The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-06-03
them, substantially as follows:

IL Is customary tOr the iuuTC 10 III!
something to the grand jury concern
their duties, but tho present jury h,
been already instructed by the Judge al
the preceding term. The grand jury
men hre called from the different sec.
tons OF the county, with the intent
that all the different interests OF the
county shall be represented and pro-
tcctcd. The duty of the grand jury is
much like that Of the Dictator ofthc
Romans. Hc was to see that no Diet
riment came to the Republic. You
duty is to see that no harm comes to ther
county. You arc invested by law with
wide, very wide powers. Any public
wrong committed, any public duty
neglected, should be brought to the at
tention of the Court. a great error
prevails as to the effect of The punish
mont imposed on person for viola
ton Of the law. Its is to some extent
believed that punishment I laccsa erin i
nal upon the same plane as before the
commission of the offence. This is a
mistake. n man owes duty to the
community, and he should act for the
protection Of person and property
Any man who takes the law in his own
hands for the punishment Of any
offence, commits wrong against both
the individual and the community.
There is high moral obligation rest
ing on every citizen to obey the law.
The law does not punish in vengeance.
The purpose Of tho law is to protect
good men, and to prevent good men
from becoming bad men. If there is
no protection to good men. they will
be forced to take the law in their own
hands. The end of punishment is to
prevent wrongs, by dotcrring not only
the particular oflenderbut others also
In most cases of offences against person
or property such as assaults, bat
tcrics and Iarcenics, the prosecutor ha S
Il sense ofinjury. This is natural. But
so far from being ccnsurcd, the man
who prosccutcS, and thus appeals to
the law for redress, is to be commend
cd.
While offences may generally be
left to individuals to bring them to
the attention Of the Court, there
arc several characterization Of in
tcrnal police rcgulations-that must
be taken cognizancc of by tho
grand jury. You must inquirc-arc
there lunatics? Have they friends to
care for them. Are there vagrants
This class is very large in many COM
munitics. Hthere arc any such in your
county. You should present them. In
these cases individuals naturally hcsi-
tate to act. SO with the offence Of
gambling. II cases Of gambling come
to your knowledge, it is your out" to
present the parties engaged. don't
want YOU to be detcclivcs-I don't
want you to "nosc it out" as the saw
ing is. Bu' your duty is, when such
offences are brought to oyourknowlcdgc,
to bring the matter to the attention of
The Court.
The law gives you the power to
liquors, and to fix, the prices Of such
licenses. Ifyou find That thc.granting
Of such license will do no harm, YOU
may grant it. You must exercise a
sonnd discretion.
1t is the duty of tic grand jury to
examine the different county Offices,
the Jail and the poor-housc. This cX-
animation should be rs close as possible,
and its results should be reported to
tho Court.
One duty imposed on the grand jury
is that of silence. You arc sworn,
"thc counsel of the people, of your tcl-
lows, and your own, YOU shall keep
sacred." 1t is especially important
that tho grcnd lrors shall "kccp their
own counsel sacred" The discussion
in the grand jury room should be per-
fcctly free, and i, is with this view that
the oath imposes the obligation Of
strict secrecy. His Honor then pro-
cccdcd to full exposition Of the oath
taxed by the grand jurors.]
You do not try the cases submitted
to you. That is q duty imposed upon
tho petit jury. You have simply
to inquire whether there is prima ,1ucie
evidence of guilt-such as makes it
right that the party charged should
be put upon his trial.
Several bills were were then handed
ont by tho Solicitor, and the grand jury
rctircdfor their reconsideration.
{ The case of the State VS.. Joseph
Williams, colored, indicted for assault
with a concealed deadly weapon, and
assault with intent to murder.
Mr.. A. M. Mackey appeared for the
defendant. The prosecutor. William
Lumpkin, colored, charged that the
defendant shot at him with q pistol.
The latter set up tho plea Of self-de-
fence. After hearing the evidence,
the argument of counsel, and tile
chargo Of the judge, tho jury retire d.
Vcrdict-Guilty ofassault with intent
to murder. ,.
State against George Goings and
John Rochelle, charged with grand
larceny stealing sum of money
from the store Of Mr.. Jno. D. McCar-
10y. Goings pleaded guilty, and Mr..
A. NJ. Mackey appeared for Rochelle.
Yerdict-GuiltY.