Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1869-09-24
South Caroiha---Ab5eviile
County.
In the Court of Sessions, .SeptcmJe,
Term, 1869.

We, the Grand Jury of Abbevillc
County, beg leave to make the follow
ing proscntmcnt:
by committees Of our body, we
havo visited and Inspected the condi-
ton Of tho Poor House and Public
Buildings.
We arc pleased to find that tho in
mates Of the Poor House arc comforta-
bly, provided for, and seem to be well
satisfied with tho arrangements mado
for them, and particularly well pleased
with the management OF the steward,
Mr.. Guillcbeau.
We fiad that all tho repairs and i'm
provcmcnts upon and about the
Jail, suggested by our body at tho
May Term, have either been co onplct-
ed, or are in progress. We rccom-
mend that u supply Of blankets for
the prisoners, some good locks for the
doors OF tho cells, and, at least, two
good stoves be purchased for tho Jail.
We have audited the accounts OF
the County Commissioners and of the
Town Council Of Abbcvillc, and find
them correctly kept aad properly
vouchcd.
The Boads in many parts orthc Coun-
ty are reported to be in very bad condi-
ton, and VIC urgo upon tho Commits.
sioncrs to have them worked US soon
IS possible.
y communication signed by tho
Petit Jurics, cmpanoIlcd at the present
Torn, has been presented to us, ask
ing that VIC recommend an increase
Of the compensation to Jurors while
in Attendance upon the Courts. We
have given the subject that dcgrcc of
consideration demanded by its impor-
tancc, and the intelligence and intce-
rity of these gentlemen, and VIC re-
greet that VIC cannot concur with
them in the propricty and cxpe-
diency Of such action. In addition
! to the increased burden of taxation
which this measure would impose, We
believe that it would have the effect Of
making a scat on the Jury an object
OF desire and Of competition among 4
certain class of oar population, mere.
y lor the perquisitcs, and that they
would crowd tho court yard on the
first day Of every term, with the hope
Iof being summoned as jurors thus
degrading the high and responsible
Office Of Juror, into scramble for
its petty cmolumcnts.
We feel called upon TO present an
evil Which seems to bo growing in
magnitude. and which. as we have
been informed by His Honor Judrc
Vernon, prevails throughout his Cir.
cult, viz: tho practice Of somo Mag
'stratos iss";"s ~-~--~..to ur aI.vst Iu
petty cases, aud upon insufficient cvi-
dence, and i'll committing Or binding
over the parties, with long rctinuc
iof witnesses, to answer frivolous
churges. Besides the enormous cx-
pcnditurc Of public money which.
such Il case involves, it has o direct
tendency to disturb rather than pro-
mote public tranquility; by fostering e
spirit Of contention and litigation
among our citizens, and encouraging
them to resort to l"so for every trivial
OF fancicd wrong. Magistrates, who
thus abuse their prcrogativcs, arc dis
turbers of the public peace, and merit
tho Reproduction Of all good citizens.
AS part Of the history of the
times, and as an evil calling loudly for
redress, on account Of the magnitude
Of the interest which it involves and
aG'oc!s-being no other than the peace
and good order Of tho whole commu-
nity-%o feel it to he our duty, under
the solem obligation Of tho Grand Ju-
ror's oath, to present to tho pomers
that he, the actings and doings Of the
State Constabulary in this County.
Not to 60 back Oh the many acts of
lawlessness. which they have commit
ted, of which we, as individuals, have
knowledge, it is enough that we ad-
wort to the outrage which was perpc-
trated by members Of tho Constabula-
ry during tho present week, and
which camc under our observation in
our organized capacity. On Monday
of tho present Term a citizen of this
County, who was under DO nd to at
tend the Court, was, without warrant
or process of law, seized by member
of the Constabulary, and violently
and against romonstrance, forced in
to the Municipal Prison of tho
Town at this junction nothing
but t,o most determined efforts
on tho part of certain influential
persons of the Town and country,
prevtnted the effusion of blood. A