The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-06-17
rhe cireal. coari.

Il 4
The Court OF Gcneral Sessions for this
County convened at 10 O'Clock. on last
Monday moFninG his Honor Judge w. b.
Wallace, of Union, presiding.
In charging the Grand Jpry his Honor
said You have already been fully ins;Fuc.
ted as to your duties, aud no doubt under
stand them well, as you have had practice
in their performance. Twill not, therefore.
detain you with any extended charge at
this ti.nc, for you are perhaps as well in
formed IS you would be were to proceed
to comment at length upon your duties.
You have had In your possession bills or
indictment, and are familier with them.
They are, so far as your connection with
them extends, simply statements of facts
which you are to inquire into. The state
ment of facts contained in any Indictment
constitutes an offence in the judgment of
the Solicitor, and 1t is not your business to
care Or inform yourselves as to the nature
OF the offence constituted by those facts.
You examine the witnesses TO find IL tile
facts stated be true or untrue, or rather II o
i'r;lt Jacic showing OF their truth be made.
Whether you are absolutely certain they
are true or not, you should find true bill
If in your judgment enough has been proven
to put the party on his trial or to warrant
further and closer investigation, which
can be had in open Court before petit jury,
where the nature OF the offence and the tese
dmony on both sides can be fully gone into.
II you think there Is substance in the charge
you should find true BILL This does not
mean that the party is guilty, but simply
that there Is enough probability Of his guilt
to demand further examination. In some
parts Of the State it is not uncommon for
private citizens to address communications
to Grand Jurics, informing them Of some
crime or matter needing their attention.
If there Is any communication Of this kind
addressed &c ycr {. g.l! be yonr duty 20 in
yestigate it, and, il you think proper. pre-.
sent 1t to the Court that proper proceedings
may be had upon it. The Grand Jury Is
not detective organization, bIt If any
open ,or hagrant violation oflaw. has oc-,
CURED TO the knowledge OF any member of
the Grand Jury 1t would be proper to investi.
gate and report it also. All communications
addressed to the Grand Juries should
be signed by some responsible person. No
attention should. be paid to anonymous
communications, for they might be used
for the purpose of stirring up strife and
gratifying personal animosities, to the an
noyance of good citizens and the discredlt
of our grand juries. All good citizens
should discharge their duty by assisting in
the vindication of law and upholding you
in the effort to detect and punish crime. II,
during the progress of the Court, you desire
fu.'her instruction, signify your desire to
the Court. and I will give you such addi-
tional assistance as I'may be able.
Bills were then given out and true bills
found in three cases.
The first was the case OF Alfred Arnold.
who was convicted of house-breaking ic
the day time, and sentenced to six months
in the penitentiary.
The case Of the State VS.. Wm. Major and
wife, Henrietta. for bu' elary, was contin-
ued, as was also the .se Of the State vs..
VIM. Hanks, for nb.ai.iing chattels under
false representations.
The Grand Jury made their presentnent,
and before o'clock the Court of General
Sessions was adjourned.