Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-06-08
A Rotten State Of affairs.

| The grand jury for the May tern
Of Court in Newberry County: hay'
made their presentment-a well con
sidered and able document. They
pronounce the jail insecure, as no
being in such condition as to pre-
vent the escape Of prisoners: The
other public buildings were found al
right. The probate Office was not ac
cessible, Mr.. I.eahy, the.presentj judge
being absent from town. Treasurer
Office all right, books properly bal
anced." Trial Justices Furman's and
Peterson's books and papers, upor
examination, proved all right. From
the following pen picture, Trial Jus.
tice Long seems to be a candidate fol
the championship in South Carolina
The grand jury says:
"A AS 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 unfavorable report. AS
an officer, they unhesitatingly pro-
nounce him utterly incompetent in
every respect. He can neither read
nor write sufficiently to be intelligi-
BILE to any one but himself; and, as Q
natural consequence, his books are in
no; order, or, in other words, are not
kept at all. They find that he has
received fines, but has neither turned
them over to the county treasurer nor
otherwise accounted for the same.
They, therefore, unhesitatingly, 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 Ito
the county commissioners. Of all
the Offices inaugurated by the new
regime, this would seem to be the
best. Here is unlimited opportunity
for stealing, and we feel in all candor
bound to say that these opportunities
do not always remain. unimproved.
The grand jury says: - o
"In the present board of county
commissioners they find, after a care
full investigation, a system of corrup-
ton, bribery and theft stupendous to
behold system Of wholesale rob-
berry which was to them almost pre-
posterous. In examining the books,
papers, &c., of the old board Of coun-
ty commissioners they found indubi-
table evidence of perjury on the part
Of one Samuel Dogan and Thomas.
M. Jenkins, by probating and paying
the same account twice. Dogan has
sold the proceeds of the poorhouse
farm and has never accounted for the
moneys arising from such: sale, and
also sold a horse belonging to the
same institution, and has likewise
not accounted. for the proceeds Of
such sale. And as to the new board,
they find that they indulge in all
species of fraud and corruption. and
as the grand jurors are informed, this
board of commissioners have never
visited the poorhouse to examine into
the condition of its unfortunate in
mates, as has always heretofore been
the custom. Simeon Young, one Of
the aforesaid board, has had himself
elected superintendent of the poor
house, with a.salary Of five hundred
dollars, and sub-lets 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 a check for
one hundred and twenty-five dollars
in favor of Simeon Young, passed
and approved by the board of which
he is chairman said check was given
for no consideration.
And so on, ad i'gfasitum'. The
presentment goes on to say:
Finding such corruption, venality
and robbery to exist in the aforesaid
board Of commissioners, the grand
Jurors feel it their privilege, and
their sacred duty, 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 a general discon.
tent prevalent. AS to the roads and
highways in the county, the grand
Jurors find them, with a few excep-
ttions, in very bad condition. They
would likewise say that they regret
to find that their county has been the
scene of violent disturbances, by dis
guised parties, commonly called Ku-
Klu1. That they raise their voices
against all violence by whomsoever
committed. Wrong can never restore
right. And they hold that it is the
duty of all good citizens to rebuke
ali. wrong, expose all corruption, and
endeavor by, peaceable means to
achieve that restoration to purity,
economy and an honest and equal ad-
ministration Of the laws, which is es-
sential to the security and prosperity
of their beloved State. And they
further distinctly declare that their
findings and Investigations have not
been dictated by any partisan spirit,
and they can show ample and plain
proof of all their findings, whether
against crime, fraud or corruption"
The above is mere outline Of the
presentment. The grand. jury have
done their work thoroughly, and we
hope when the Congressional COM
mittee comes to this State to investi-
gate outrages," they will not pass