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

Court was convened at 10 o'clock,
Monday morning. The Grand Jury
was called over and fourteen Grand Ju-
rors answered, and were sworn in.
Major a. Is. Wardlaw was made fore
man. The Solicitor called the names Of
witnesses on bills Of indictment, and
Sworc them. His ~1IonorJ Judge Withe,-
spoon then charged the Grand Jury as
follows =.
III. Foreman and gentIemeN 1T
the Grand Jury:
AS this is the first term you have
been called upon to serve, it becomes
my duty to charge you upon the impor-
tant public functions you ale called up
on to perform. AS you know the con
Stltutlon and laws are intended to Sc
cure the peace and good order Of Socie-
ty. Moreover under the law'every cit
izen is guaranteed the peaccfel enjoy
ment of Ills life, liberty. and property.
You have doubtless heard it stated in the
Cour House, and it is not improper
that should state it here, that whilst
society recognizes distinctions and class
es, before the law all men stand on
an equal footing. In the Court House
every man is entitled to the same treat
ment from the law, however humble or
however high he may be. Your first
business is to pass upon the bills given
you by the Solicitor.
The Court here instructed the jury
how to proceed upon the examination
of Bills.
Continuing the Judge said l sug-
gest that i'll Bills for larceny you see
that the name Of the owner is properly
laid ia the indictment. The Solicitor
depends upon the papers sent up
by the Trial Justices and copies the
name he finds there. If it appears up
on your examination that the name of
he owner OF the property is not prop
crly laid you should report to the So
licitor in order that he may give ont an
other bill. After You have passed upon
the bills given you, there are other and
imsortant duties Tor you. AS | have
said the laws are intended not alone for
general security bnt for the protection
of individual rights as we'll, Where
murder. arson, burglary or assault and
battery and offenscs Of this nature have
been committed upon the property or
person Of a citizen it is the duty Of that
citizen to bring a prosecution in order
that the parties may be punished. and
others deferred by this example from
committing like oifenscs.
But there are o~tfenses against society
at large, which pertain to no special in
dividual and which 20 often %unpunish-
ed, because there are none to report
them. The office Of informer is odiOus.
! NJ l.rn uptoh Hr
knowledge supported by credible evil
dence it is your duty to present them
in your general ~presentment with the
names OF witnesses, the time and place
Of said offences. For instance the leg
islature having the %undoubted right to
regulate the sale of intoxicating liquors,
has exercised it, and prohibited its sale
without license. Only incorporated
towns and cities can grant these liccn-
ces. II 1t comes to y hat persons
are selling these liquors without license,
present them. So the carrying Of dead.
~ weapons concealed about the person,
is made II misdemcanor, = The weapon
must be concealed from ordinary obser-
walton. Ii you know Of cases of vio-
lation Of this law you should present
them in order that it may be shown that
the law which is a good one should he
enforced and this pernicious practice
stopped. Whatever our individual
opinion Of a law, We are sworn to en-
force it, and it is only by this means
that all necessity for mob violence which
is a disgrace to our Safe and our civil
cation should cease, if it ever existed.
1t is also you duty to inspect the
work and the records Of public officials.
1t is not incumbent on my man to &C.
cept Office. But if he does accept it he
becomes q public servant and his official
conduct is subject to the supervision of
the proper officers, which officers you
are. see here q bill for official mis-
conduct. 1t is not the fault Of the law,
if guilty or incompetent men remain in
Office. The law is explicit and adequate
and provides for the punishment Of Of
Tending officials. If any officer is gull
ty of habitual drunkenness, or ha6itu-
ally neglects his business. or Ia corrupt
or is guilty Of fraud in Office, or opprcs-
sion, he ought not to remain in Office.
liz ~ a~Scnnda1 IN tho n,fht;c Sorv;co. ~