The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-02-19
Circuit Court.

The February term of the Court of Gene
raj Sessions and Common Pleas convened
at this place on Monday last, Judge Thomas
Thomson presiding. The grand jury was
duly organized, with D. D. Dean as fore
man.
The Judge proceeded to charge the grand
jury upon the different bills which had
been prepared by the Solicitor, defining the
nature of the various offenses charged-the
amount of testimony necessary upon which
to find true bill-which constituted the
greater part of his charge. In reference to
charge of an assault with intent to kill,
he said that the jury must be satisfied that
in the event death had ensued, it would
have been murder before the offense could
be completed. Upon the general duties of
the grand jury the Judge then charged, in
substance, as follows: That they must ex-
anime carefully the various public Offices of
the County, and ascertain the manner in
which they are kept, and that if so desired
they could procure the assistance of the
officers or their clerks; that there was q
class of duties which, if they did not per-
form, would be left undone-namely, the
internal police of the State. He enumera-
ted the various subjects embraced in the
Revised Statutes under that head, dwelling
at length on the offense of gambling and
granting licenses by grand juries. The
offense of gambling, he said, was one not
easily detected, as it was principally done in
private places, but that when it was discov-
cred it should be Suppressed by the law. He
said that the jury should carefully consider
all applications for license; that they
should have view to the general interests
of the country, and not to the interests of
private individuals; that if they thought
that licensing the sale of liquors in any par
ticular locality would lead to disturbances
of the peace, and would be productive OF
harm, that then they should consider the
interests of that locality paramount to the
interests of the applicant and refuse the
license. Carrying deadly weapons conceal
ed about the person, he said, is an evil of
such magnitude as demanded legislation
looking to its suppression. The young men,
and to great extent the old men of our
country, indulge in this practice too freely.
While holding Court in Columbia, he said,
young man was examined as witness,
when he said that he was in the habit Of
carrying pistol. When questioned about
it, he said that be did not have an associate
who did not carry pistol about his person.
He said he was gratifed to see that the Leg
islature was considering bill looking 10
the suppression Of this pernicious practice,
and hoped that it would soon become a
law of the State.
At the conclusion of the charge num-
Der of bills were handed to the grand jury,
who retired to deliberate upon them.
The following cases have been disposed Of
up to the hour of going to press:
The State VS.. John Williams for burglary.
Guilty, and sentenced to imprisonment in
the Penitentiary for life.
The State VS.. Alex. Brownlee for burglary.
MOL pressed.
The State VS.. Thomas Sadler for arson.
Not guilty. This case occupied the Court
through the whole of Tuesday, and was the
second in importance on the criminal dock
ct. The defendant was charged with burn
ing the dwelling house of William Norris,
colored, during the absence of himself and
wife, on the night of November 1, 1879. in
which were sleeping three small children,
one being burned up in the building an
other surviving week before death, and
the third escaping badly burned. The pris-
oner was represented by Mr.. Fl. G. Scudday,
with Mr.. J. c. G. Featherston as associate
counsel.
The criminal docket, though not very
large, contains some interesting cases which
have not yet been reached. Further report
of the proceedings will be made next week.