Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-03-25
REPORT OF THE GRAND JURY.
To the Honorable HIliam M Thomas, Residui
L,,Ioo.


Judge:
We, the Grand Jurors for March Term of the
Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions, fol
York County, would respectfully submit the fol.
lowing Report and recommendations:
We embrace this occasion to congratulate the
Court and our entire community, upon the resto-
ration of civil law and social order in FORK Coun-
ty, and express the hope and assurance that gen.
eral disposition is now manifested among our peo-
ple-white and colored-to indulge forbearapce one
to another, and to unite in one common effort to
restore prosperity to our country, and to promote
the general happiness and we'll being Of both races.
We take pleasure in offering our testimony to
the uniform courtesy Of the presiding Judge, and
the Solicitor, who represents the interests Of the
State. These officers of JUSTICE have displayed
ability, dignity and an impartiality in the arduous
our respect and confidence
We have inspected the condition of the Court
House, Jail, Poor House and Public Offices Of the
County, and we're pleased to observe that those to
whom these several public duties had been as
signed, were dscharging their trusts as best they
could under existing circumstances We found at
the County Poor House, twenty-eight white and
six colored paupers, who generally appeared COM
Portable. Those to whom the sacred duty is COM
mitted seem to care we'll for the poor and helpless,
who cannot take care of themselves. The dwell.
ling and kitchen of the Superintendent, and many
of the cabins Of the paupers need prompt atten-
ton to secure comfort; and some Of the paupers
require additional clothing and cooking utensils, to
which we would respectfully call the attention OF
the County Commissioners.
We found the County Jail in good order and
condition. and every effort being made by the Sher-
if to render the Jail comfortable as well as secure.
The roof of the Jail building needs repairs, and
additional locks should be furnished to secure the
cell doors The repairs to the root OF the Jai!
building should be made without delay, to avoid
material damage to the building, and to which we
Commissioners
The Offices of the Sheriff, Clerk and Judge oi
Probate, We found in good order, and were glad to
observe the neatness with which the books, files
and papers were kept.
We are aware that the County Commissioners
have experienced great difficulty in discharging
their duties as they would be pleased to have done,
with the limited means at their command, but
would respectfully recommend that they will, at
their earliest convenience, furnish to the Sheriff,
Clerk and Probate Judge, an official county Seal
of Office, instead of the old Seals of Office that
they are still compelled to use and that they will
also furnish to these officers respectively, the off,
cal Records and Books required for the discharge
of their duties. We find that the floor in the
Clerks Office is decayed for the want Of proper
ventilation and recommend that proper attention
be given this matter to prevent further decay and
expense. We return thanks to the Sheriff for
providing stoves, for the comfort of the Court,
Bar, Jurors and attendants at the Term, and re-
spectfully recommend that two good stoves be pro-
cured for the use of the Court Room, hereafter.
We observe that the two iron gates leading into
the Court House Yard are broken, and will not
open and shut, and that cattle and hogs are per-
mitted to go in and out We respectfully recon-
mend the removal of the iron gates as at present,
and circular gates or steps be substituted, as being
more convenient, less expensive and better adapt.
ed to protect the Court House Yard from hogs and
cattle.
The public Roads and Bridges of the County
demand repairs. The bridges on Allison Greek, at
Sahms' Mills and on Sugar Greek, near the North
Carolina line. are reported as unsafe and we
would respectfully urge upon the County Commis-
soners the necessity Of prompt action in reference
to these Bridges
The Grand Jury regret the necessity of calling
the attention of the Court to the reported official
misconduct of an officer of this County, but feel
constrained by sense of common justice to refer
to an instance in which freedman, James Mckee,
was wrongfuy deprived Of his property, without
law or precedent. We have been reliably informed
that the said James Mckee and other freedmen
were charged, before Magistrate NJ O'Connell, at
Fort Mills, in said County, with shooting and kill.
ing a hog belonging to James Thorn. That after
the trial and acquittal, on said charge, Of James