The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-02-14
Circuit Court.

Circuit Court.
Court met at 10 O'Clock Monday morn
ling, Judge Frazer presiding, and solicito,
Ansel, with the other Court officers, ir
their places.
The Grand Jury was impanelled, with
/ w. C. Andrew as Foreman.
The Commissions of the Solicitor, Clerk
and Sheriff were read.
His Honor then briefly charged the
Grand Jury as to the general duties 0.
that body, dwelling upon the great i'm.
portance of the faithful discharge of that
duty. He made feeling allusion to the
illness of Judge Kershaw, the Judge Of
this Circuit, and expressed the hope that
he might soon resume his duties, and
that be would be spared for many more
years of usefulness in the position which
he 80 worthily fills.
The Solicitor handed out several Bills,
upon all OF which the Grand Jury subse-
quently returned "True Bills.'
While waiting for the action Of the
Grand Jury, an old case-state vs. L.
Laboon-was taken up and tried. The
charge was resisting an officer, and as
sault and battery of high and aggravated
nature." The defendant was represented
by E. B. Murray, Esq, who raised the
point that the Special Constable who
served the process on Mr.. Laboon, and
out of which the resistance arose, had
not been properly deputized, and that,
therefore, he was without authority to
serve the process and consequently re.
sistance to him was not resisting an Off.
.cer." His Honor charged in accordance
with the propositions above indicated;
basing his ruling on Sections 8Oa and 1855
of the General Statutes, and In which he
was undoubtedly correct. Under the
charge of the Court the Jury found the
defendant guilty only on the second
count of the Indictment.
The ruling OF Judge Fraser in the above
case is important for our Trial Justices to
remember, and they should be sure in
the future to make their Special Consta-
bles take the oath as laid down in the
Sections above indicated, with whatever
amendments that may have been made
since the passing Of the Statutes of 1882.
In the afternoon Pink Shell was ar
raigned, and Thursday morning set for
the date of his trial. Mr.. Quattlebsum
appeared for the defense.
The next case tried was the State vs..
Henry Thornley,, charged with abduction.
Mr.. Prince appeared for the defendant,
and succeeded in securing an acquittal for
his client.
Sam'l Hammond, who was indicted for
larceny and carrying concealed weapons,
plead guilty to both charges.
Court met again on Tuesday at half.past
nine O'Clock, and at once went into the
trial of the case Of State vs.. Peter Hall
and his FIVE Sons for riot (the Starr riot
case). The case was very earnestly con-
tested. Maj. E. B. Murray assisting the
Solicitor and W. 8. Brown and Col. j. l..
Orr representing the prisoners. The tes-
timony was all in by o'clock in the after
noon, when Mr.. Murray made the opening
argument for the State, and was followed
by Mr.. Brown for the defense. at about
Z o'clock Court adjourned to Wednesday
morning, when Gel. Orr made an exceed
ingly able argument for the defense. Ar
gument was closed by the Solicitor maxi
ing very fine speech. Up to the hour OF
going to press the jury had not rendered
a verdict.
The cases against Mrs NJ. q. Reese were
continued on motion of the Solicitor,
Judge Fraser preferring to clear the Jail
before taking up any other cases, as he
only had very short time to stay here,
and will have to leave on Saturday 30 as
to reach the Fairfield Court, which opens
on Monday.
The Grand Jury made their present
ment Wednesday morning and were dis
charged. The presentment contains
number of important recon- mendations,
none Of which, however, are Of great pub
lie interest. They recommend some i'm
provements in the County Jail, and that
some more conveniences be placed in the
Court House. They also recommend
that safe be purchased for the Clerks
Office, and new desk for the Masters
Office, both Of which are badly needed.
The robbing ofthe "Indian Doctor" Is re-
ferred to, and the Solicitor is instructed to
have thorough investigation made of it.
A committee, consisting Of W. O. An
drew, J. p Broyles and G. @. Cummings
was appointed to examine the County
officers and report at the next term or
Court The presentment concludes with
an expression Of sympathy for Judge
Kershaw in his sick ness, and expresses
the hope that he will soon be restored to
health, and that he will long be spared
to adorn the Bench.
All who have been brought In contact
with Mr.. Ansel, concur in the opinion
that he is worthy successor to the dis
tinguished gentleman, Col. Orr, who so
long graced the Solicitors Office; and all
feel that they put the ''right man in the
right place." when they elected Mr.. Ansel
Solicitor.