The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-06-16


grand jury vas to correct abuses, bring
the guilty to trial, and so regulate the
affairs of the county as to serve the best
interests Of the citizens and tax payers
The Court of General Sessions is over,
and we had grand jury whose duty it
was to serve our county, but We fear that
they found it too burdcnsome to do their
duty, and too unpleasant to indict those
who were the most culpable. 1t will he
seen by the report of the School commits
sioncr, that he brought to their attention
charges against the county treasurer but
the jury paid no attention to them.
Evidence was also produced, that the
treasurer had bought school certificates
and county checks at a discount but the
grand jury ignored these charges. The
proof is still at hand but the tax payers
will be obliged to wait for another year,
and another jury that will return indict-
ments that undisputabie evidence fur
nishes. We are informed that when the
report of the grand jury was written the
foreman was separated from the rest o:
the jury, and that the county officer most
in danger was with him while it was
written, and that afterwards this same
officer remarked previous to the present
ment being read in court, that it amoun-
ted to nothing.
The cases Of the Trial Justices seems
to have been ignored, although it
is reported that only one of them in
the county has made proper returns
during the past year.
The grand jury of Charleston has in
marked contrast to our own indicted the
late county commissioners for paying
claims on bills not signed by the persons
In whose names the claims have been
made, while our commissioners have done
the same thing more than once and on e
man whose name was used declared that
he had never performed the labor. had
never authorized his name to be used, and
had never beon informed that the money
had been drawn for him, although his
CLAIM had been allowed nearly year
ago, and was prrised to hear of the tran
saction. This account was made out, his
mark affixed, and the money drawn by
one of the county commissioners, while
the claimant was seventy five miles away.
The County Commissioners of Charleston
in their report present the county commits
sioners as follows: ave also present NJ. Nc
Laughlin, F. C. Miller and R. N. Gregorie.
for official misconduct, and fraud in dis
bursting improperly the funds of the
county, in auditing and approving a bill
against the county for services rendered
by Peter Ashe, when no such services
were rendered, and the bill is not signed
by Peter Ache" "After the report of the
grand jury in Charleston Judge Reed
said: 81 am gratified, Mr. Foreman, and
gentlemen of the grand jury, that as iu-
rorF, good and law.abiding citizens. You
have had the independence to do YOUR
duty, under the instruction Of the Court,
In presenting all persons as you have
thought it necessary to do at this mo-
ment for all violation of duty by pub.
lie officers. You are entitled TO the
ccmmendation of every honest and good
citizen in the County of Charleston, ard
you may rest assured you will get it. ]
admonisli you to go on with your good
work until the Augean stable ls thorough
~ cleansed. You are to know no man.
The dearest friend you have on earth or
the highest citizen Of Charleston we
know no more thsn Nassau" who is
In Jail yonder, charged with 80 many
crimes. II they are accused of crimes
OF which they are not gnilty, let them
prove 1T and they viii be exonorated;
IL they are guilty, the public will be
yindicatedr." If that jury had served
Beaufort county last Week more indict
ments would have been brought in and
some heads would now rest uneasy.