The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1871-06-07
A Rotten State Of Affairs.

| H"uS sucii picSeilluetC-a well con
sidcred and able document The,
pronounce the Jail Insecure, as no
being in such u condition as to proven
the escape of prisoners. The othe
public buildings were found all right
The probate Office was not accessible
MIR. Leahy, the present judge, being
absent from town. Trcasurer's Office
all right, books "properly balanoed,'
Trial Justices Furman's and Peter
s>ns's books and papers upon exam
ination, proved ali right. From the
following pen picture, Trial Justice
Long seems to be candidate for the
mpionship in South Carolina. The
grand jury says:
GAS to Trial Justice Long, the
keeping of his books. and his ability
as an officer, it is with the deepest
humility that they are constrained
to make such an unfavorablc report.
AS an officer, they unhcsitatingly pro-
nouncc him utterly incompetent in
every respect. lie can neither read
nor write sufficiently to be intelligi-
bic to any one but biuself ; and, as a
natural consequence his booksare in no
order, or, in other words, are not kept
atall. They find that he has rcceiv-
ed fines, but has neither turned them
over to the county treasurer nor
herwise accounted for the same.
They, therefore, unhositatiugly, for
the peace, dignity and prosperity Of
! the community, recommend his spec
, dy removal"
Bad as this is, the grand jury does
not reach the climax till they get to
the county commissioners. OF all
the offices inauguratcd by the new
regime, this would seem to be tho
best. Here is unlimited opportuni-
ty for stealing, and We feel in all
candor bound to say that these op.
portunitics do not always remain un-
Improved. The grand jury says "In
the present board of county commits
sioners they fad, after careful inves-
tgatlon, system of corruption, bril-
berry aud theft stupendous to behold
"a system of wholesale robbery
which was to them almost prcposter-
Gus. In examining the books, pa
pers, &C., of the old board Of county
commissioners they found indubita-
bic evidence of perjury on the part of
one Samuel Dogan and Thomas NJ.
Jcakins, by probating and paying
the same account twice. Dogan has
sold the proceeds of the poo. house
farm and has never accounted for the
moneys arising from such sale, and
also sold horse belonging to the
samo institution, and has likewise not
accounted for the proceeds of such
sale. And SO as to the newboard, they
fad that they indulge in all species
of fraud aud corruption, and, as the
grand jurors are informed, this board
o! commissioners have never visited
the poorhouso to examine into the
condition of its unfortunate inmates,
rs has always heretofore been the
custom. Simeon Young, one of the
aforesaid board, has had himself
elected uperintendent of the poor
house, with a salary of five hundred
dollars, and sub.lots the same for two
hundred dollars on his own account,
the same being paid by the treasurer
of the county, on recommendation Of
Young They also found check for
one hundred and twenty-five dollars
in lavor of Simeon Young, passed
and approved by the board of which
he is chairman said check was given
for no consideration"
And 80 oD, ad infnifum. The pre-.
sentiment goes on to say
Grinding such corruption, venalty
! and robbery to exist in the aforesaid
board of commissioners, the grand
jurors feel it their privilege, and their
sacred daty, to denounce the same,
and respectfully recommend to this
honorable court that such speedy
measures be taken, that this gross
and manifest evil may be forthwith
removed. The poorhouse the grand
Jurors find in dilapidated condition,
the fences down, inmates dissatisfied, !,
badly clothed, and general discon.
tent prevalent. AS to the roads and
highways in the county, the grand
jurors find them, with few exceptions,
10 very bad condition. They would
likewise say that they regret to find
that their county has becn the scene
of violent distu, Dances, by disguised
parties, commonly called Ku-Klux.
That they raise their voices against
all violence by whomsoevcr commit.
ted. Wrong can never restore right.
And they hold that it is the duty of
all good citizens to robuke all wrong,
expose all corruption, and on dcavor
! by peaceable means to achieve that
restoration to purity, economy and
an honest and equal administration
Of the laws, which 10 essential to the
security and prosperity Of their be.
loved State. And they further dis
tinctly declare that their findings and
Investigations have not been dictated
by any partisan spirit, and they oan
| ahOyy annie and Main nroof ,,f all