Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-05-12
COUNTY PAYS
HUGE SUM FOR
COURT EXPENSE
Criminal Business Costs More
Than Combined Maintenance
of Four Superior Benches.
HOW MONEY is SPENT

The people of Marion county paid
$2S, S,430.75 last year for the privilege
of maintaining the Marion criminal
court, under the jurisdiction OF
Judge James A. Collins.
This sum was three times what it
cost to maintain the circuit court Of
the county and more than the ex-
pense of maintaining four of the SUI
perior courts of the county.
The $2S.0OO and more includes an ag-
gregate of S4.710 for bailiffs, divided as
follows: Bailiff, $1,000; assistant bailiR,
$500; special bailif, $S4; riding bailiffs,
S2,s6O.
In addition TO this sum there was the
expenditure Of S272 for a page"
An added feature of the expense of
this court to the public. which does not
exist I'm the other courts and concern
ing which there has been great deal OF
discussion recently is $1,0T5 for a pro
baton clerk"
The duties of this clerk appear to be
the receipt and disbursement of money
by which certain favored prisoners are
permitted to pay fines and costs by in
stalments. In addition to this duty the
probation clerk acts as an intermedia ry
through which thieves and others may
be compelled to make reparation" to
injured citizens under the direction Of
the court.
THE CASE OF
SUSIE SMITH.
AS an illustration Of the working of
this department, there is the case OF
Susie Smith, a negress who robbed the
lockers of a north side Fat consistently
for weeks.
When her depredations were discov-
cred one Of the irate losers succeeded
after six days effort in getting her be-
fore the criminal court on a charge Of
grand larceny. The court suspended
sentence on condition that she pay $50
to the probation clerk in lieu Of several
hundred dollars worth of property
which she had stolen and with a part
Of which she hsd furnished a house.
Twenty five dollars Of this sum was
put up by waiter al the Columbia club.
who was living in the house furnished
by the woman with stolen goods The
rest Of the money was later paid into
court and the woman was released TO
resume working for citizens who were
not aware OF her previous peculations.
81. 100 FOR LEGAL
AID TO ADAMS.
Among the various items Of expense
that go TO make mp the $2s.00O and more
We're the expenses" in the HGag case.
amounting 10 Sl,7O0. Of this sum. 81 500
is understood TO have been paid to
Charles WiltSle for conducting the hrst
trial Of Louis ana Julius Haag on
charges Of perjury. The prosecution of
this case was a part OF the duties OF
Claris Adams, prosecuting attorney, who
has proated many thousands Of dollars
from fees collected of eolored gamblers
who pleaded guilty in the city court. The
Ha1gs did not plead guilty. and Il was
necessary for some one with legal ability
to oppose their formidable array Of
counsel in the criminal courtroom. Mr..
Wiltsle was selected for the job on pc
tltion Of MIR. Adams, who conceded the
necessity Of help and was perfectly will
ing 20 have the county pay a lawyer for
doing what he was elected to the office
to do. Mr.. Adams did not suggest max
ing this payment out Of the sum OF the
fees he had collected in other cases.
The prosecution of the Haags on the
perjury charge failed. and on a second
trial they were acquitted. Mr.. Wiltsie
Continued on Page seven)