The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1873-02-05
-Pressntusnt oftheGrsnd jury


1878
The Grand Jurors for the present Term
would most respectfully make the following
Plesentment:
They have entered upon and discharged,
to the best OF their ability, the. various du-
ties incumbent upon them, and would give
the result Of their long and pro.racted labor,
in as few words as possible, and as their
duty to their country will admit. s-.-
The County jail was found in Z very inse-
cure condition, aud should at once be re-
paired the prisoners in confinement seemed
to be well cared for The stove in the pas
sage between the cells, this Grand Inquest
would present Us very dangerous. as ali pris-
oners have access thereto, and if so disposed
might set the Jail on fire. They would fur
ther recommend that The fencing around the
jail be repaired, that stable be buiit on the
find TOO tina: the Jail le.ce in one place is on
the lands of !. Is. Smith, and US said fence
suits better thee than where it formerly
Was, they most respectfully recommend that
arrangements be made in writing by the
County Commissioners to establish the line
at its present location.
The two Petit Jury E9oas in the Court
House were fUand Scan,iiy furnished and
not in i very cleuny condition, they would
therefore recommend that they be thorough
ly renovated and provided with suitable seats
and u table each.
The County Sheriff and Clerk Of the Court
complain Of not having sufficient room 10
deposit old papers and records; this Grand
Inquest therefore recommends that suitable
arrangements be made by County Commis-
sioners for tha: purpose.
The Poor House and tenants were found
in better condition and living in more COM
fort than has been the case for many years.
Complaint WAS made, however, By the keep
er, Of not having sufficient house room, es-
pecially for the sick; this Inquest recon-
mendS that the above be at once looked af-
ter by the proper authorities; and that the
farm attached thereto, not being self-sustain-
ing, as it is very poor ground, with the
fencing in dilspiGatcd condition, be placed
in proper repair or the same abolished.
As to the roads and bridges in said Coun-
ty, this Grand Inquest hears complaints
from every quarter-tnis they present as a
great public nuisance and 3 very sad neglect
Of duty on the part of the parties whose du-
ty it is 10 look after the same. The road
working laws Of the Comfy, they most
heartily recommend, should at the proper
time, be strictly complied with.
AS there is but one Trial Justice in town,
this Grand Inquest respectfully suggests, that
the proper steps be taken to have one or two
more competent Justices appointed, for this
they deem public need, rs many cases
which now appear on the Sessions Docket
could be tried il an inferior Court before in
telligeut judges, and thus save the County
en- enormous annual tax for the support of
The same when carried 10 this Honorable
Cour:
Il has also been brought to their notice
that the Grand and Petit Jurors, as well as
the State witnesses for the last Term Of the
Court, have never been paid; and further,
that the present incumbent as School Com
missioner, Munson S. Long, is holding an
office both Of profit and trust, after having
been convicted Of an offence which, under
the laws of our State, utterly disqualifes
him forever from holding the same; both of
the above are respectfully presented to this
Honorable Court for wha tver action, in its
superior Judgment, may be deemed best to
obtain the required result.
We find only one Trial Justice at the Court
House, A. R. CAN'T, Esq. We have exam
ined his books, which appears to be correct
ly kept. He has paid all fines into the Treas
usy which appear from his books to have
been collected. We have been unable to
examine the books of Trial Justices in the
country, though we would liked to have
done so; and would therefore respectfully
recommend 10 your Honor, that you issue
an order requiring ali Trial Justices 10 be
present on the first day of each Term of
Court.
Wefnd the books of the County Commits
s!CnS neatly and, so far as we arc able to
judge, correctly kept. We are sorry to be
compelled to acknowledge the County was
on the 4th day of November last in debt to
the amount of s1649O We are fearful that
without the most rigid economy on the part
of the County Commissioners the debt will
be increased at the expiration of the present
year.
We find that the Clerk Of the Court has
the books and records of his Office in q very
neat and apparently correct condition The
money received by him as Clerk is de-
posted in the National Bank Of Newberry.
The money received prior to the time Of his
taking charge. is in the hands Of his prede-
cessor. His office needs repairs sadly. New
cases are needed for preserving the records
of the Court, and We would recommend that
the office be generally refitted
The books and records in the office of the
Judge of Probate are in excellent condition.
The Office, however, needs repair, but VIC are
informed that this has been ordered BY the
County Commissioners.
The County Treasurer'S books are WELL
kept; as to their correctness we are uDa-
bic to venture an opinion, as it would
take an expert several days to examine them.
We learn from him that the people have
paid their taxes very promptly, and he reports
to US that he had collected for State tax, s35.-
946 49 5; for County tax, s9.279.66 2; for
District Schools, S1.83o.ss 4; for Poll tax.
sl068; for Ku Klux funds, s1.554.O1 A.
There was placed to the credit Of th2 County
on that day, 2637 90.
We have been unable to make such an