average three or
four times as much as the daily eX-
penses of the city court.
| have no desire to dictate to the
people of Terrell county as to what
courts they shall have. l would sug-
gest, though, that if the people OF
Terrell county desire to abolish the
city court they could petition their
representative in the legislature and
have it abolished, or else have a law
passed permitting them to vote on
the subject again. Respectfully,
adv. w. II. GURR.
II I Il