The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-11-12
THE COURTS YESTERDAY.


This court met at 10 o'clock yesterday morn
ing, Judge Graham presiding, and was en-
gagged, during most Of the day, with the trial:
of the Perez homicide, as fully reported else
where.
The grand jury found no bill in the case Of
Robert Lovely, colored, charged with the MUIR
der Of Eliza snalls, colored, but returned
true bill Of Indictment against Jack Drayton,
colored, for the murder OF Joseph segar. COL
ored. Drayton was ordered to be arraignedl
this morning, when date for bis trial will be,
fixed.
The grand jury also made the following
presentment, which was read by the clerk:
CHARLESTON, 8. O.. November II, ls72:
To his Honor r. r. Graham, Judge OF the:
Court of General Sessions:
The grand Jury, duly drawn and empRnelled
In and lor the county, respectfully present tne
| following: ..,
instructions, we proceeded latter disposing
of lhe cases given to us by the SOLICITOR 10
examine the public offices coming under our
cogaizance, viz; the Offices OF the sheriff
and clerk Of the county, and We are pleased
TO report that everything in these depart, T.
official order and regularity.
The Insolvent debtors book and other lm-
portaat papers lost some time ago have been
recovered, and are sgain'in the possession OF
| the clerk OF the county:
We again visited the jail, that asylum for
the wicked, where 80 many culprits are con-
| fned for greater or lesser offences.
The grand Jury with moral conviction that
| no prisoner ought to be deprived OF the ord-
nary comforts or llfs due to him as q fellow
creature, however degraded, iauiLer1ng or
guilty, represent again the jail as being dis
grace to our county, to our ordinary sympathy
with crimes and suf1erlngs. As we under
stand and saw tho unclean condition CT the
Iail, Its dlscolored walls, DC, is owing TO the
TACT that the county commissioners In spite of
the oft repeated charge OF neglect and re-
monstrance OF the grand lurles, have pertina-
clousIy refused or neglected TO send the lime
and other things necessary to renovsle and
cleanse the interior Of the jail. We therefore
appeal to your Honor to Issue some arbitrary
command by which those whose duty It Is to
attend to the public building may be made to
perform that duty TO the jail, and relieve its
wretched inmates from suffering. The law
never so contemplated, and strictly and un-
eQulvocally forbids such neglect.
Several Of the prisoners complained OF Inc
fare, showed pans c. hominy which was given
them all for breakfast, and but small piece
of meat served for their dinner.
In going up to the tower 1t was 80 dark that
It REQUIRED an inmate OF the place to conduct
us through. We report the necessity OF q
proper gas light there, and that competent
tower, by which sufficient heat may be impRrt-
ed to the prisoners, and that the roof of the
tower be properly covered to protect the stove
from inclemency.
The tower itself Is horrId, dismal, mIsera-
BILE place, dark. damp; broken windows which
render the unfortunate Inmates suD1ecC 10 all
the vicIssitudes OF weather; and the proper
authorities are hereby called upon to give In
slant and proper attention: to this outrageous
and inhdman nuis Lnce.
This, please your honor, terminates our duty
tor this term. We cannot part without express
ing our grateful Acknowledgements for your
uniform, dignifed and impartial position as
our Judge and advisor.
ments for your kindness during the term, and
tender our heartfelt desire for your continued
usefulness to the county, and we trust and
hope to the State.
Respectfully submitted.
JAMES p. HOWARD,
Foreman Grand Jury, Charleston County.
Judge Graham aaid that the condition of
things reported In the county jail had been
reported 30 often that it had become dis
grace to the community, and he directed the
acting solicitor to lake the necessary steps to
have the parties responsible therefor indicted
and convicted II found guilty Of neglect. he
then discharged the grand jury, telling them
that they would receive their pay certificates
upon application 10 the clerk, and advising
them, If the county treasurer could not pay
them right away, to hold on to them and not
submIt to shave. He said that he had heard
It rumored that tho court was aiding certain
rings of speculators to buy up the paper of
the ,urymen at q discount, but his constant
effort had been In Just the opposite direction.
Bis jurors had always, thus far, received their
pay promptly over the counter of the treasu.
rer's office, and wnen they could no longer be
paid he would no longer sit as Judge.
Trial Justiccs' Courts.
Abram Evans, colored, was sent to Jail by
Trial Justice Rollins for ten days for wife
beating.
William Johnson, drunk and dlsorderly, one
dollar. Benjamin Crockett, colored, drunk
and dfsorderly, two dollars. Francis Davis,
colored, drunk, one dollar or ten days. Aleck
slmons, colored, drunk and dlsorderly, one
dollar or ten days. Ned Simpson, colorea,
found with two sheets of zinc, supposed 10
have been stolen, thirty days. william JONI
son, colored, gambling. one dollar. FRANCIS
Campbell, colored, stealing cotton and cuttng
a policeman, turned over to trial Jus1ce. |
william Burley, drunk, one dollar. W. J.
Booth, drunk, one dollar. Thomas Lynch
Albert King and James Kelly drunk, dlsor-
derry and fighting, three dollars eacn. f'y-
mouth Baxter, colored, drunk, one dollar.
RanIamip Sanders, colored, drunk, one dollar.
:Iobn Hutton, drunk, one dollar or ten days
8 p. Senate, drunk and dlsorderly, two dol
lara Anna Brown and Rachel Small, color |
ed, keepinga disorderly house, turned over
to the city attorney to be indicted for trial.
A. Bennett. colored, disorderly and hgnhtlng'
two dollars. Joseph Queen and Frank Oliver,
colored, drunk, ilsorderIy and nghtlng, two
dollars or twenty days each. Cyrus Grant,
colored, allowing his chimney to catch fire, |
two dallara Two dogs, two cows and Two |