The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-06-12

Stantly reCurS, How did we i've! InanK
God the noble women who toiled so cour-
ageously through the war to support the
army in the field had not lost their faith
and courage, their constancy.; their heroic
example stimulated us to action. Soon the
fields were enclosed and the old war-horse
was turning up the furrows to plant q crop
to keep the wolf, famine, from the door.
God answered their pure, earnest prayers
and blessed our efforts. BY 1868 we had
commenced again to live and prosper.
Then came what was worse than wer and
conhagration. The alien and servile rule
from which we have lately delivered our
selves. Let US not dwell on the humiliation,
the modification of these eight years Of
misery, fraud and plunder; but draw from
that period of degradation this lesson: If
in those eight years Of misrule and frightful
exaction, we were able to bear up and pre-
serve our manhood and our property, what
may we not do under a benign and just
government Think of this, gentlemen,
and am sure you will agree with me that
there is future for South Carolina to rival
if not surpass her past
On this occasion 1 deem It necessary to
call attention to the oath you have taken,
not because of any information that there is
cause to do so in this County, but because
the provisions of the oath have not been
observed in some sections of the State, so
far as it relates 10 secrecy. 1t has happened
that it gets out how the Jury stood and
what was said and done in the Grand Jury
room, which defeats the object of the law.
1t often occurs that some influential man in
a community violates the law, and yet
his power and position no one is willing to
incur his enmity by prosecuting him. 1t
then becomes the duty of the Grand Jury
Il tSyN 81 t~,,N . 10 - ha
told who presents the case, no one may be
found who is willing to report the violation
of the law for fear that such action would
produce o breach between them. 1t is
therefore of the greatest importance that the
whole of the proceedings in your room
shall be kept entirely secret from all persons
who are not on your panel, not only during
the term of the Court, but ever afterwards.
Great injustice has heretofore been done in
the Courts of this State in consequence Of
incompetent juries, which have been large
ly made up Of improper persons. The law
of this State provides that our juries shall
be composed of men of good character, in
telligence and free from legal exceptions.
Instead of this, have seen the most igno-
rant and incompetent juries trying the
most important cases. In one instance l
remember to have seen case involving the
| 1lau0.m1ltlu6 VI u WILL 1il I'LL CSG<iIV MOlpA u
large sum, and on that jury sat eleven igno-
rant colored men, who could neither read
nor write, ard one white man. Under the
law there should be none but the best men
Summoned on our juries, and the board of
jury commissioners should not put any
| mans name on the list unless they know
him to be a man ofgood character, intelligent
and free from legal exceptions. am high
ly gratifed to see marked improvement in
this respect all over the State. 1t is always
q pleasure to me to see colored men who
are suitable and capable of rendering jury
service, and wherever there are those of this
race who possess these qualifications they
should be placed on the jury lists as an en-
couragement and reward for their attain
ments and character.
You have all of the County officers under
your supervision, and can send for them
and inspect their books and the manner in
which their duties are performed. You
should look over these officers, from the
highest to the lowest. See that your roads,
bridges and public buildings are in good
condition. Look into the manner in which
your free schools are conducted, and into
the expenditure of your finances. These
are important matters, and deserve your
proper consideration.
congratulate you upon the beautiful and
prosperous appearance Of your County. 1t
is pleasant to note the evidences of your
success and industry. I attribute much of
it to the adoption of the change in your
mode of fencing commonly called the stock
law. Mr.. Calhoun demonstrated fifty. years
ago that our fences were an increasing ex-
pense, the cost of which would educate our
| children and keep up our stock. Thus,
after fifty years, we have been driven by
| necessity to do what it would have been
e1pedient Tor US to have done at that time.
The Petit Juries were then organized with
Mr.. S. M. Crayton foreman of Jury No. 1,
and Capt. J. ]. Mattison foreman of Jury
No. O. Solicitor Cothran was present, and
gave out several bills of indictment.
The first case tried was that of the State
VS.. James Kinnman, colored, for assault
and battery with intent to kill. The Solic-
itor represented the State and II. Gaines
Scudday, ESQ.,, the defendant. Verdict,
guilty.
The next case was that of the State VS..
Thomas Seizemore for assault with intent
to kill. The Solicitor represented the State
and H. Gaines scudday, Esq.,. the defen-
dant. Verdict guilty.
The next case was that of the State VS..
Pickens Rutledge and Gilbert Rutlcdge,
colored, for grand larceny The State was
represented by the Solicitor and the defen-
dants by Messrs. Orr & Tribble and I'D.
Kennedy, Esq. The jury brought in a YER
dict of not guilty, as they found the prop
erty taken 10 be worth less than twenty
dollars.
The next case tried was the State VS.. Dock
Sloan, Anthony McCorbin, Oliver Caldwell,
Thomas Garrett, Hiram Thomson, D. New
ell, John Black, Neal Cowan, Charles
Brownlee, Andrew Caldwell and Allen
Devlin for riot and assault and battery.
Col. Cothran represented the State, and H.
Gaines Scudday, Esq, the prisoners. After
the testimony was taken, the Solicitor stated
that he would not ask conviction Of Hi
ram Thompson, D. Newell, John Black,
Neal Cowan, Charlie Brownlee and Andrew
Caldwell, and they were acquitted. Oliver
Caldwell, Anthony McCorbin and Thomas
Garrett were convicted. Dock Sloan and AL
i N%sSN
was for an outrageous beating Of Allen
Richardson a colored Democrat in Martin
township some two months ago.
The next case tried was that of the State
VS.. Henry Davis for rape. The State was
represented by the Solicitor and the prison
er by H. Gaines Scudday, Esq. Verdict gull
ty.
The next case tried was the State VS.. Per-
ry Keys, for Disturbing a religious meeting.
The Solicitor represented the State, John E..
Breazeale, Esq, the Defendant. Verdict not
guilty.
The jury will be discharged to-day and
the Court will conclude its business to-mor-
row. Judge Aldrich has disposed of the
term rapidly, and has throughout maintair-
ed an even temper and dignified demcanor