Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-09-06
cJRCJJIT COURT.

September term OF the ClrculC OoutI loi
York county, Judge Kershaw presiding, con-
vened at 10 o'clock last Monday morning
In charging the grand jury as to their duties
and powers, his Honor was quite brief, giving
as his reason that as the jury was empanelled
at the irst of the year and had already been
in the discharge of their duties, it was pre-
sumed they had been fully instructed hereto
fore, and as intelligent men understand what
their duties are. He said, however, that the
Office of grand juror is one of great re-
sponsiblity, regarded by the English as the
great bulwark of British liberty, and in
the organization of our Government our
forefathers found it desirable to continue the
system-so that any citizen charged with
misdemeanor, may, by regular presentment'
have an opportunity to vindicate himself, or
on standing his trial, if found guilty suffer
the consequences of his crime. The jury
were instructed that in the discharge OF their
duty, they are not to try or determine as to
the guilt of the accused They are only to
enquire and ascertain if there is probable
cause of guilt, and find accordingly. he
would also remind them that twelve OF their
number must agree before they could make
finding.
The Jury we're instructed that they have
charge of the supervision of the county otti'
GERS, their offices and the general discharge OF
their official duties within the limits OF the
county, and that they should inquire into the
discharge of the duties ofthe county officials
especially the conduct of the County Com
missioners. The County Commissioners, said
his Honor, are the most important officers In
the county. They have large power in the
administration of local affairs; and while he
had no doubt the Commissioners of York were
faithful in the discharge of th&r duties, and
that the grand jury will find nothing to cen
sure in their official conduct, yet tits their duty
to make all necessary inquiry.
The Importance of secrecy was next i'm
pressed upon the members of the grand jury
his Honor instructing them to preserve invio'
late the transactions of their body in the dis
charge of their duty. Only under extreme
cases-cases not likely often to ariee-is il
proper to divulge anything that transpires in
Jury room and his Honor thought there
can be no graver offense than that of prylng
into the secrets of the jury-room-an ottense
that shall meet with proper punishment
should any one be brought before him for SC
offending
At the request of the State Superintendent
of Public instruction, his Honor instructed
the grand jury that it is within their province
to examine into the public school system o.
the county; to reform abuses; look into the in
telligence and character of those charged with
the instruction of the youth of the county
and if they find incompetency, it is within
the range of their duty to make presentments
and let the places of incompetent instructor:
be supplied by persons better qualified for tht
position of teacher. He hoped, however
there is no occasion for such presentments il
York. There never was time, remarked
his Honor, when educational facilities were
80 much needed by the white boys and girl'
of South Carolina than the present. So fal
az his observation extends, the colored people
of the State have, with commendable zeal
ayailed themselves of the educational facili
ties extended to them, deriving therefron
great advantages; while it is lamentably true
that white boys and girls are growing up ii
ignorance. The time is not far distant, h
continued, when the colored children will b
as we'll educated as the white. The public
schools ought to be, and his Honor though
they will be, equal to all requirements, present
ing, if proper use be made of the fund SCI
apart for that purpose, greater advantage
than private schools; and there is no reason
WHY there should not be good school in eve
ry school district Of the State.
In conclusion, his Honor informed the grant
Jury, that if it became necessary to instruc
them further as to their duties, he would d.
80 when the occasion presented itself.
John R. Allen was appointed foreman o
iury No. l, and Joseph P. Moore was ap
pointed foreman of jury No. 2, when mum
ber of bills were given to the grand jury, ane
the indictments disposed of as follows:
State U.s. Greene Avery alias Green Ad
1oI ,poo NON