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Letter to Editor
June 17, 1876
The Philippi Plaindealer
Philippi, Taylor County, West Virginia
What is this article about?
Letter reporting county court expenses since September 1873 for grand jury witnesses ($563.96) and indictments (108-110, $897.46 total $1,749.42), excluding other costs; notes only 7 sustained, 19 confessed, 89 quashed under Prosecuting Attorney T. P. R. Brown.
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EXPENSES.
Editor Plaindealer :
In compliance with your request I have examined the records of the County Court and find that they show, that since Sept 1873, 290 witnesses have been summoned before the Grand Jury which cost the County $563.96. I also find the cost of the Grand Jury to be $288. I also find that were between 108 and 110 indictments found and that the witnesses summoned to sustain them cost the County $897.46. making a total of $1,749.42. This statement does not include the salary of the Prosecuting Attorney nor does it include the cost of the court, suitors. witnesses and petit jurors while disposing of said indictments. The records further show that 7 indictments have been sustained. 19 have confessed. and 89 have been quashed and dismissed. This has occurred under the administration of T. P. R. Brown, Prosecuting Attorney, and all of said indictments before mentioned were prepared by him.
The foregoing has been taken from the records of the County Court alone and will be found upon examination to be correct, I have also examined to some extent the records of the Circuit Court and find that they make about the same showing, in comparison, with those of the County Court.
OBSERVER.
Editor Plaindealer :
In compliance with your request I have examined the records of the County Court and find that they show, that since Sept 1873, 290 witnesses have been summoned before the Grand Jury which cost the County $563.96. I also find the cost of the Grand Jury to be $288. I also find that were between 108 and 110 indictments found and that the witnesses summoned to sustain them cost the County $897.46. making a total of $1,749.42. This statement does not include the salary of the Prosecuting Attorney nor does it include the cost of the court, suitors. witnesses and petit jurors while disposing of said indictments. The records further show that 7 indictments have been sustained. 19 have confessed. and 89 have been quashed and dismissed. This has occurred under the administration of T. P. R. Brown, Prosecuting Attorney, and all of said indictments before mentioned were prepared by him.
The foregoing has been taken from the records of the County Court alone and will be found upon examination to be correct, I have also examined to some extent the records of the Circuit Court and find that they make about the same showing, in comparison, with those of the County Court.
OBSERVER.
What sub-type of article is it?
Informative
Investigative
What themes does it cover?
Crime Punishment
Economic Policy
What keywords are associated?
Grand Jury Expenses
Indictments
County Court Records
Prosecuting Attorney
Quashed Indictments
Court Costs
What entities or persons were involved?
Observer
Editor Plaindealer
Letter to Editor Details
Author
Observer
Recipient
Editor Plaindealer
Main Argument
examination of county court records reveals high costs ($1,749.42) for grand jury proceedings and indictments since september 1873, with most (89 quashed/dismissed) not sustained under prosecuting attorney t. p. r. brown.
Notable Details
290 Witnesses Summoned Costing $563.96
Grand Jury Cost $288
108 110 Indictments, Witnesses $897.46
7 Sustained, 19 Confessed
Records From County And Circuit Courts