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

d
ruin many very worthy men.
--z1z-----
CIRcUIT COURT.
The June term Of the Circuit Court for
this County began on last Mon lay, Judge
Kershaw presiding, and Solicit,r Cothran
being at his post. The Judge, in charging
the Grand Jury said:
1t is madc the duty OF the Court before
changing you upon special matters to Y. 20
:nssFtc;ior upos, the general subject OF -FOUR
office for your guidance in the proper dis
charge of your duty. You represent an ill.,
stitution 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 pe drawn from
different sections Of the County to enable
You to confer together and receive informa-
ton from oil parts of the County, as to the
manner In which your public officers per-
form their duty, that the police and good
order OF the County may be promoted.
1t is matter OF congratulation that the
criminal calendar of your County Is so
Light. It has been rare to find this for the
last ten years. While there are no. many
cases, there are two of most unfortunate
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,
aad ..a;5 hGy entirely gotten over il. since
social nature which is still more calculated
to disturb the moral serenity of our people.
But 1t zoo has past, and here, where l see
the prosperity which saiutes the stranger
end the happiness which beams from your
conntenances, it Is time to return to the old
virtues. One cause of bloodshed now is the
crying cI cc:,csa!si weapons, ar1 thus
having the implements of death always ut
hand. No man ought to carry q weapon
except when threatened by some special
danger, and then he should use only in
self-defense. 1t is o reprehensibie custom.
The peace and order OF the community
would be benefited by general disarming.
Where men have time to think before act.
ing bloodshed will 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. have not seen anything
here to. indicate any necessity for1lluding
to this subject, but from varied experiences
deem 1t proper to take this occasion to
recommend total abstinence from intnxi-
eating liquors.
MIR. Foreman and gentlemen, 1 presume
You have already been well instructed as to
y &c
proceedings before you are entirely secret.
This is to enable yop, 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 1t re-
hres should besecret. Each member should
feel that his action upon gary can never
DO called into question. TO pFy into these
matters, or 10 disclose them, would be pup-
ishable as contempt of Court. The Judge
then spoke of the Inv Furnishing rape and
arson with death, and burglary In the dwell
ling with imprisonment for life Also, of
the law to protect insectivcrous birds, and
the act to prevent cruelty to animals by
beating or unmercifsl driving, which is
punishable with q fine of $i5 or lifteen days'
imprisonment. Also, tho act against steal
ing live stock, which is punishable by i'm
prisonment from one to ten years. The
Judge next instructed them "a to the man.
ner Of their findings.
He directed them to examine the various
public offices OF the County aud report,
This inquiry should be fair and just 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 effl-
cheney of the public service. He contin-
ued: especially congratulate your people
upon tne nuOptiOn OF the new fence law. 1t
shows an enlightened and progressive pub
lie sentiment. Hy this act ] think You have
yindicated yohr claim to the high and en-.
lighteEed position yOa occupy In the State
You are far, ahead OF others In this respect
and no doubt the enhancement of the value
of yonr lands aud the other benefits this
law VIII confer on you will prove that you
have conferred valuable blessing upon
posterity as well as upon yourselves.
The only case tried was the State VS..
franklin Garrison, colored, fof killing
Robert Green, colored, in . quarrel about
po. near Wiliiamston. A jury, of which
Mr. John III. Glenn was foreman, was en-
panelled, and after an able defense of the
prisoner by Afessrs. McGowan, Moore &
Allen. the speech Of Solicitor Cothran and
the chsrgs oe the Judge. the Jury retired,
and in about thirty rninu.es re5urned aver
dict Of guilty of ;nsnslaughier, with re-
commentator to mercy. The prisoner was
sentenced TO two years In the penitentiary.
Alter 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-
s.iaw ns . Judge and ass pure and refined
gentleman. He Is an ornament to tharo-
organized Bench OF the Eante. S