The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-02-16
AFFAIRS IN MARION.
rrRoa OUR own CORRESPONDENT. ]
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
OFFICE OF CHIEF CONSTABLE,
COLUMBIA, February II, 1870.

frRoM OUR own CORRESPONDENT.
MARION, 9. c., February IA.
The February term Of the circuit court was
opened on Monday, 9TH instant, Judge Rutland
presiding. Up to this date the Court OF General
Sessions has occupied the entire time OF the court,
and it is very probable that the civil doc6cts will
not be reached before Wednesday morning.
Many cases of burglary. grand aud petit larceny
have been disposed OF, resulting generally in con-
vlctions Of the parties accused. There remains
for trial only 4 few cases ol SIn;iller oNehees'
which, together with the time OF lnillctins sGhtch
ccs, will probably occupy the court on Tuesday.
In trying one Of the partcSindicted Tor grand
larceny it was asccrtained that counsel lor the
nrsouer II ColOrcd mani had been retained ana
paid by an old white citizen OF The county one OF
those Democrats the culorcd people have been
taught TO believe their worst cncnlics Ihe gentle
man who pursued this noble course was moral
| ~ convinced that the col0red MAJ! was wrongful
Is accused. and thus believing, has set an exam.
pic 10 our Radical brethren OF his way ol treating
his enemy. The prisoner was acquitted.
Tie grand jury was in attendance unlil Friday
evening, having to consider over fifty mdict-
lnenis They performed their duties very crcdi
tably, and in their prcSentment have recommend.
ell many reforms calculated to relieve the county
| aud citizens from veXations evils.
Among Oher changes suggested was Tie sever
ance OF the Courts OF Sessions and Common Pleas
measure rendered almost necessity by reason
Of !ile vast quantity OF criminal business before
the court constituting an cHcctu'll stay oli CIV
| suits.
In the Investigation OF the accounts Of the coun-
| tv officers, The trcaSurcr's books showed as the
amount OF taxes collected, over $1,000, and the
Jurors recommei. led the bond (sl0o00) be incrcas-
ed as the receipts for single year exceeded the
| amount or the bond. This certainly appears n
| wise measure since it entruSts too much TO the
honesty OF the officer, and though the present III.
cumbellt seems to have discharged his duty, yet
| future officers might not be SO faithful.
| The grand jury paid high compliment 10
Judge Rutland, testifying to the impartlaty
with which he has performed the duties OF his
| Office and condemning the recent move in the
General Assembly, looking to his impeachment.
Judge Rutland replied in n few words, thanking
the juors and expressing his qualification at the
compliment. Tie gave TO the colorcd grand Jurors
few words or advice and warning, ami during
| its delivery asked If those who came among the
| cOlored people solely TO obtain olllce by their
votes had done anything for them. A colorcd
man OH the jury promptly ana cmphatically re-
| plied No no The bar aisu passed resolutions
| 10 the same effect.
The sales Of real estate on Monday 9Th instant,l
| did not reach the prices realized in Dccclnbcr,
| and several lots and tracts will lac resol'l III
March, at the risk of former purchasers, In consc-
uueucc of the failure OF the parties 70 comply with
the terms of sale. This fail in price, however,
NAV be partially attributed to liens on the lands
or the inlerurity of the lands as 10 fertility when
| compared with those sold in December.
The Masonic fraternity have organized q Chap
! Ter OF ROYAL Arch Musons here. We wish them
| every success. fEEphE.