The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-02-02

large powers. They have supervision
Of public buildings, Of the poor honse,
OF roads and of bridges. Yon ought to
see that they are properly discharging
these important duties.
You ought also to see that the Trial
Justices present their books for your
inspection.
L also suggest that you examine into
the suficicncy of the bonds given by
public officials. This is primarily the
duty of the County Commissioners and
| have no doubt they attended to it.
But bonds that were good six months
go. may now through the vicisitudcs Of
business. or death of the SuretieS, be
worthless. This therefore demands
your attention.
know of nothing else that l need
now charge . upon.
|. Consider the bills now given you and
report at 2 O'Clock.
The Judge sounded the calendar and
found no cases ready for trial. Solici-
tor Orr gave notice that It motion was
pending to change the venue in the Fer
guSon case. Counsel were not ready
and Court adjourned ut II o'clock till .
o'clock, to allow time for the public
sales.
TIE CASE.
On yesterday morning the Solicitor
called up the Ferguson case and said
that though the motion to change the
venue had been set down for argument
to-day CTuesday) he would go on with
it thcn if counsel for the defense were
willing. That he had the affidavits
upon which the motion was based, and
If the other side desired them he would
give them copies. The defence retired
for consultation. Pending, this the
Court adjourned to allow time for the
public sales to be made and for dinner.
At two o'clock it rcconvened, and the
Solicitor op2ned the argument for the
State on the motion. He read numer-
Gus afiidavits, some thirty or thirty-tive
in number to the effect that because of
the great interest felt in the case, ard
the wide publication Of the proceedings
Of the two trials already had, Opponents
did not believe that a fair and Impair
tial trial could be had in this County.
That this was furthermore true because
it was difficult to find IL jury of impar-
tial men who had not formed or cx-
pressed an opinion. And that it would
be in the interest Of Justice to change
the place of trial to some other County.
The Solicitor supported these aihdavits
by nodding from the General Statutes,
Section which provides in
substance that either party to Il suit or
prosecution may move for a change Of
venue He also quoted in support Of
the motion the CASE Of the State vs.. Adj
Olson 2nd $. g., also extracts from
Arcliho,d Criminal Practice and Plead
lug, Bishops Criminal Law and Il case
in Hill. He said he was consiraircl to
make this motion b, cause We had two
trials, with the result Of mis,rialS in
each case. That great difficulty was had
in Obtaining Il jury ut last Court. and he
tic not believe one could be obtained
now.
Mr..W. G.. Benrt. for the defence said
they la | been served with notice Of the
motion. but not with the grounds there
Of, nor the attidavitS upon which it was
based. THAI this motion was Of the
nature Of Il masked battery. and they
would therefore, ask time for consulta-
ton. with leave to file counter affidavits
if deemed advisable.
We are informed that a paper was cir
culated Yesterday afternoon for sigma
80 ~ IN hAoStohs "iii
that about lGO names were signed there
to-.
The motion will be argued this morn
ing when Court convenes at 10 o'clock.
After the motion in the Fer@u,on case
was continued until morning, the Soiic-
itor took up II lot Of cases for Carrying
concealed weapons. There had been u
hot supper and of cours there was u
fight, and Alfred Aiken in the melee
got hurt. Then followed the prosccn-
ton. There We're five cases. all for car
rying concealed weapons and all grow
ing out Of that same "Hot' supper.
First Sam Richey came to the string 10
answer. Sam was his own lawyer, and
having a fool Tor a client went and got
convicted. Jim Watt, Sam Watt. Tom
Smith and Sam Lee were each tried sep
eratcly for a similar ~oifensc. Each Of
them was ably aud skilfully defended
by Frank Is. Gary, Esq, and each Of
them acquitted.