The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1923-12-07
WHAT One TERM
OF COURT COST
Two Weeks Consumed In
Trials of Trivial Cases
Costs County $836.70

Commissioners got a set back
on Monday of this week when
they were shown the costs for
the November term of Superior
Court. The Commissioners
were staggered to learn that
the November term cost the
county $83670. And there was
a bill of costs amounting to
$245.60 for seven criminal ac-
tions five Of which were dis
missed. SO the Commissioners
made wry faces when they ap-
proved the bill of the Clerk of
the court.
The Commissioners were shock
cd that $245.6O of the COunty's
money went to pay court costs fol
cases. some of which were acquit-
ted, or disposed Of without a jury.
And this term of court cost exactly
$59O.9O in Jurors fees. Here is a
list of seven criminal actions that
were disposed of by the court.
During the summer, II. T.. LAS
sitter, superintendent Of ~ road
building job in upper PasGuotaAk
County was arrested for reckless
driving. Police found a pistol in
Mr.. LaSSiter'S car and arrested hin
for CARRYING concealed weapons. In
Recorders Court he WaS found
guilty of carrying concealed w"ap-
omS. He appealed to the Superior
Court and was acquitted. Here
is what the case cost the "onmiy.
exclusive of jurors fees. The c."rl
of the Superior Court got S3.2J, the
Sheriff got $1.SO: two witnesses
rot SG.1O each, one witness got
$40, making IL total of Si9.3I.
Case number two Gil the report
turned over To the commissioners
had to do with Dmrant Simmons
Il white man who was found guilty
lin Recorders Court Of possessing
liGuor in violation of what is known
of the burlington act. The ease was
mol pressed in Superior Court, but
il cost the county $4Gj for clerks
fees, S4.SO for Sheriff'S fees, ana
witnesses cost the county S2G.JO,
making Il total of $3595.
Case number three had to do with
DIR. J. w. Splig. local optometrlSt,
who appealed from Recorders
Court fine for failure to stop at Il
rnilrnnd crossing. DR.. Selig'S case
WAS thrown out Of Superior Court
without having gone to Il jury, hnl
it. cost the county $5.25 i'll fees for
Officers and witnesses.
IJoratio Seymour, Camden t0un-
ty man who was arrested on IL num-
Irr of charges in connections with an
assault on Chief of Police {. A..
Grrgury. including carrying ron
rpaled weapons, resisting an officer
etc, was acquitted of one charge
ON which he appealed from RccorC-
crs Court. But this particular case
cost the county $29.95, not to speak
of the jurors fees.
DurwOod Simmons, again up for
violation of the burlington Act. was
acquitted. but the County paid %G.%
on this case.
The County got convictions but
no revenue in an assault case
Frank Will ,hurSt, negro Scnool
teacher was sent to the rcnitentlary
for assaulting his wife with a dead
" weapon, with intent to Kill. But
i'm this case the Clerk of th" Court
rot $3.50. the Sheriff 60 cents, the
Solicitor So and the Prosecuting
Attorney $50; and witnesses COST
S41 30, making q total of S69.Io Iii
this case. not to speak of the Jurors
fees. Another charge against
Whitehurst, that of carrying con
ccaled weapons, was tried. ana h'
was sentenced jointly with the
former case. but the case cost the
county $3.50.
Summed up, the miscellaneous eX-
prnSes of the court cost 600; the
Sheriff's fees, $1,000; Solicitors
fees, $14.70: court fees, 81; ana
the Prosecuting Attorney, $40.
The November term of court last
ell two weeks. Some three or four
trivial Civil cases were disposed
of during the first week. The seven
criminal cases of the second week
|. rkcd like IL small amount of work
To the commissioners, who wLnI"r-
cd low they could explain to the
taxpayers at home why the ;ourl
cost the county $S36.T0.
If business were conducted like
oLr courts there wouldn't be eEalgh
business left to worry even Il Soviet
government.
RAW FURS WANTED - Otter,
Mink, OpOSSum. Mus'rat, Coon, etc.