Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1920-07-08
Apprehension of Criminals.

come cognizant of the laws reg ulating
criminal procedure in West Virginia.
This article is intended for those who
take an interest in the affairs NJ -ho
county, and the perusal of this article
will require only little OF the read
er's time.
| Ii is curious and anomalous fact
| that under our laws the prosecuting
attorney of our county has no means,
power or machinery with which to fol.
low up an escaped criminal or fugi-
tive from justice. Suppose, for i
stance, a crime is committed in the
county, and the criminal makes his get
away Immediately, the prosecuting at
| torney's power TO arrest in West Vir-
GINA for said offense stops on tho
West Virginia line; then, under our
State laws, all that he can do uat
Sec IS A, of the 39th chapter of the
Code of West Virginia, is, with the
concurrence OF the judge of the coun-
ty court, to offer a reward for the ap-
prehension of the criminal. Manifesl
/ ly an unavailing course of procedure.
as the only way to catch a Grimm
is to put a detective on. his trail
During the four years incumbency
of the present holder Of the Office OF
prosecuting attorney, three men hav,
fled the county. All the present pros
ecuting attorney was able to do in
these cases, was TO offer a reward for
one, Roy Reed, of $4,000; 5000 OF
which was furnished by the county
and $500 by the Governor of the State
1t is needless to say Roy Reed is still
at large. 1t is true the Governor pos
/ sesseS the power to employ detectives
under our constitution, but he will ont,
exercises this power for extraordinary
cases, as is indicated in a Letter to the
writer of this article. In all other
respects the executive officer of the law
of this county is without funds.
Being in dilemma in regard to
such matters, the prosecuting at
torney of Berkeley county was consult
ed by the prosecuting attorney OF this
county, and he stated that in that coun-
| ty the prosecuting attorney was allow
ed by the county court to employ of
ficerS to assist him in the apprehen-
sion of criminals, although there IS r.
statute authorizing same, and that the
bills for said services were paid by the
county court without objection.
In Fayctte county the Governor
placed at the disposal of the prosecut-
! ing attorney a considerable amount
of money for the apprehension of erin
inals. These two counties are the on
ly counties in which the method g..
/ procedure in cases involving the ap-
/ prehenSion of the criminal Nantes.
vestigated. 1t Is true that in our
county the expenses attending the en-
forcement of the criminal laws M
been in the past few years compar
atlvely speaking negligible, but it is
no less true that three men have fled
from justice in our county in the past
. J>N''S am diS gum at ldlSC.
In the Fountain case of Maryiant
iounialn was apprehended, though the
tax rate in Talbot county was raised
by reason of the expenditure of tins
money incident to his capture. In the
case of the murder of the bank officers
/ at Sandy Springs a reward OF S1r.0..
was raised. Fortunately for our COIN
~, the oticnses pcrpetaated in the
cases here were not of the same helm
GUS character that characterized these
crines. 1t is not the purpose of this
article to reflect upon the actions Of
any men or group of men who have
exercised their Judgment as to wha,
they think the best interest of the
county or State should require. bur il
is simply TO show to the pcople
I'M scounty the position in which +,
administrative o%ccr OF the law. elesr
ed by and responsible 10 you. stands
II by the clrclcSsness and neg.
gence of any officer of the law na-.
son has been allowed TO ESCAPE. tin
matter will be properly and thorouer..
investigated by your next gram
IL IS the duty of prosecuting attorn,,
TO enforce the laws and TO render
the people a proper account of wh8, -r
laws are, the punishment for the .a
fraction thereof, and the apprehension
OF criminals accused of breaking s..
laws. Therefore, this article is sr.
mtted 20 you Ter your consideration,
IN oFacr that yoW may appreciate the
ruin OF tho situation relative 10 same