Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1882-03-16
Court Proceedings.

After the grand jury had been sworn the
Solicitor submitted the following indictments
to them:
The State vs.. Willis Glenn, grand lar
oepy.
The State vs.. Isaac Reid, murder.
The State va. N. B. Cary, grand larceny
Tho State vs. John Norris, carrying con-
cealed weapons.
The State vs.. James Hopkins, carrying
concealed weapons.
Tho State VS.. Wm. Stewart and Martha
Young, for adultery.
The State rs. Elias Cobb alias Elias
Adams, for burglary and larceny.
The State vs.. J. N. Fitzgerald, James
Mcclellan OF al, for riot
The State vs.. Daniel Maxwell, grand
larceny from the person.
], His Honor then charged the grand jury
on their general duties and on the present
favorable condition of our country. IIe
said truly while the crops of tho past ycar
had not been as fruitful or profitable as wo
could desire, still wo have much to bo CRATE
ful for, in tho enjoyment Of on honest gov
ernment, economically administered. We
have been trying to administer tho laws
and in this the juries have rendered ready
and cheerful assistance. Under the present
law our jurics are men of intelligence,
trmness and good character and render
verdicts according to their conscientious
Judgment undor the law and the evidence.
Crime ought to have diminished undor the
present administration of the law, but lie
was sorry to say it had not, but had rather
increased. Within the past four years, his
Honor stated, it had been his painful duty
to sentence thirty-thrce mon to capital
punishment. At Anderson last week he
had sentenced thirteen persons to various
periods of imprisonment 10 the penitcntiary
and about an equal number at a bbevile
short time before. Some persons and some
newspapers express regret at what is known
as the negro exodus from this State. 1t
may prove an Inconvenience in some SEQ
tions, but it will not bo permanent one.
Their places are likely to be supplied by
better population, and what is now con
oeived by many to be an injury may prove
permanent benefit. We want an intclIi-
gent, industrious and law abiding popula-
tion. With such population and with
good soil and healthy climate this Piedmont
section may become in actuality, what it is
now in the opinion Of many, the garden
spot of South Carolina. The people may
look forward to increased prosperity, 10 the
developing of the mineral deposits of the
country and in the utilization of tho many
water powers in this section, the only thing
necessary to this being au increased popu-
lation of intelligent settlers. Your general
duties are both extensive and important.
You have general supervision of all
county affairs and have the power to ex-
anime all public offices, look into the manner
of keeping the books and records as to the
disposition Of public funds and all matters
pertaining to the internal concerns of the
county. The County Commissioners have
extensive powers, to levy taxes and disburse
them, and to sec to the proper condition of
tho roads nnd public buildings. These are
all important matters to the people and you
should examine into them, closely scruti-
nizing their accounts. They are entitled
to clerk, but have no right to salaried
attorney. In some counties they have
attorneys at salary of $500 to $500.
This should not bo allowed. Special at
tention should also be paid to the propo,
condition of tho public roads. They arc
great public convenicnocs, aud while rail
roads have done much to benefit and deveor
tho country, good public roads are india.
pensable to trade and travel and to general
progress. Your duties are too large and
Intricate to be fully accomplished in one
session of court, so that the law las wisely
provided for your serving whole year
You should accomplish what you can at thi.
term and then you have tho power to ap.
peint committee to examine into the
several branches Of your dutes aud then
report at future term Of court. This
will enable you to divide the duties of the
year, SO that while all look to the general
. good, particular individuals will have
special charge Of special offices end duties
His Honor briefly alluded to tho indict
ments handed out and stated that the hours
OF court WOULD be from 10 o'clock A. NJ
until 4 o'clock P. NJ. This enables the