The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-09-20
TIE cIRCvIr COURT

Cothran, the able and efficient eo,icitor ~
TINS Circuit, representing the Slrte. The
grand jury OF the past two terms serves
during this term also, and the petit iuries
we're organized by the appointment. Of Mr..
"m. NJ. Archer as foreman of Jury No. 1,
and COLI. d. King as foreman of jury No. 2
After the organization of the juries. his
Honor delivered an excellent and abls
charge to the grand jury, OF which the fol-
lowing Is an imperfect synopsis:
IL is an immeiaorial custom, and indeed
Is the duty OF the Court, as well as it's pleas.
ure, 50 the beginning of the term of Court
OF General Sessions, to advise with the
grand juries and give them auch instrnc.
uon IN reference to their important duties
as 1t may deem necessary or appropriate
The Court is advised, however, that your
panel will not need 80 full and minute in
strucaion rs is sometimes given, because
you have already had the instruction of
TWO OF my distinguished brothers of the
bench, and your previous experience In the
discharge Of your official duties has been
such as to render an enlargement upon
| them by the Court at this time unnecessary.
1t is well, however, to impress upon you the
high responsibility which rests upon your
Office. The grand jury is the corner stone
upon which the whole fabric of public JUS
tice rests. 1t is the ear and at the same
time the arm Of the Court It is your
province to advise the Court as to what
may be necessary or important to the ed.
yancement of public justice in this County.
1t is unnecessary to go into any extended
detail OF the history or organiS-tion of the
grand jury. For the matters in hand Il
! makes no difference as to how It has come
down to us. It is part of Our system of
criminal Jurisprudence, and the oath which
you have taken Is the best synopsis of the
duties you are expected to perform. The
Judge here dissected the oath of grand
jurors, and commented upon the obliga-
tions it imposes. He continued: You are
drawn from the people because they know
the wants of the public, and can present
the interests Of all portions of their County.
This presentment is not expected to be
long and elaborate, but briefly stated,
and as quickly made out as possible.
You should see That economy Is prese ~ d
in all the departments Of the public service.
And just here remember that you are sworn
to secrecy in the investigation OF e, matters.
This is the core and heart of your oath, and
the law draws charm circle around the
Grand Jury room. Nothing goes into that
room without the consent of the Grand
Jury, and when anything is once obtained
by them it cannot go out. The object of
this Is to remove undue influence from your
panel, and to keep your room quiet from
the storm of public passions which me
rage outside. Therefore you are bound o
keep secret all that transpircs in your H.
vestigations. The books and deliberatiol.
| Of your body are sacred. It. is sometimes
said that the walls have ears, and some
times your deliberations get out, but the
Court desires to impress upon you the obi.
CATION to keep secret everything that tran
spires In your room. You should have no
prejudice or favoritism. Be as far from the
control OF human nature in the discharge OF
your duty as possible. Your position is too
high and responsible to allow yourselves to
be influenced by the ordinary motives which
control men in the transaction Of their daily
business. The Judge here gave the jury
special instruction upon a number Of lead
ing crimes, after which he called attention
to the expense Of our courts telling them
that the trial Of ordinary criminal cases
cost the County from fifty to seventy-fiye
dollars, and hence the Grand Jury may ex-
ercise their discretion in finding bills. If
trivial matters are presented you may throw
them out IL you see proper. Examine care
fully into your public Offices and see how
their duties are performed. 1t is the Gc-tune
Of this County TO have good officers but it
is proper that you ehonld examine them
Look into the conduct Of your Comfy Com
missioners. This-is the most important
Office in the gift of County, for this single
Board now has the charge Of matters which
were formerly committed to several Boards
They hold the purse strings of your County
and not a dollar can be paid out without
their order. You will also examine into
the condition of your roads anG bridges
The maintenance of good roads is one of the
highest evidences of civilization, and is of
the utmost importance to the public well
fare. MoTe money Is los. TO che peer people
of u country by bad roads and the conse-
quent loss OF time and breakage Of convey
ances than in any other way. 1t is impos-
sibie to calculate the loss from bad roads
In conclusion, gentlemen, you will regulate
your own hours Of business. II you can
conclude your labors in one day do so, but
take as much time ns is necessary to proper
ly discharge your duties If it requires week.
The Court relies upon your assistance and
is powerless without you. The Judge then
announced that the hours OF the Courts sit
ting would be from q. IN. to 1 D. m, and
from 3 p. m. to dark.
The business of the Court was then pro-
ceeGed with, and the Grand Jury found the
following true bills:
The State vs.. Ransom Blackman. Assault
and battery with intent TO kill The defen.
dant was represented by Messrs. McGowan,
Moore and ALLEN, and was convicted Of as
sault and battery.
The State vs.. Joel D. Newton. Rape and
assault and battery with intent to commit q
rape. The prisoner was bailed in the sum
of $1,000 for his appearance at the January
term of Court.
TIE State W. Sect Davis. Murder. De-
Tended by Messrs. Moore and Allen and ac-
quilted.
The State vs. VIM. e. Long. Selling
property under lien.
The State vs. Robert Crow. Assault and
battery with intent to kill.
The Grand Jury found no bill in the fol-
| lowing cases: