The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1874-05-27
OUR COURT.

OUR COURT.
The May Term of our Court closed at
midday on Saturday last, the Petit Ju-
ries having been dismissed on the pre-
s Eious evening. The Court was entirely
occupied with the criminal business OF
The Term, and d number of important
cases were tried. Hfs Honor pressed
forward the business with his accus-
toned dispatch, and with the co-opera-
tieon of counsel and juries, accomplished
a,good deal of work. He complimented
the juries upon their faithful discharge
of duty, and expressed his opinion OF
the general correctness of their verdicts.
The prisoners who were convicted OF
various offences during the week, were
arraigned for sentence on Friday after
noon, and after receiving each lecture
from the Judge were sentenced as fol-
lows
Anthony McCoppin convicted ofgrand
larceny in stealing bale of cotton, one
year at hard labor in the penitentiary.
d Lewis Chiles, forgery Of order upon
Abbeville merchants, two cases, one
year in the penitentiary in each case.
Jack Wright and Ephraim Scott,
grand larceny fl stealing some bacon'
one year each in the penitentialy.
Henry Hackett, stealing mare, two
wears in the pcnifcntiary.
Josiah Mathis, arson, ten years in the
penitentisry.
George strothers, manslaughter, five
years in the penitentiary.
The sentences were comparatively
light, owing to various extenuating cir
'cumstances, and tempered justice with
mercy
THE Grand Jury made their present
ment ard were dismissed on Friday
morning. They received the thanks o!
the Court for their able and excellent
report, presenting various pending
abuses, and making various well-timet
Suggestions. We publish it in anothe
coiumn, and commend it to the atten
lion of our readers. In pursuance of it
suggestions, His Honor directed th'
Solicitor in certain cases to issue rules
if other cases indictments, against de
1ipquent officials. With regard to tn
poor of the County, he adverted to tn
enormous expense Which was imposed
upon the County by some sixteen pau
pers, exceeding four thousand dollar
per annum. when there were men read.
Ito undertal e the maintenance Of eacl
'pauper at one hundred dollars a year
and he'endorsed the Recommendation
The Grand Jury that they be bound ou
each to the lowest bidder. ~
With regard to the De La Howe Es
tate, His Honor expressed some doubt a
70 the best mode in which the action Q
the Court could be made effectual in Sc
curing the proper management of tha
noble charity. Upon proper case beinl
made, he stated that he had no doubt =
TIE authority of the Court to declare th
seats of the new Trustees vacant, an
the Grand Jury had suggested sutficien
cause Of apprehension of danger to tn
fund, to lead the Court to take steps fo
an investigation. After comforting wit
The members of the Bar, His Homo
directed that rule should issue agains
the new Board, requiring them to she'
cause at the next Term of the Cour
why their offices should not be declare
vacant, and in the meantime that the
should be restrained from any interfel
ence with the management of the funt
with other members of the Bar, Co
Thomson, the Treasurer, was calle
upon for an expression of opinion, an
IN response stated thath had very gre'
tdeiicacy in saying anything at all, as /
had scrupulously refrained from takin
any part in the agitation of the matte
in the community or before the Gran
Jury, and was disposed to let matte
take their own course. He would sa
however, as to the proper competency
J1is Trustees, that they were required
arteha two examinations Of the pupi
during the year, and that they were r
sponsible themselves for the fund-tl
Treasurer was merely their creatur
and could be displaced at pleasure-th'
the old Board are men of education
a!nnabering some three or four graduate
eT colleges, and once numbered on the
roll the names of Generals Bull al
McDuf1ie-that they are also men
property, and could respond in damag'
for breach of trust in the managemel
OF a fund, which is now protected by
bond ef tile Treasurer in the penalty
'ss3,OOe. "'' .....
Tn the ,iaatter of Henry Ellison
charged with a breach of trust, HI
Honor directed that, "a bill of indictmer
should be given out against him, ths
aie, be arrested and enter into bond be
fore the Clerk in the sum of five hun
dred dollars, for his appearance.
: At the close of the Term, MIR. Peril
in behalf of the Abbeville Bar, return,
ed their thatks to His Honor for til
ability and efficiency with which Ii
had dispatched the business Of the Court
LII res, onse the Judge exposed hi