Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1872-03-14
e. PEoEressof the Court. s-5-g'
Last week we-gav1etsie progress OF the
,urt up to Tuesday afternoon.

. =
as clear as spring water. Nevertheie
the jury, composed entirely Of negroe
pronounced him not guilty. Judge Nc
ton seemed to be Mortified and indigna
at such verdict, and, to use commt
phrase, raked the twelve colored gentl
men with unmistakable asperity. Al
well he might; for if this sort Of thing
to become the rule, it will soon be blac
for black and white for white, race stan'
ing up to race. without any reference
law or justice. Inthis case Mr.. Brawle..
of Chester, Sacted as Solicitor for; Il
State, enhancing much the favorable in
preston of him which our people ha
already conceived. For the defence, al
peared. two young lawyers Just maxim
their de6ut-Messrs R. G. Bonham an
J.D. Talbert. They managedit decided
" well, and we predict for them usefi
and honorable career at the bar.
On Thursday afternoon the Grand il
ry; AFTER making theirpresentment, wel
discharged. From this presentment W
publish the following extracts furnishe
US by A. Ramsay, ESD, Clerk of tn
Court: j
To HIS Honor s. ". Melton, PresavS
Judge:
The Grand Jury Of. Edgefeld Comfy
to whom was referred the special aattei
of -inquirins, as to whether the county
Commissioners for Edgefel5 county
have published the annual stFement o.
receipts and disbursementsot puohe
monies passing through highlands and
Of other matters pertainip 10 the als-
chargeof their official dyies, beg leave
respectfully to, presenstthats they hey find I'd
upon investigationS tat the Board ;! OF
County COMMISSIONERS for said County
have published no. statement OF their
account in the. Cunty paper OF thus
County, or othervse, as far as they can
ascertain since tie 7th day of July A. D.
1870, and that Ye;clerksof said Board has
published ony partial statement on the
5th day of otA AA.ps1s7l.H :
They thrscorc recommend that the
Solicitor oe instructed by the Court to
prepare md have served upon said Board,
and tlt clerk thcreof,-a Rule 10 show
causeAt the next term of this Court, why
an Indictment should not be preferred
against them for nalfeasance in office,
aud derelictionin the discharge Of their
public duties.
They further recommend that the said
Board he ruled to show cause at the next
term of the Court why r bill of indict-
ment should not be preferred against
them for neglecting so grossly the public
Roads, Bridges and, Ferries Of the Coup
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. sl3t.Al :t.4
JOSEPH EDWARDS, Foreman.
1t is due to Solicitor Brawicy to say
and people should feel undera 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
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
neg, oes 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. .attributina theif shortcomings
more to the defects Of tic present law
(which does not provide for sufficient su-
pervision) than TO individual want of in
tegrity. Such officers were likewise well
advised and warned by his Honor. Judge
aIeltons address to the Grand Jury was
Republican, but at the
same time, able, fearless, and unmiStaka
bly, conscientious.
Thursday and Friday were devoted to
the case Of the state vs.. Barney Balen-
tine,. for the murder Of Grant, Boozy,
both eolored.f The cause Of difficulty
was the alleged Illicit intimacy Of Booty
with Ballentines wife, Solicitor Braw-
ley and LEROY i. Youlh;ns, ESD, ap-
pe.red for the prosecution; Messrs w:
T. Gory and-RsaG. Bonilam for, the de-
fence. The verdict Of the Jury was
9lansla,ghter, to the, astonisllment. of
many, WHO were Of opinion, from the
evidence .dduced, the >skiflful manage
ment and cry able argument of Col.
Youmans am OF the Solicitor and the
clear and poinIed ehargeof 'he presiding
Judge, thatthe. verdict would be Muir
der. This was g. important case, and
excited -considaral- q interest throughout
the trial. The dc,nce mainly relied
upon was the.rumore adulterous inter
course of the deceased With the wife of
the defendant, andcefta, circumstances
of SELF defence, an .neces,rily based in
Dgreatzneasnre upon circiustana.a ev-
idence difficult to connect. rhc counsel;
for the prosecution, in the l,guage OF
Judge Melton, aud in the opil, Of the
spe!l-bound audience, did their whole
dnty." Our young friend Richa, Bon
ham. Eor the prisoner, made hi.frst
speech in ease Of murder, spoke ;th
ease and self-pogsession. and By his big.
ly crcditable argument won the appiaus
Of all. Maj. Gary, ono Of the first Grimm
nal lawyers at our Bar, closed i'r the ae
fence. end surpassed ANY ioriner effort q
his in legal alknowlcdge, Gr~eihi uc'lvefs
and touching eloqucncc> Aud tlc Coaf
in this case paid meritod compiiii'cn
when he said that the defence was con
Quoted with grca. pcrti"acity, uhafiif
yea, and unusual ability.
On saturday the Court sat huta snoi
time, notliinyworthy OF ntention 'Hi"
accomplished. Saturday, too, Mr.. hE'H
ley departed, and WAS succccdeo'
States Attorney. by Attorney ''e''0i'
Chamberlain.
The case of the State ysNinsio~ ii"A
,,,on for the killing OF Capt. George l'"'