The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-06-27
That Expert Pays His Respects to
Squire Blake.
Editor Press and Banner .

Editor Press and Banner:
We have just been handed copy OF little
sheet published at Greenwood In this county
of which Squire Blake claims 10 be editor.
In 1t appears an article on the presentment
of the grand jury, written we presume by
the Squire as 1t has his ear marks.
In II the Squire undertakes to crticise the
action of the grand jury for adopting the re-
port of the "eXpert" who made tho iuyestiga-
tion of the county officers.
He says that the report reads more like
dissertation on the law Of Probates. Masters,
Clerks, Sheriffs. Treasurers, and County Com.
mlssioncrs with instruction, &C."
To this we would say that the Squires head
is pretty nearly level on that point; much
that he was cut out for legislator. We ad-
NIT the correctness OF the diagnosis. 1t sright
smart of dissertation,- but insist that II
there ever was set OF officers who stood In
need Of just such dissertation they we're suoll.
We confess that the report or presentment
was an innovation upon the old and long es
tablishcd custom, but we thought. that O
slight departure In that respect would be rel
fnwn upon them, like the Squire, in hopes
that thrift may follow-at least by that large
and respectable number who are interested
in their county offices being conducted hon
eStly, economically and in accordance with
law.
The Squire seems all out Of sorts. He finds
fault with the report on the one hand, be.
cause it condemns the conduct Of certain Of
~
commcnds the acts of Others
The Squire wishes TO know If the grand
Jury does not know that 1t does not matter q
straw what their opinion is respecting what
the law oontemplatoS. In behalf OF the grand
Jury we would answer no-the grand jury
doesn't know any such thing, and we don't
think any body else does, unless 1t be- --
idiot.
We venture the assertion that it will matter
to the extent Of hundreds of dollars saved
annually to the people OF Abbeville county,
what the grand iury's opinion Is as to the Is.
suing of certificates by the Judge Of Probate
and the fees for arrcsting Of witnesses by the
Sheriff.
He quotes from the report of the investlga-
ting committee, under the head OF the Audi
tors Office, as follows, cit is largely due to his
perseverance, and that too In the face OF the
most persistent opposition, much Of which
being on the part of some high In authority"
and without going on to finish the sentence,
asks the question 'what does tho grand jury
mean by such an insinuution I"
Speaking again for the grand jury we would
say that IL meant that when Auditor Jones
discovered matter which ultimately culmi-
mated in a great saving TO the county. the
Comptroller General and one OF our Circuit
Judges threw every conceivable obstacle in
the way of his further prosecution OF the mat
ter. In fact told him plainly that he had no
business to meddlo with 1t, but notwith-
standing he mcddled with 1t nll same, only
slightly varying his tactics and the result was
ms above stated. Now, in turn we would ask
imputatiOn upon the moral and official char
ncter OF j. Fuller Lyon, j. T. Parks, j. +: Z.
DuPre, NJ. G. Zcislcr, &. NJ. Mattson and J.
w. Perrin, or what has IT. to do with their
honesty or dishonesty? The expert said
nothing about the honesty or dishonesty Of