Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1869-01-22
Our Court

The Court Of Gcnoral Sessions for
our District convened here on Mon
day last; the Court Of Common Pleas
on the Wednesday following. Ac
cording to the present law tl,cv are
distinct Courts-the criminal and civil
jurisdictions being kept scparato-
though administered by the same
Judge. Three sessions arc held regu.
larly in the course Of tho year, onl
the third Monday, and ON the We'd !
nosday following in the respective
months Of January, May and Scptcm-
hcr. If the criminal business is not
dispatched in the first two days of the !;
week, the session of that Court is |
continued at the discretion of tho
Judge, and may be prolonged for two
weeks or moro if necessary.
Abbcville, Laurcns and Spartanburpl
form the Seventh Judicial Circuit. of
which tho Hon. Il. O. p. Vernon, of!
Spartanburg, is the Presiding Judge.
1t was his Honor's first appearance
here in judicial capacity, and with
his ability, patience, courtesy, and
fairness Of mind, we have no doubt
that he will make q very acceptable
presiding magistrate. In his charge
to the Grand Jury, he expressed his
confidence that the public sentiment
of so intelligent District as Abbe-
vile would sustain the administration
OF justice, and that the juries of the
country would lend him their earnest
aid in bringing Offenders to Justice,
without "fear, favor Or Affection" and
without regard to race or color, or
any political or partisan bias.
With the exception of few hours
spent en- Monday in tho call Of the
Civil Dockets, and the disposition of
the unlitigatcd business Of the term,
the Court has been occupied entirely
with the State cases. The State is
we'll represented by our young friond,
II. l.. McCiowan, Esq, who makes his
aet"t here as a prosecuting officer, and
is winning golden opinions for the zeal,
tempered with mercy. the fairness and
efficiency with which he discharges
the delicate duties Of his office.
The Grand Jury is organized for the
whole year, and from tho amount OF
business which has alrea y como be-
fore them, we judge that their posi-
tion promises to be no sinecure. A
number Of true bills have been found
for offences, presenting every grade OF
guilt, through varied catalogue OF
murders, larcenics, and assaults and
batteries. AS usual, the freedmen
figure largely in these trials, and one
of tho most remarkable features Of
these proceedings, is the earnestLe ese
with which their employers have su.
tanned them in their defence, and the
ability and zeal with which they have
been defended by Counsel.
No bills Of indictments havo vet
been given out against Col. Aiken, and
Aessrs. Dendy and Hodges SO far
as we have heard, there is not parti
Gle of testimony which could sustain
bill of indictment against these gen
tlemen, before a Grand Jury. The
reason that wo have heard assigned
for the delay, is the sickness of Tol
bert. Chamberlain, the Attorney Gen
eral came up Oh Mondays train, but
returned the next morning. lie OK
|pressod the opinion, we learn. that tht
Governor would veto the bill for thu
change Of the venue, should it pass tht
Senate.
i Ip tho case of the State vs.. Richard
! Griffin, for the murder Of Alexander
Chiles. both colored, after an able do
fence by Col. Thomson and Gen. Nc
Gowan, the prisoner was found guilty
Of manslaughter.
| In the case Of tho Stato vs. Richard
Ely, for the murder Of Harvey Hou
ton, both colored, the prisoner after
an elaborate defence by General Nc
Gowan, was convicted.
The juries we're drawn under tht
supervision of J. A. Leland, Esq, by
appointment of the Judge, and are
distinguished by even more than their
:; usual intelligence. Juries now elect
their foremen. VIM. A. Giles, ESQ, il
the foreman of tho Grand Jury, and
Capt. Jas. T. Barnes and Hugh Will
son, jr., Of the respective petit juries
| MASONIC FEMALE COLLEGE. By
reference to tho advertisement in an
other column it it will be seen that
the exercises Of this we'll known insti
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