The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-11-22
PERRY COUNTY OFFICIALS
SEVERELY CRITICISED
Oficers Reported As Not Giving Prop
or Attention to Their Duties.

Frankfort, hy.-fupilc ohicers III
Perry county are conducted in very
unsatisfactory manner, according to
state Inspector and Examiner Nat B.
Sewell who reported to total of ST.
32727 which he says is due the State
upon examination of the offices made
by Assistant State Inspector Alvin
Steger.
He collected from Circuit Clerk w.
G. Combs, $212.93; from Sheriff j. r.
Combs, $269.S5, and from ex-Sheriff A.
B. Combs, $265.4O. Besides amounts
paid by them there remains due the
State, according to the report, from
County Clerk B. P. Combs $1,SO7.5O,
from former County Judge e. c. Duff,
$1131S; from Jailer r. G. Baker,
$1O3.5O; from former Jailer James
Holiday, $291.S0 from Chester Dun,
trustee of the jury fund, $12, and $3.50
from magistrates.
"Officers are not giving proper at
tention to their duties or keeping
correct record of their acts" he said
He compliments the Circuit Clerks
office, but the clerk is seriously han
dicapped by the lack of cooperation
of the Sheriff, Jailer and trustee OF
the Jury fund. The Sheriff fails to
make prompt returns, on processes:
the Jailer discharges prisoners with
or without legal authority without re-
porting to him, and the trustee main
tains his residence in Lexington. The
Commemorative Attorney is lax in
prosecuting the collection of fines and
forfeitures."
Mr.. Sewell thinks that after the
Commonwealth Attorney receives his
part of the fines he should be just as
active for the benefits of the State.
The Sheriff and his predecessor are
competent and fearless men," Mr..
Sewell said, "but it is found to be not
only true in Perry, but in a large
number of other counties, that the
principal function of the Sheriff Is to
E'play politics. He can either fine OF
not fine a violator of the law, collect
or not collect an execution, just as
it suits his political purpose"
"In one instance the eX-Sheriff re-
turned capias against his own de
putty mot found
Upon examination of the records o
the County Clerk the examiner fount
that the clerk had practically aband
aimed the office and has left its ad
ministration to deputy. The record
in this office show that the clerk ha
failed utterly to make proper report
to the Auditor and has continually ne
1 elected to remit money due the State.
Recommendations made for the i'm
provement of the County Judges of
flee in 1916 we're not carried out, an
s he ran the affairs of his office with tn
i same negligence and lack of bushes
:, methods until the end of his term.
In one instance he. sought to over
l ride the order of the Circuit Judge
y directing the Circuit Clerk refuse t
certify any misdemeanor indictment
y to the County Judge for trial. The Cir
: cult Clerk, obeying the order, was hel
in contempt and placed in Jail by tn
County Judge.
"The present Judge went into oftlc
y January 7, 1918, but the examiner car
> not upon this examination say tha
= any marked improvement has bee
shown in the administration of thi
= office. The County Judge fully az
counted for all money due but is as
v Stunning in the conduct of his offiC
J. some of high-handed methods employ
d ed by his predecessor"
u Mention then is made of the faC
u that by order of the County Judge tn
s jailer released a prisoner, sentence
> to ten days and 800 fine in Circu
J; Court, before the fine had been serve
Z out.
Il "In respect to the records and az
r counts of the ex-jailer it appears thu
}. the administration of this Office hf
been the result of either incompetent
: or wilful disregard of the law" sa
Mr.. Sewell, who said, 1t was ICON
/ mon practice for the ex-jailer to r
lease certain prisoners upon the o
/ der of the County Judge.
"These orders show that the pri
oners were released under guard {
account of bad health and in some Il
stances the prisoners escaped und
guard"
The present jailer, Mr.. Sewell sal
promised that he would discontin
following this precedent.
DnnV cHVppEn IN rAGK nE WIN