The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-06-13
Wednesday, June 13, 1888.


June Term OF the Court for this county.
While the expert and the committee have
found "irregularities in the various offices
that there has been no intentional neglect OF
duty in any Of the officers
This language Is plain and unequivocal,
and the grand jury in this sentence have ex-
cused, or exonerated from blame, all the Of
ficers for the "irregularities' referred to.
Continuing their report; however, the grand
jury in the same sentence says: "and while
1--WE call the attention Of the public to them
"lthe Irregularities 1t is for the purpose of
"preventing a repetition Of the offences" :"
While this sentence taken by itself is clearly
susceptible Of q double meaning at this time,
yet we feel sure, taken with the context, that
1t was only meant to admonish the officers to
a more strict construction Of the law as to
their respective duties, and we have no doubt
the people will concur with the jury in this
view.
The jury says, 1--WE think that no county in
"the State has generally a more efficient set
''of officers" than Abbeville county. The
Press and Banner has no means Of forming an
intelligent opinion as to the efficiency OF Of
ficers in other counties, and we do not know
upon what information the grand jury based
its comparative opinion, but we are certain
that Abbeville has had good and faithful SER
vice in many or all of the offices.
The jury says:
ave think that the errors into which they
have fallen are due more TO bad precedents
and wrong constructions Of the Statutes than
to wilful disregard Of their public duties ana
Intentional crOOkeuness,"
II we were an officer to whom this sentence
refers we should object to the words "bad pre-
cedents" In this connection more than to any
thing else which has been said from the be-
ginning to the end of the subcommittee re-
port. The predecessors" Of some Of our Of
fcers did not hold the highest places of es-
teem in the minds Of this people. It Will be
remembered that they went outof Office about
the close of the year 1876. Except the words
"bad presidents" }" sand Intentional crooked
ness" the above quoted words are clear and
explicit. We are unable to see why these OBJ
jectionable words were introduced at all.
They added nothing to the rhetoric or diction
OF the sentence, and they might be unpleas'
antly suggestive.
II the jury had said: ave think that the
"errors into which they have fallen are due
"more to wrong constructions Of the Statutes
"than to any wilful disregard OF their public
"duties," we believe majority OF our people
would have readily concurred in the state
mcnt. The Supreme Court In overruling or
reversing judgment Of Probate or Circuit
Court, often says the Circuit Judge, the Mas
b Ger, or the Probate Judge, as the case may be,
"erred" But no moral wrong is charged by
nr1v pnnStrn -
ton OF the law or misunderstanding OF the
facts OF the case-and nothing more.
It will be noticed that the subcommittee
made no recommendation that action be
taken against any Of the officers. 1t will be
noticed too that the grand jury as whole
made the following recommendation:
ave recommend that in all cases where the
officers have received money without &C ac,
twice paid for the same services they be re-
qulred to refund the same. When their error
has been oecasioned by misapprehension oi
thereof has been sanctioned by the officers
appointed to pass upon the same, we recon-
mend that no proceedings be Instituted to re-
open the same"
If the reader will turn to the general or
ders OF Court"-to be found Immediately fol-
lowing exhibit B" OF the presentment-it
will be seen that neither Judge Wallace, nor
Solicitor Orr even limited at prosecution OF
anybody.
It will be noticed that the report Of the ex-
pert which was first adopted by the sub-cou-
mittee and then adopted by the grand jury as
q whole, is written in a calm, dispassionate
manner, bearing upon its face, so far as we are
able TO see, no intention to do injustice to
anybody, though Of course IL would be mir
acle II errors in 1t cannot be pointed out, or
statements explained away. Indeed, 1t would
? b. bad state Of affairs If some of the officers
could not make defence. It is not well to con-
template the enormity Of any case which
extenuation.
Boiled down: We think the grand jury
have exonerated the officers of all blame,
"and have called attention" to their irregu-
larIties solely "for the purpose of preventing
a repetition Of these offences" Thu Court has
taken no notice Of them, and the officers are
therefore acquitted or discharged Of all blame.
AS an outsider, we think there has been un-
Necessary feeling in the matter. The report OF
tb6e&pert is explicit. II he has erred. 1t will
be no trouble to show wherein he has done so.
II the charges OF the expert are true, the
grand jury, the Solicitor, and the Judge, have
acouiesced in the recommendation Of the
grand Jury, whatever that may mean.
e. The great public heart and the great public
mind need only to be placed in an intelligent
position and to be made aware OF the facts,
when the "just censure will attend the true
event, as surely as the night follows the
day."
Wbatavar view our citiZens NAV take OF
this matter, the people have nothing to lose
by public discussion. A little agitation of the
stagnant waters does good. Even though all
the experts statements could be disproved,
the public will still owe him a debt Of graft
tude, and the public officials should, in our
opinion, thank him for an opportunity to set
at rest any possible misunderstanding or mis-
apprehension as to the actual condition OF the
county affairs.
The report Of the expert is full Of informa.
tion as to the workings Of the different offices,
and will be valuable document as showing
much OF the law pertaining to the respective
county;offices. If preserved. it may at some
future time save money to the citizen, and be
q means Of preventing future officers from
falling into irregularities" or making "erro-
reous constructions" Of the law. Let every
citizen preserve his copy Of the report. 1t
will be q wonder II it does not at some time
prove to be q valuable paper to him who
makes himself familiar with the Information
therein contained. The legal Information
alone, which the report sets forth, is worth to
the people tenfold the cost Of the experts fee
for preparing 1t.