Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1872-03-14
.ADNER 1YSER!
fsss -
Terms, ss, 90 per Annun.
Q. REogyesssof the epars. g5g
Last week wegayae the progress or the

SOL4O oi-AVy OO14oAo 34SLA 4%1s
store, and the evidence against him W
as clear as spring water, Neverthele:
the jury, composed entirely Of negroe
pronounced him not guilty. Judge Me
ton seemed to be Mortified and indignar
at such verdict, and, to use commo
phrase, raked the twelve colored gentle
men with unmistakable asperity. An
well he might; for If this sort Of thing
to become the rule, it will soon be blac
for black and whitefor white, race stand
ing up to race, without any reference
law or justice. Inthis case Mr.. Brawley
of Chester 1acted IS Solicitor for; th
State, enhancing much the favorable i'm
preston Of him which our people ha
already conceived. For the defence, ar
peared two young lawyers Just n1akin
their de5,st- -Messrs r. G. Bonham AM
J.D. Tsibert. They managedit decided
ly well, and we predict for them usefu
and honorable career atthe bar.
On Thusisyafternoon the Grand Ju
ry; ;after making theirpresentment, wer
discharged, : From this presentment w
publish the following extracts Furnished
us by A. Ramsay, Esq, Clerk of tn
To HIS Honor M. Melton, Psesiyg
J,tdge. s.se sni.'. ;'i,as
The Grand Jury eff Edgefeld C9aty,
TO whom was referred the special aatlef
of -inquirine,. as to whether the county
Commissioners for >Edgefel5 County
have published the annual sttement Of
receipts and disbursementof puohc
monies passing through highlands and
oftother matters pertainip to the dis
charggos their offciaf dyaes' beg leave
respectfully to, presenss that they tlpd' !
upon investigatons ting SoaTa ol
County commfssioneS for said County
have published no Statement of their
account in the. cunts paper Of this
County, or otherv4se, as far as they can
ascertain since te 7th dayofj July A.'D,
1870, and that veclefklof'said Board has
published onT partial statementon the
9TH day of otA EDrIs71, 9 ~ Z
They tsFc'ore recommend that the
Solicitor De instructed by the Court TO-
prepare md have servedupon said Board,
and tb. clerk thereof, a Rule to show
causeAt the nextternG of ahis Court why
an Indictment should not be preferred
against them for lnalfeasance in Office,
and dereliction.in the discharge of their
public duties. ,Gfy1I / ::
They further recommend that the said
Board be ruled t6 show cause at the next
term of the Court why q tbill of ;indct
ment should nos &c preferred against
them for neglecting so grossly the public
Roads, Bridges and Ferries Of the Coppri
ty.
The Grand Jury ask leave for further
time within which to enquire into the
several matters pertaining to the proper
discharge of. their duties. and invite the
cooperation Of all good citizens in cor
recting the many evils with which our
County is afflicted. .S1i4.&Sf -.
JOSEPH EDWARDS, Foreman.
1t is due to Solicitor Brawley to say
and our people should feel mdera weight
of obligation to him-that his persistent
enquiry into the reported shortcomings
of our County Commissioners, was the
cause of this presentment of the Grand
Jury. And on Saturday the Solicitor did |
actually issue Rule to show cause, &C.,
in accordance with the recommendation
of the Grand Jury.
Before finally dismissing the Grand
Jury, Judge Melton took OCCASION to adj
dress them in speech of considerable
length He reviewed the, conduct of the |
negsoes since the. emancipation, and,
while not blaming them for the past,
gave them much good advice and warn
ing as regards their future course. He
also animadverted upon the general con
duct of County officers under the new
regime, .attributing theft shortcomings
more to the defects Of tic present law
(which does not provide for sufficient SUI |.
pervision) than TO individual want OF in.
tegrity. Srfcl, officers were likewise well
advised and warned by his Honor. Judge
Melton address to the Grand jury was
Enthusiastically Republican,, but at the
same time able, fearless, and unmiStaka
bly, conscientious.
Thu-sday and Friday were devoted to
the case Of the State vs.. Barney Balen-
tine, for the. murder Of Grant, Booty,
both eoiored.i p The canse- Of difficulty
was the alleged illicit intimacy Of Booty
with Ballentine's wife,, Solicitor Braw>-
ley dCIeRoy. II. YOulhlns, ESD up
pesred for the prosecution; Messrs w:
T. Gry and>Rs.G. Bopilam for the 3der
fence. The verdict Of the Jury was
Manslaaghter, to the astonishment: of;
many. Who were Of opinion,T from the
evidence .adueed, the Hskitlful manage
ment and cry able argument of Col.
Youmans am efthe Solicitor, and the
clear and poined charge Of the presiding
Judge, thdtthe. verdict Would Be MUIR
der. This was o important case, and
tedAonsiderale interest throughout
the trial. The de,nce mainly relied
upon was the.rumore adulterous inter.
course of the deceased With the wife of
the defendant, andcefta, circumstances
of self defs6cc, a1r .necss,rily based in
asrea.qneasnre upon csrclustana:A ey
idence difficult to connect. rhe counsel
for the prosecution, in the l1guage of
Judge Melton, aud iD the opilHn of the
spslI-bound audience, did their whole
duty" Our young friend Riehal Bon
ham, for the prisoner, made hi.frst
speech in easc of murder, spoke 'th
ease and self-possession. and By his hls
ly ereditable argument won the applaus
of all. Maj. Gary, one Of the first cfimi-
nal lawyers at our Bar closed for the ae-
fence, and surpassed amy iormer effort oi
his in lcgalknowlcdge, graceful delivery
and touching eloquence- And lti1 No"f'
in this case paid meriied compilinon'
when he said that " the defence was con
Quoted with great perti'acity, un;ifiifs
-ea, and unusual ability.
On Saturday the Court sat huaa Snof'
time, notIangworthy of mention l'ciha
accomplished. Saturday, too, Mr.. bF''S
ley departed, and was s''ccecaeo' d,
States Attorney. by Attorney 9ehefa
Chamberlain.