The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1876-03-09
Court

Opered at Pickens on Monday, Mt
10 o'clock ~, m. His Honor Judge |
Cooke, presiding After the Grand
Jury was called and sw orn, his Honor
proceeded to charge them sibstanti-
ally as follows:
Ono year has elapsed since any
court has been held in your County,
and yet from the bills laid before mo
by tho Solicitor. the amount Of crimo
in your County is very small, consid~
ering tho length oftime and popula-
tion of tho County. This is highly
crodltable to your people, and must be
gratifying to you, as it is to the court.
He hoped this state Of things would
continue, and he was sure nothing
would contribute more to this end
than tho faithful discharge of tho
duties of the Grand Jury. You are
tho grand inquest Of the County, and
your duties oxtond to tho oversight of
all your public officers, aud to tho
protection of The people from wrong
and oppression from every quarter.
You arc 10 know no man, but only
your duty, and to discharge it fear
lcssly without malice to any one, and
without fear, favor, affection, reward
or hope of reward. BY the p' osont
law, which [ consider wise provis-
ion, your torn Of service is for twelve
months. During that time you are
to be faithful sontnols OF tho public
interest and public welfare. You can
learn and improve upon your duties
from time time, and thus in tho future
be better able to discharge them prop.
crly. While you keep watchfu eye
on your officials, they will bottor dis.
charge their full duty, and this will
tend TO prevent crime. His Honor
thon read the Forcman's oath, clause
by clause, and explained it fully to
the jury.
Among your duties you arc rcquir>
cd TO visit all tho public Offices, and
| make such examinations into their
management as will secure to the
people the performance OF the duties
imposed on them by law. This is
essential to tho security ut the people
and tho proper administration of tho
| law. The Office Of the Sheriff should
be examined carefully. Ofton from
| Ignorance or toar, Shcriffs fail to dis,
charge their duties in several parlicu-
lars, and especially in matters arising
under the lien law. lie did not know
that such was tho case hore, but the
jury should examine irto tho matter
You should SEQ whether in executing
this law the Sheriff has levied on
property mortgagcd by way OF lien
ior advances for agricultural purposes.
The law does not allow lien in such
cases on horses, cattle and other prop
crty, though such liens arc common
~ taken. The law is special one
for special purpose, and the lien is
limited TO tho crop grown, or TO be
grown on tho land, for the making OF
which tho advances were made. Be-
sides, tho Clerk is the only person
| who can ISSUE warrant to enforce
u lien, VIII ch tho Sheriff or his proper
deputy is tho only person who can ex-
| ccutc tho warrant. You should, in
this connection, sec whcthcr any oil
your Trial Justices has attempted to
enforce tho lien law by process from
their courts.
They were instructed to visit the
Jail and sec that tho prisoners were
properly fed and slept, and we'll treat.
cd. You, ora committee from your
body should also visit tho Poor House
and SEQ that the Comfy Commission.
crs arc properly managing that insti-
tuition, and Carrying out the humane
ends for which 1T WAS established -
The Offices of the Clerk and Judge of
| Probate shonld be examined, and YOU
should sec that thcir books are prop
crlv kept. You should also inquire
whether tho Clcrl has properly dc,
posted monies coming into his hands
Ia 20 ODf,,;,l