Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1872-06-13
Presentment of the Grand Jury

The STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
County of Edgefeld. X
In the General Sessions; June Term, 1872
To His Honor Samuel w. Melton, Pre-
siding Judge:
The Grand Jury of said County peg
leave respectfully to submit the foilow-
ing Presentment:
/. That they have examined the Jail
and find 1t clean and well Kept. but in
need Of some repairs; and there is also
a necessity for larger. supply of buck
cts, plates, and so-forth for the use of the
prisoners. =
Q. Weexamined the offices of the Clerk
of the Court, Sheriff and Probate Judge.
and also of the County Treasurer and
Auditor. The offices are generally in
good order. In the Clerks Office we find
no Index Book properly kept. or Bar
Docket. In the County Treasurer's Office
we find no safe for keeping the papers
and monev belonging to the office.
9. We have examined the Poor House.
and find the eolored Paupers ina misera-
hle condition. being sadly in want or
clothing, bedding. and rations. Thr
white paupers are more comfortably pro-
vi1ed for owing to the aid Of private
friends, as we are informed by the Su-
perintendent.
3. There has recently. been change
made in the office of County Treasurer
by the removal of John Woolley and the
appointment of P. A. Eichelberger in
his stead. Mr.. Howard, who was ap-
pointed by his Excellency Coy. Scott, to
examine the Books of John Woolley,
has submitted to US a statement showing
the result of his investigation es to the
County Taxes for the year 1871. by which
it appears that the County is indebted to
John Woolley in the sum of Five Thou
sand six hundred end seven .7s-1oc dol
lars; as will appear by said statement
herewith filed as Exhibit GA"
4. Our attention has been called to the
fact that the sureties to the Bond of P. A.
Elchelberger as County Treasurer were
not required to justify, and upon an ex-.
animation of the amounts Of real and
personal property returned by them re-
spectively to the County Auditor, we are
satisfied that the sureties to said bond
are entirely inadequate, and that the
County Commissioners were derelict in
their duty in approving of said Bond
without requiring the sureties thereto to
justify as to the amount OF. property
owned by them respectively; and we
would recommend that they be indicted
for malfeasance in Office.
s. Several errors have been brought to
our attention in regard to certain items
in the accounts of the County Commits
sioners, but as they have submitted no
return to US, and we have been unable to
gain access to their Books, owing to the
fact that their Office is in Hamburg, we
have been unable to examine into said
errors. We would recommend that the
County Commissioners be required to
keep their Office at the Court House OF
Inc County. We would also present the
County Commissioners for gross neglect
of duty in failing to supply the wants OF
the paupers during the present year.
Is. We are informed that the sales being
made by the County Treasurer, of lands
ror taxes, arc in many cases illegal, the
executions in said cases being for taxes
tor the years 1868, 1869, 1870 and 1871,
whereas the tax books for the years 1868
and 1869 have been settled in the office
of the State Auditor, and there being no
Auditors book for the year 1870 no de-
linquent tax list for that year could be
prepared. Werecommendt that thorough
| examination be made by the Solicitor OF
the Circuit of the matter last presented,
and if illegal sales of property for the
payment Of taxes have been made, that
.ne parties responsible for it be prosecu-
| .ed.
7. We would present, that the Roads OF
Rthe County are generallu i" ''"@' ".''--''
and that the County Commissioners have
bcen guilty of gross neglect OF duty, ana
nave shown an utter disregard 10 the
| welfare and convenience Of the people oi
.ne County by failing to build and repair
the bridges over the slarge water courses
IN the County.
Respectfully submitted.
JOSEPH EDWARDS, Foreman.