The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-02-26
COURT.

COURT.
The court of general sessions opened
Monday morning, with Judge Kershaw pre-
siding. After the customary routine of or
ganizing the court was finished, His Honor
charged the grand jury in substance as fol-
lows:
Gentlemen of the jury, it will be your du-
ty to examine into the charges against the
various persons that are contained in the sew
eral bills which will be given you. and when
twelve of your number agree that there is
probability of guilt return same as true
bills. and when twelve Of your number do
not agree return no bill You do not try
the cases, and it is only necessary for you
to examine enough matters to satisfy your
selves that there is a probability of guilt.
1t is gratifying that your criminal docket is
very small The sheriff only reports three
persons in Jail You are taken from the
people of this county and in q measure you
are the guardians of the people. You will
sometime desire to examine the public Of
fees. This is on important duty. You are
also to examine the public buildings, &c.,
and report your findings to the court some
time during the year. It has been the Gus
tom that grand jurors should present and
bring to the attention of the court any VIOLA
ton of the criminal law. There are abuses
Of public character that nobody is directly
interested therein, hence it becomes your
duty to call the courts attention to it. 1t IS
not meant however that you convert your
selves into a body of detectives, and present
every trihing offense, but only such things
as will effect the general welfare OF the
public It is your duty to report the con-
dition Of the roads, bridges, and ferries,
and make such suggestions as you may
deem proper If you find it necessary to
consult the court you may do so at any time
during the court.
The court then explained the law regard
ing the bills presented The hours for
holding court were fixed from $50 to 1.3O,
and then from P. NJ to a suitable hour for
adjourning. The grand jury found true
bills in the following cases:
Rufus Fielder, assault and battery with
intent to kill.
Dick Meyers, burglary and larceny.
Primus English, obtaining goods under
false pretenses.
A. S. Briggs, obtaining moneys under
false pretences.
Pedro Meyers, assault and battery with
intent to KILL
). P. W. Gibbons, John ". Hobbs, Wylie
g. Barrow, and 7. NJ. Beard, assault and bat
terry with intent to kill.
The State VS.. Primus English, charged
with having obtained goods under false pre-
lenses, was the first case tried. The testi-
mony showed that the defendant had OBJ
tanned advances from Mr. Louis Loyns, and
had given him as security for said advances
a mortgage of horse, which proved to be
the property of another, by his having given
a prior mortgage for the purchase money OF
the horse. The Jury rendered verdict OF
guilty.
The State VS. Rufus Fielder, charged with
assault and battery with intent to kill, as
sault and battery Of high and aggravated
nature, and carrying concealed weapon,
was the next heard. It commenced Monday
afternoon and was not concluded until yes
terday. This was case of domestic trouble
between husband and wife, they having had
a small size family 'racket." much to the
injury of the wife. as it WAS shown that the
defendant on q certain night numerically
bat her. and wound up his highly interest
ing performances by attempting to cut her
with razor that he drew from his pocket,
but was prevented from using it by a man
by name CT Bell. The trial was long and
tedious, but at times very amusing. The
jury rendered verdict of guilty.
Next came the case of the State VS.. Alber-
tus S. Briggs [white). charged with obtain
ing moneys under false prelenses. This case
occupied the attention of the court the rest
of yesterday and this morning. The jury
rendered verdict of not guilty.
Then came the case Of the State vs.. J. P.
". Gibbons, John W. Hobbs, Wylie II.
Barrow, and T. NJ. Beard, charged with as
sault and battery of high and aggravated
nature. This is the case that created such
a sensation some time ago in Salem. 1t ap-
pears that colored man by the name Of
Hardy Heron shot dog belonging to one
of the defendants, and few nights after
the shooting Of the dog some parties visited
Rerron's house, dragged him out, aud un-
nercifully beat him. He charges the above
named parties with the offence. The case
will be concluded tomorrow.
The grand jury made their presentment,
Tuesday afternoon as follows:
PRESENTMENT OF GRAND JURY.
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
COUNTY OF CLARENDON.
February25, 1890.
To HIS Honor, j. B. EerSha,o:-
We, the grand jury, would respectfully
submit the following as their presentment:
We have acted upon all the bills given US
by the solicitor. There still remains some
incomplete papers submitted to US incom-
plete, which We pass over for the present
term of court, until we get further informa-
ton.
On account of press of time we have de-
ferred till the May term to investigate and
report on the county Offices and county in
stitutions.
We respectfully recommend that the
court house be supplied with suitable chairs
in all the different Offices and court room. MS
we found no chairs in the Probate Judges
| Office (the Office rendered US to seat our
body during our deliberations), and the
other offices are equally bare.
Ali of which we respectfully submit.
W. NJ. PLOWDEN, Foreman.
Selling Goods in Sumier.
The Levi Brothers, of Sumter, are
receiving by every train line of goods
suitable for the present and coming
season. These young gentlemen are
With {ha;r <ron1c