Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1872-06-27
The Beauties of Going to Law.


ceedings of our courts often reveals
facts that are truly calculated to
weaken our faith in their purity, and
to lessen our respect for the majesty
Of the law. We. confess with deep
regret that the popular saying, Z" Mon
ey will do anything" is not always
wholly untrue.
At the recent term of the Clay Cir
cult Court, in the case of the State
Us. Bermis and Miller, or stealing
wheat, we are furnished with Ia
mentable instance. The facts in the
case ara as follows: In the month Of
October, 1862, some twenty bushels
Of wheat were stolen from Clay Coun-
ty and sold early the following morn
ing at one of the leading Touring
mills in this city. The wheat was
missed early in the morning, and
tracked directly TO its destination IN
the market, and, though the noctur-
nal thieves had made good their es-
cape, combination OF circumstances
and Identification seemed TO fasten
the guilt upon the proper parties, who
were arrested the same evening at
Brazil. Under the privilege oi the
law, changes Of Venue were taken be-
fore three several Justices Courts in
Clay county, and three days and as
many nights were lost in the prelimi-
nary proceedings.
The parties were then bound over
tc court. Subsequently Miller turned
States evidence. The case has been
before the courts twice yearly since
that time, being continued from time
to time by what were uniformly i'm
derstood by every party outside the
court as frivolous excuses backed by
the usual afidavits. At the present
term the case was thrown out of Court
at the request of ell the prosecuting
witnesses, for the reason that justice
could not be obtained, and the wit
nesses could not afford the expense.
The prosecuting attorney on the oc-
casion made a humorous speech. Fhe
Hon. William Mack, Of this city, was
ON the bench, and also made few
remarks, commenting that this was
one of those cases damaging to the
reputation of the court and farce
on justice y
This being a State case the wit
nesses got no fees. The original y;rl-
ue of the wheat was SCI so. A wit
ness from this city figures his outlay
as follows: Attendance on court II
times-traveling expenses $24; board
$24; time 81 da,s, $63; total Sill.
multiplying this amount by the whole
number (30). of witnesses and we
have $3.50; the Millers and Ber,
misses claim to havep Lawyers fees
etc., to the amount of $4,000, ma-
king the total cost $3.50.
In his final speech the prosecuting
attorney remarked that during the
continuance of these caes several
witnesses had died, and many others
had grown iron boyhood to be old
men. One Of the lawyers for the
defence (Rose) had became palsied
IN his right arm; another Coffee.
had nearly gone blind, while the third
one Williamson had become weak
in the small of his back-all writing
afidavits and studying pretenses fol
continuances.. All the witnesses have
learned that tits better to know moth
ing of wrong doings in the future
that to close their eyes and suppress
all knowledge Of crimes committed
is essentially and practically only
the exercise of the principle Of self
protection.
And thus do our courts encourage
commission of crime. Is there nj
remedY?-Terra Haute' Gud.) Ex
press.