The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-06-30
Pleseltnelt Of the Grali Jury.

Presiding at the June Term
1871, of tho Court Of Genra
Sessions for Abbeville Coun
ty.
The Grand Jury respectfully maxi
this report:
We fird the condition of the Coun
ty much improved, that, lawlessnes
is on the decrease, and among all clas
ses that there is an apparent tendency
to maintain and obey tho laws. Th'
general department of the laboriue
classes and their almost universal re
turn to steady work, is marked aht
worthy. of commendation, while ali
other classes are not behind in thei'
efforts at good order and to bring
about n proper respect for the laws.
We find the Jail is we'll kept, but
Insecure for want of locks, and re-
commend that they be supplied.
In the Clerks Office we find $l55 in
cash on hand. We recommend that
additional easements be furnished
for security Of books and papers o.
value. .....
We find no objection to the manner
;n which the Sheriff's Office il
kept. -, -
Tho cost of books for the Auditors
Office VIC regard as unnecessarily
extravagant.
Tho hooks and accounts Of the
School commissioners Office are we'll
kept. When we visited his Office We
found the Commissioner himself in a
state of beastly and gross intoxica-
ton. Wo regard him as wholly in
competent and utterly unfit for the
position. IIc has failed entirely to
visit many of the schools in the
County, and he has visited none as
tho law directs.
We. most earnestly disapprovc of
the cxo. bitant charges of the County
Commissioners. We 6nd that Arthur
Jefferson has overdrawn his pay for
the year, and recommend that this
mstter be Investigated. We regard
Arthur Jefferson as altogether incom-
pctent. The roads of the County are
generally in bad condition.; the
bridges at Rocky River and Pattcr-
sons Bridge over Long Cane need
repairs.
The inmates Of the Poor House
seemed to be we'll cared for, but the
general management of the farm is
not good. We find fvc able-bodied
hirelinys on tho farm, their wages
amounting in the aggregate to s44o,
besides being fed at the puedc ex'
pcnse, and we are Of opinion that ts.He
present crop will not pay half Of it's
expense. Up to this time, tho ex-
pcnscs of the Poor House amount to
S2,So0, not including wages Of the
hands. There arc thirty-six inmates,
and the prices paid for supplies most
exorbitant. We recommend that
some change be made in the care Of
the Poor, either that the estab-
lishmcnt be turned into . hospital
or be let out to the lowest responsible
bidder. In one month we find the
expenditures for spirituous liquors
1850.
We urge upon all officers the strict
enforcement of; the laws in reference
to vagrants. ..
The Probate Office is IN good order.
33oS on hand. Two Will books
should be rebound.
In the last three years wo
find that s57,344.91 have been
collected in taxes for County
purposes, and that s55,7sss7 have
been paid out, leaving a balance Of
:$l,555.s4.
Wo report the wooden building ad-
Joining the Court House as a.nuisance.
1t is occupied by women of ilkfa'ne,
and some measures should be taken
to suppress the establishment. .
We recommend that new room
bc provided for the Grand Jury, or
tho one formerly. used BY them be
fitted up for their use and benefit.
We think that assessing aud COL
lecting the taxes Of. the County can
be arranged So as to cost the County
not more than $500 per annum,
costing now 81, $50.
Trial Justice J. R Tarrant has been
charged with malpractice in Office.
Trial Justice N. Kapban is subject
to the same charge. .
We fiud the claims Of Trial Justice
D. y. Hawthorn against the County
from March to the 1st June, 1S7 l
amount to $436.30 We regard suct