The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-06-13

lures from these ScOrmS WILL amount 70
many thousand dollars, and will nearly
ruin many very worthy men.
CIRCUIT COURT.
The June term of the Circuit Court for
this County began on last Monday, Judge
Kershaw presiding, and Solicitor Cothran
being at his post. The Judge, in charging
the Grand Jury said:
It is made the duty of the Court before
charging you upon special matters to give
instruction upon the general subject of your
office for your guidance in the proper dis
charge of your duty. You represent an in
stitufion taken from our English ancestry,
and are one of the safeguards of liberty.
Our ancestors took care to maintain this
institution. in forming our laws after the
revolution. You should be drawn from
different sections of the County to enable
you Il, confer together and receive informa-
manner in which your public officers per-
form their duty, that the police and good
order Of the County may be promoted.
Its matter of congratulation that the
criminal calendar of your County is so
".
last ten years. While there are no. many
character. 1t is much to be regretted that
the usual aversion to the taking of human
life which prevails in all civilized countries
has been blunted somewhat by the effects
of the late war. Men became accustomed
to scenes of bloodshed and violence then,
and have not entirely gotten over it. Since
then there has been another trouble of g
social nature which 10 still more calculated
to disturb the moral serenity of our people.
But it too has past, and here, where see
the prosperity which salutes the stranger
and the happiness which beams from your
copntenances, 1t is time to return to the old
virtues. One cause Of blocdshed now is the
carrying of concealed weapons, and thus
having the implements Of death always ct
hand. No man ought TO carry weapon
except when threatened by some special
danger, and then he should use it only in
self-defense. It is reprehensible custom.
The peace and order of the community
would be benefited by general disarming.
Where men haye TINA to think before act
ing, bloodshed viii be less frequent.
There is another practice which, COM
bined with the preceding, is often the cause
of bloodshed. / refer to the use of intoxi-
eating liquors. I have not seen anything
here to indicate any necessity forolluding
TO this subject, but from varied experience
! deem it proper to take this occasion to
recommend total abstinence from intoxi-
eating liquors.
Mr.. Foreman and gentlemen, I presume
you have already been well instructed as to
your duty. You will observe your oath to
fully and fairly administer your Office. The
proceedings before you are entirely secret.
This is to enable yo9 to act without favor
or fear. Secret proceedings in Court are alb
horrent to justice, but it is necessary to JUS
tice to protect the weak against the strong
that the proceedings of jury when it re-
tires should be secret. Each member should
feel that his action upon Sury can never
be called into question. To pry into these
matters, or TO disclose them, would be pun
ishable as contempt of Court. The Judge
then spoke of the law Furnishing rape and
arson with death, and burglary in the dwell
ling with imprisonment for Lfe. Also, of
the law to protect insectiverous birds, and
The act to prevent cruelty to animals by
punishable with fine of SIS or fifteen days
Imprisonment. Also, the act against steal
ing live stock, which is punishable by i'm
prisonment from one to ten years. The
Judge next instructed them as to the man.
ner Of their findings.
He directed them to examine the various
public Offices of the County and report.
This inquiry should be fair and lust. The
public officer should not be made q target
for prejudice or malice. If he discharges
his duties faithfully, he deserves the high
est honor and thanks of the people, You
will report only such officers as are false to
their trusts, in order to promote the eff
cheney of the public service. He contin-
ued: Especially congratulate your people
upon the adoption of Che new fence law. 1t
shows an enlightened and progressive pub
Lie sentiment. By this act think you have
vindicated your claim to the high and en-
hghtened position you occupy in the State
You are far. ahead of others in this respect
and no doubt the enhancement of the value
Of your lands and the other benefits this
law will confer on you will prove that you
have conferred valuable blessing upon
posterity Us well as upon yourselves.
The only case tried was the State VS..
Franklin Garrison, colored, for killing
Robert Green, colored, in quarrel about a
pot near WILLIAMSON. A jury, of which
Mr.. John NJ. Glenn was foreman, was en-
panelled, and after an able defense of the
prisoner by Messrs. MCGOWAN, Moore &
Allen, the speech of Solicitor Cothran and
the charge of the Judge, the jury retired,
and in about thirty minutes returned YER
dict of guilty of manslaughter, with q re-.
commendation to mercy. The prisoner was
sentenced to two years in the penitentiary.
After the transaction of civil business the
Court adjourned on Wednesday morning.
The people of Anderson and the members
of the bar are delighted with Judge Ker-
shaw as Judge and as pure and refined
gentleman. He is an ornament to the re-
organized Bench of the State.