San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-10-31
SEEK REMOVAL
Of 8 bEXAR
OFFICERS
Grand Jury Asks County
to Abrogate Road
Contracts.

cancellation of the highway contract
with the Hoffman Construction Com
pany was recommended by the Bexar
County grand jury in its final report
to Judge w. w. McCrory, in the
Nincty-fourth District Court Friday.
The report said that the grand
jurors had found that the road main
tenance contract was let at SIT ,120,
or $4,000 more than the bid of an
other and reliable firm. For that rea-
son they recommend the abrogation of
the contract with the Hoffman COM
pany. and also suggested the report
of their findings be sent to the attor-
ney general at Austin to assist him
in thep robe Of state highway condi-
tons.
The inquisitorial body also found
that the maintenance work is not be-
ing vigorously carried out and that
the splendid system of highways
built up by our county commission
ers" are not being properly cared for.
RAP BEXAR POLICE.
Conduct of justices of the peace,
constables and deputy constables in
all Bexar County precincts with the
exception Of No. 1, came in for scath-
ing denunciation by the grand jury.
In few instances, it was declared
in the report, have they any knowl-
edge of the law or Of their duties I'M
der the law.
Activities Of constables and deputy
constables were thoroughly probed by
the grand jurors. who reported that
they found the officers were arresting
persons at random over the county,
without reference to precinct bounda-
RIGS, and were filing the cases wher-
ever they saw fit.
Many of these officers, it was said
in the report, make a practice of ac-
cepting cash bonds from traffic viola
tors whom they arrest.
These cash bonds are invariably in
the sum Of the minimum fine for
which the offender was arrested, the
grand jury found.
RECOMMEND REMOVAL.
As a result of these findings the
removal Of two constables and seven
deputy constablcs was recommended.
Pat Conner. constable of Precinct
No. 3, should be removed "for general
incompetence and failure TO file his
bonds" the grand jury held.
Removal of Frank Mahula, con-
stable of Precinct No. 4. was recon-
mended "for having another county
position for which he receives remun-
Grafton, namely road foreman, there
by voiding his commission as con-
stable"
Deputy censtables whose removal
from office was recommended are:
Fl. Elizando. Precinct No. 2; Bruno
Hartman, Precinct No. ): Otto
Hillock, Precinct No. 4; Il. j.
Rhodes. Precinct No. ): A. A. Pur-
year. Precinct No. 6: i. l.. Afford,
Precinct No. Z; and l.. Lopez, Pre-
cinct No. 8.
COMMEND FISK.
These men, it was pointed out.
failed to make their bonds, some of
them lived in precincts other than
the one in which they were appointed
and one was n soldier.
Ben S. Fisk. justice Of the peace
of Precinct No. /, was especially
commended for Initiative in causing
these Investigations to be made by
refusing to accept cases from outside
his precinct"
Investigation of "fences" was also
recommended.
"Too much time is now given 10
catching the thief and not enough TO
those who encourage him to steal"
the report held.
The grand jury recommended that
all second hand goods at pawnshops,
second hand stores, garages and tire
shops be kept OH public display for
five days before being offered for sale.
thus serving to eliminate some OF
the thieving now going on"
PRAISE ATTORNEY.
eff the opportunity to sell stolen
property is removed, there will be
less stealing" the report said.
District Attorney G. NJ. Chambers
and his assistants. Sam G.. Newton
Jr.. and Temple Calhoun, were espe-
cially commended by the grand jury
"for their valuable services given us
in these investigations. Members of
the sheriff's force and city police and
detective forces were also commended.
During the October term the grand
jury passed upon 40 cases, returned
Ill true bills. 50 no bills, referred
six cases TO the next grand jury and
seven cases to the county attorney.
The Thirty-sevcnth District Court
grand jury will be impanneled next
Monday