Clay County AlArchives News.....CIay County Circuit Court [Indictment of Sheriff Dick]  March 29, 1870
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Linda Ayres http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00031.html#0007674 February 18, 2023, 3:43 am

The Sun [Talledega] March 29, 1870
At the recent Spring term of the Circuit held in and for Clay County, affairs 
seemed to be in quite a muddled condition.  
The State docket was particularly affected with a kind of official constipation, 
which the energies of the Court and bar, severely exercised, scarcely suffused 
to move.
The hardest looking case was that of the State vs Wm L. Dick Sheriff & co. We 
learn that at the former term of the Court, Dick was indicted for the escape of 
certain parties charged with murder. Upon this indictment capias issued to the 
coroner W. D. Steed for the arrest of the Sheriff the capias with the indictment 
was served by the coroner, bond taken, and bond indictment and capias left in 
the hands of Dick, ostensibly to be returned by the Sherriff defendant into 
Court. The Clerk has not yet seen the return.
All the indictments found by the Grand Jury at the Fall term 1869, were 
abstracted from the Clerk's Office just before the present clerk R. W. Porter 
took charge of the office. 
The good people of Clay are much embarrassed and mortified by the incompetency 
or crime, of some of their county officials and are determined to redeem them- 
selves, from the mortifying condition of affairs brought by the ignorance or 
corruption of those who have betrayed the confidence of the people.
Since the above was in type, we learn that the sureties of W.L. Dick have 
demanded he be released from their bond, and W. D. Steed, coroner has resigned. 
If necessary, lot the purging go on, until every officer in the county 
represents the integrity, virtue, independence and intelligence of the people of 
Clay.

Alabama Reporter, Apr 20, 1870:
I see the Sun of 29th March, has an article headed, Clay County Circuit Court, 
in which he speaks of tba muddled condition of affairs, he speaks of the case of 
W.L. Dick Sheriff, being indicted in the escape of certain parties charged with 
murder, upon his indictment, a capias issued to the coroner W. D. Steed for the 
arrest of the Sheriff; the capias which was served by the coroner, bond taken 
and bond, indictment and capias, placed the hand of Dick, ostensibly to be 
returned by Sheriff Defendant into court, the clerk has not yet soon the return. 
I have nothing to say about any of the officers, as far as I am concerned. I 
only say, I performed my duty as far as the law demanded. I arrested Dick then 
went to the Solicitor he fixed the bond Dick gave two Sureties. I executed the 
paper accordingly, and at the court brought up the Prisoner W.L. Dick Sheriff, 
with his Sureties; what more, could I do, he speaks of my resignation saying let 
the purging go on, I did not tender my resignation because I thought Clay County 
would be benefitted, it was only to relieve myself from the task. The office 
paid me nothing. I have been at this place nearly thirty years, filled several 
offices, have been acting Justice of the Peace in this and Talladega, Co. have 
set on many important cases always giving general satisfaction, never heard any 
complaints before. I have been very respectfully informed that the papers spoken 
of are all at Ashland and were at the time of Court.
W.D. STEED


Additional Comments:
William L. Dick was replaced by William W. Powell as Sheriff in 1870. 

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