The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-05-24

e,istoGy since. The sentence of the co,r+
has been disrcgarded, the comm;tment
perhaps used as waste paper, and the
parties under sentence are turned loose
.uponthe community prepared to rsneat
their despredations at the first foyour.
able opportunity. There arc various
causes which operate against the convic-
tlon OF one who commits larceny.
Thieves multiply their Precautions. fire.
quently act in concert, hedging them
selves around with projections. The
honest portion of any community are
consequently indignant when the admin
istratlon of justice degenerates into a
farce which encourages the commission
of crimes it was designed to arrest.
The office of special constable with rare
exceptions ID assigned to persons totally
irresponsible. who excuse themselves for
the escape, "a release of prisoners on the
ground that the the county does not nav
expenses of transportation to prison. Now
who Is to blame 2 Shall we censure
the trial justice for the failure to appoint
responsible men to the Officer If the
county does not pay it would be an
exceedingly harsh exercise of authority
to compel an industrious man at this
busy season of the year to abandon his
crop and Reluctantly, at his own expense.
escort some hog thief to the county iali
with no hope OF remuneration. and If
the complaint is worthy of regard it not
only reflects discredit upon those whose
province 1t Is to appropriate to its prop
er uses public funds committed to their
care, but it betrays an insecurity in some
part of the machinery which calls for
prompt adjustment at the hands of those
in authority. Special provision has been
made for constables fees in all criminal
cases, and no one has legally the right to
withhold them. We were encouraged
by some of our representative, hope that
an effort would he made to have trial
justices for this county paid regular. sal
aries, and to have constables. elected
Such change would have obyiated much
difficulty. But for some UNEXPLAINED
cause, we understand the bill did not
meet their support
My statement that it is difficult to
convict for offences coming within the
jurisdiction of trial justice courts is an.
parent to any one who witnesses the
usual "get up" of the Jury; eighteen
names arc selected from the by-standers
by special constable. From these the
requisite number are drawn. In the
hope that some of their. number will I've
selected Mr.. Thiefs particular friends
predetermined to acquIt, are invariably
i'll attendance. After objections are ex
hausted should one of these remain on
the list no evidence can convict. Eucour-
aged by shouts from outside friends. after
the jury has retired, with bolsterous
exhortation to 'hold on" not to weld.
&c, this predetermined Juror who per-
hars has committed repeated offences of
like character fails to regard the evidence
anu hangs with such tenacity that a
mistrial or acquittal is inevitable. Can
it be surprising that under such circum.
stances those disposed to subsist by
p, nder are encouraged to proceed, no
dread of the teryors oe the law. and no
rss'ralnt imposed on the idle sauntcr, and
pcupatetic rambling and plunder cult.
waited by those gentry One more
instance of justice Knocked and nm
done with the dcmi anarchy which
results in consequence of the utter want
OF responsibility IL those to whom the
office of special constable Is assigned.
some time, 1t my memory ls not at fault
during the latter portion of the past
year warrant was issued against q cnr-
tain individual In this neigh,,orhoo6 for
perjury. In all reason sufficient time has
elapsed. yet he has not been brought to
nearing before the court, has not
yet absconded, aakcs no effort to keen
himself concealed, but the special conata
oie has simply not made it convenient to
attempt hls arrest. This I think suf1i-
cieht TO impress tho reader with the
prevalence of crime in our community.
ana me comparative safety with which
oHences are daily committed. 1t is not
my purpose to complain Of any particular
individual, nor do / desire TO censurp
any one. but simply direct public atten.
tion TO facts os they exist in the sincere
nope that some arrangement may be
speedily effected which will insure the
appointment of reliable men to the Office !
OIL special constable, and result i'm the
remuneration OF those who discharge its
duties. Let this be done and I have
talth to believe that the laws will be
more Ilgid!y enforced and offenders,
discovering that justice. is no longer
fettered. crime abate.
The stringeucy in the money market
and the scarcity of provisions are being
teit oy ell classes. have tried to dis |
pose OF little surplus property for cash,
ana discover that the value mankind sets |
on that which is not for sale, is very un- |
like his estimate for the same commodity
when brought to market, such a stern |
test Is money, its coarse jingle jars fear
fully upon oil the music of tfattery, and
makes discord Of all compliment. had |
intended to speak of the crops and to
make some comments upon the scarcity
OF provisions and the distressing want Of
means to- procure them with some alIu.
sion to the probable causes but I have
already transeconded proper limits and