The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1922-02-03
GRAND JURY MAKES
ITS SPECIAL REPORT
Find Evidence Not Sufficient To
lndict Officials On Pendleton
Tribune's Charges.

bune against public officials Of Una
tilla county and city Of Pendleton
submitted it's report Tues. evening,
after examining many witnesses and
being in session for over week.
The charges Of corruption made by
the Pendleton Tribune are not sus-
tanned, and the jury finds it prema-
ture to dispose Of cases involving
criminal libel. and severly criticizes
the practice of searching premises
without proper warrant.
No Indictment whatever was re-
turned by the jury on any charge or
accusation made by the Tribune. but
the body recommended however, that
E. F. B. Ridgeway, special prohibi-
tion enforcement officer, be not re-
employed by the county in that ca
pacity. The jury qualities this rec
commendation by asserting that its
report in this connection should not
serve to "impair Ridgeway's useful
ness in any other capacity or in any
other place." The only official indis-
cretion found by the jury in its in
vestigation of Ridgeway, was that he
took drink Of booze with man who
was riding with him along the public
highway.
The jury reports that no evidence
whatsoever was submitted to bear out
the charges made against District
Attorney Keater ard his Deputy At
torney Randall.
The county court is given clean
bill of official repute. The jury finds
that the muddle in the tax rolls was
caused in part by letters received by
the court from the State Tax COM
mission, and for this reason the mis-
take made by the court is excusable
and that the expense Of rectifying
this mistake will amount to approx
imately $4,000. Relative to the con-
troversy between the sheriff and the
county court reference to payment Of
the sheriff's expenses for enforcement
Of the prohibition law, the jury found
that the court acted under legal opin-
ion, and that the issue is now before
the Supreme Court of the State Of
Oregon for the settlement. The jury
found nothing improper in the en-
ployment of son of the County
Judge as chairman in surveying on
county roads, and compliments the
court for its judgment in the employ
ment of firm of auditors to expert
county records.
The jury reports that it has inves-
tigated the charges made against w.
R. Taylor and Robert Sinclair, having
called all witnesses requested by in
terested persons and investigated the
charges Independently as the evidence
disclosed. 1t found no evidence that
these officers were crooks or that
they stood in with or protected vio-
lators of the law or accepted bribes,
or "split" intoxicating liquors with
bootleggers or any other persons.
The jury finds that neither of these
officers are subject to criticism for
anything done by either of them.
In its investigation of the sheriff.
office, the jury found that out of the
liquor seized on the raids in the en-
forcement of the prohibition law, and
stored in the court house under the
care of the sheriff. that the sheriff
had given former deupty of his Of
flee a portion of the liquor when
such person requested the same for
medical purposes, when it was inten-
ded for the use of deputy and others
for beverage purposes. "all of which
should have been known to the sheriff
and we find that the sheriff had no
right to dispose of such liquors in
such manner. We also find that he
gave intoxicating liquors which were
in his custody as such sheriff, to some
persons in the town who requested
the same for medical purposes"
The county Jail was found to be
inadequate for the proper care Of
prisoners and the jury recommends
that the county court remedy this
condition. The Jury further fount
that the food furnished by the sheriff
to prisoners had been at times in.
sufficient in quantity and deficient il
: quality, and although it has been The
practice for many years to expent
less than the full amount permittet
by law in the feeding of prisoners
under the present conditions and pri
ces, the jury advises that the full a
mount provided by law should be use'
for the feeding Of prisoners II it i
found that such amount is require,
to give them the quality and quan
ity necessary.
The jury recommends: That here