Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-12-10

considered as evidence that the supplies were
advanced, when probably advances to the
amount claimed had not been furnished. A
change in the law, permitting the tenant to
hold one-fourth Of the crop, exempt from sale
under liens, is greatly needed. The Court
would be pleased to have the grand jury re-
port in favor of change in the mode of en-
forcing liens. His Honor deemed it proper
to say, in this connection, that should any at
tempt be made to sell crop at execution sale,
under the existing lien laws, he should enjoin
the clerk from selling for fifteen days, in order
to give the tenant opportunity to be heard in
the premises-a privilege of which he is now
debarred by the lien law.
Fourth. Another matter of practical inter-
est to the people is the fact, apparent to all,
that the great mass of grown colored people
can neither read nor write. Under the laws,
and from the very necessity Of the case, they
are compelled to conduct the most of their
business transactions under written contracts.
The educational facilities furnished by the
State are not such as reach this class of our
people. And perhaps one-third of their chill
dren, in consequence of having to work to
earn support, are also prevented from attend
ing school, and, as consequence, are growing
up in ignorance. The parents of these chill
dren are poor, and need their services in the
day time, thus preventing them from attend
ing the day-schools, as now provided by law.
While the law does not prohibit grown per-
SONS from attending public schools. yet from
the facts stated, it is impracticable for them,
and for many of their children, to attend
school in the day time and for these reasons
the Court would suggest the expediency of
establishing, in each township, one or two
night schools for males. In the judgment of
the Court, it will prove of great benefit to
open such schools, even if a few day schools
should be closed thereby, which danger, how
ever, is not apprehended. In York county,
there are perhaps, 800 white voters who can
not read nor write. In Chester county the
Court has been cognizant that there were
school trustees, pretending to exercise the
functions of such position, who could neither
read nor write. One of this class attempted
to make an enumeration of the school popu-
lation of his district, by visiting the families
and cutting notches on italy y.stick" to rep
resent the number of children in each family.
This fact being made known to the Circuit
Judge, the trustee was notified that he must
at once resign, or he would be committed to
jail-the ofense being that he was presuming
to discharge duties for which he was incom-
petent, on the same principle that man un-
versed in surgery would attempt the amputa-
ton of human limb. The Court recon-
mends that the grand jury consider this mat.
ter, and if you deem it expedient, recommend
the measure, even if it should, for while,
close few of the day schools.
At the close of his Honor's charge, Acting
Solicitor Witherspoon gave out number of
bills to the grand jury, after which that body
retired, and the criminal docket was taken up.
A number of cases were continued, among
them the indictments against U. S. Deputy
Marshal Hubbard Hubbard was bailed for
temperance on his own recognizance.
The case of Charles Kane, Jasper Goforth
and Charles Hooey, indicted for robbery COM
mitted on the person Of F. .Magrath. in this
town, on the 9th ultimo, the particulars of
which we published at the time, was taken up,
and ended on Monday night in conviction Of
all the parties On Tuesday they were SEN
fenced by the Court as follows: Kane to
three years in the peniteutiary; Goforth to
one year. and Hooey to six months The
two last named are negroes, and Kane was
soldier discharged from the garrison at this
post only few days before the robbery was
committed.
Bill Staten, a colored boy, charged with
larceny, was found guilty and sentenced to "a
hours Imprisonment.
Henry Coker, negro, charged with assault
and battery, and attempt to commit rape on
a small colored girl, found guilty and SEN
fenced to the penitentiary for one year.
Thomas Adams, charged with assault and
battery, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to
Jail one hour.
Oliver Hill, indicted for the larceny of
COW. Pleaded guilty and was sentenced to
the penitentiary for nine months.
On Tuesday afternoon, G. w. S. Hart, an
applicant for license to practice in the Pro-
bate and Circuit Courts, was subjected to ex-
animation by committee composed of ". B.
Wilson, w. B. Williams and G. E. Spencer,
Esqrs, and after successfully passing the or
deal, was admitted to practice. Mr.. Hart,
though young in years, is a close student, and
so we'll did he sustain himself on bis examina-
ton as to elicit high and deserved compli-
ment from the bench.
The case of State VS.. Nelson Clawson, a ne
gro indicted for the murder of white man
named James PRESLEY, near Fort Mill, on
the 18th of September last, is progressing at
the time we 60 to press
The grand jury, before being discharged on
Tuesday, submitted to the Court the following
PREsENTMENT
IN THE GENERAL SESSIONS, YORK-DE-
CEMBER TERM, 1874.
To MeI Hon. r. J. MAcKEY. Judge of the Sirth
Circuit THE Grand Jury respectfully report to
your Honor that they have endeavored, in the
Short time since the opening of the present term,
to consider the various matters submitted to them
by your Honor, after disposing OF the bills OF in
dictment submitted to them by the Acting Solici-
tor.
AS to the recommendation in your Honors
charge regarding the lien law as at present exist,
inr thew beg leave to recommend, as suggested
by your Honor, that the law be amended by the
Legislature so that the lienee shall have fifteen
days notice to show cause why his crop should
not be sold to pay for advances, under the agree