Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1872-03-14
g. FTogresssof the Court. 1-3
Oct n,ol, ,,ye.c1oya,o = +,,o ,s.ocs,.eco ~ fl,e
art up to Tuesday afternoon.

2 Fgogresssof the Court. ;
Last week wegave the progress Of tn
Court up to Tuesday afternoon.
On Wednesday the Court was occupi
ed in the trial of the State VS.. John Dc
zier. The Defendant is negro who SOL
some sixty dollars from DR.. Rushton'
store, and the evidence against him ws
as clear as spring. water, Nevertheless
the jury, composed entirely Of negroes
pronounced him not guilty. Judge Me-
ton seemed to be Mortified and indignan
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 i
to become the rule, it will soon be blacl
for black and white for white, race stand
ing up to race, without any reference t
law or justice. Inthis case Mr.. Brawley
of Chester, acted as Solicitor for, tn
State, enhancing much the favorable i'm
preston of him which our people hat
already conceived. For. the defence, ap
peared. two young lawyers just making
their debut-Messrs r. G. Bonham ant
J. D. Talbert. They managedit decided
ly well, and we predict for them usefu
and honorable career at the bar.
On Thursday, afterL, the Grand Ju
ry; after making theirpresentment, were
discharged. From this presentlnent WI
publish the following extracts Furnished
us by A. Ramsay, Esq, Clerk of tht
Court: i
To HIS Honor s. ". Melton, Presiq;g
Judge: -.i.:
The Grand Jury Of. Edgedeld Co'nty,
to whom was referred the special aatler
of inquiring as to whether the county
Commissioners for Edgefelo County
have published the annual st1ement Oh
receipts and disbursementsof pubic
monies passing through highlands, and
Of other matters pertainip to the dis
chargeof their official dyaes, beg leave
respectfully to- presens That they hey ma? I'd
upon investigstions tat the Board OF
County COMMISSIONED for said County
have published no statement OF their
account in the. ounty paper ef this
County, or othervse, as far as they can
ascertain since tie 7th dayof July A. D.
1870, and that ye' clefk.of said Board has
published ony a partial statementon the
5th day of Qts A,Ds1s7l,H =
They trrcrorc recommend that the
Solicitor DC instructed by the Court TO-
prepare md have served upon said Board,
and tlr clerk thereof, a Rule to show
causeat the next term of this Court, why
an Indictment should not be preferred
against them for inalfeasance i'll office,
and derelictiorin the discharge of their
public duties. -. = =,
They further recommend that the said
Board he ruled t6 show cause at the next
term Of the Court why bill of indict..
ment should not be preferred against
them for neglectins so grossly the public
Roads, Bridges and Ferries Of the Copn-i
ty.
The Grand Jury ask leave for further
time within which to enquire into the
several matters pertaining to the proper
of their duties. and invite the
Of all good citizens in cor
recting the many evils with which our
County is afflicted. 81 -
JOSEPH EDWARDS, Foreman.
1t is due to Solicitor Brawiey to say
and our people should feel undera weight
of obligation 10 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 a 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
iress them in speech of considerable
ength. He reviewed the conduct Of the
neg ,oes since. the. emancipation, and,
while not blaming them for the past,
gave them much good advice and warn
ng as regards their future course. He
,lso aninadverted upon the general con
luct of County officers under the new
'egimc, .attributing theif shortcomings
more to the defects OF tie present law
which does not provide for sufficient SUI
than ~ individual want OF in
egrity. Such officers were likewise well
.dvised and warned by his Honor. Judge
Melton address to the Grand Jury was
Republican, but at the
,ame time, able, fearless, and unniiStaka
,ly conscientious.
Thursday and Friday were devoted to
he case Of the state vs.. Barney BaIen-
inc, for the murder Of Grant, Boozy,
10th colored. The cause. of difficulty
vas the alleged illicit intimacy OF Booty
With Ballentines wife,. Solicitor Braw
ley and Leroy r. Youih;rls, Esq, ap- +
pc.rcd for the prosecution; Mcssis W.
t. Gory and RsG. Bonhanl for the de-
fence. The verdict OF the Jury was
Sfansla,ghter, to the, establishment. of
many, wlo We're Of opinion from the
evidence .dduced, the skiilful manage
ment and cry able argument of Col.
Youmans aa OF the Solicitor, and the
clear and poin,ed charge Of The presiding
Judge, thatthe. verdict would be Mut-
der. This was g. important case, and
excited considerable interest throughout
the trial. The de,nce mainly relied
upon was thc-rumore atlulterous inter
course of the deceased With the wife of
the defendant, andcerta, circumstances
of self defence, alf neces rily based in
Dgreatmeasnre upon circiustar.s;a ev-
idence difficult to connect. nhe counsel
for the prosecution, in the l,suage of
Judge Melton, aud in the opii,,n Of the
spe!l-bound audience, did their whole
duty, Our young friend Richa, Boil
lam, fox the prisoner, made hiirst
speech in q easc of murder. spoke 'th
ease and sclf-posscssion. and By his his.
ly crcdi:able argument won Che "pplaus
Of all. Maj. Gary, o". Of the first crimi-
nal lawyers at our Bar, closed i'S the de-
fence, and surpassed ANY iofraer effort oi
his in lcgalknowlcdge, graceful delivery
and touching eloquencc- And thc Coaf'
in this case pail n4eriied compliment
.I.. ., rIn n fl..t..upc MIS- con-