The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-19
THE COURT.
Judge Witherspoon's CharGe-Fult "rAno
Jury-The Causes Tried and the
yerdicts Reached.

The Court of General Sessions was
convened at Newberry on Monday with
Judge Witherspoon presiding. Steno-
prapher Law did not arrive until after
noon. having missed connections ID
coming over from Spartanburg.
The grand jury was organized with
4 +. Kilsore as foreman and, after the
charge by the Judge, the business was
commenced. The whole panel OF grano
Jurors was present, there being not an
misunderstanding that does not Oh
ten happen. -
Judge Witherspoon in his charge TO
the grand jury said: The constitution
and laws of this State guarantee 10
every citizen his rights, liberty and the
protection of his property. You, the
grand Jury, are the guardians OF the peo-,
nIe. and are charged with the duty or
seeing that the law is enforced and that
the citizens are protected in those
rights. This is not voluntary duty.
The law demands your presence,
You are to make inquiry into al! mat
tiers coming before you, and 10 perform
YOUR duties fearlessly and Impartial y
The actions and deliberations OF the
iurv room are to be kept secret from
every one except the Solicitor. w no.
ever divulges the secrets of the jury
| room violates his oath, and not only
that, but often obstructs and hlnaers
the administration Of justice. You are
required to attend this and two sue
ceeding terms of the Court this year.
At one time the law only required your
| attendance at the first term, but now
YOU are on duty for the entire year
the custodians of the peace for the
| whole year.
If any of you have knowledge ofany
violations of law, it is your duty tc
present the matter to the grand jury
and let investigation be made. The
peace Of society in this community
largely depends upon you. When any
citizen has a personal motive ana Is
aggrieved, prosecution generally 1ol'
lows. But the law is also for the pro-
lection of society and there are some
violations which affect the whole com.
munity. It is the duty of the grand
iury to investigate such eases. The law
is especially Jealous of the puolle
peace.
Does it not come within your know
ledge that there is feeling of insecur'
itv pervadiDg society in every com
munity? The fault lies upon the courts
and luries, but primarily upon the
grand Jury, for no prosecution can be
had except upon presentmenS OF tne
grand Jury. If they fail the Court is
paralyzed. At one time every one fell
Secure. It was when the law was
rigidly enforced. In this day fear II
is not always so. When men know, the
law will be rigidly enforced, they will
not be so ready to violate it.
There is law on our Statute books
against carrying concealed weapons
but fear it is almost dead letter, land
r the c0mpanSsFvms s1ss loss and t
O. State decrease of revenue. But t
the taattA8 by your act has to atn be dflfesid d
- the law was enforced fearlessIy anG
lnpartlally, I venture the @ asSsrt: anu
IuaC thls pernlcious habit wo1Iu [.oaoo
a. q. once: 4ou have nothing to do VIII VIII
tne law but your duty is to enfore %ttn th;n
law, as any other duty that devoiras
upon you. [ am talking plainIv he
cause ca there is necessity for plain ta1t
80 long as the law remains &C., 'dlA'
ha n bit er anS "lli continue this pernicious
~o,. rson ana make of themselves walkin~
rSe9als ,l,Ssa 10 90 violence and comm,3
1t is your duty as conservo ~
t' Us o! me peace to hear complaints If
l.e h '!oiatlon of this law and hrinn
ueih Is,L 70 Inc attention of the grand |
He then charged them as TO the hills s
ande9 !n ont by the Solicitor. and caIIeJ ia, i
tneSe attention their duty in the a~
of the county Offices e and e. J
e II their duties were faithf;1,ir ~ 49, ~ T
81 bo,ds eanG 4E3 also TO examine all off,
al oonos. They were also to have
',mt;3 wsisnt OF the roads and bridges, the j.
my W. poor: and to make report to the of of
ne ne Juoge then notified witnesses to
Ine state andjurors that It was tbeir Ioi
y 70 remain in the courthouse and ii
Imy n,;t naa to be called their paw wouId rel
ns WORK was pushed alony and sio st
7suay afternoon the docket Voc 1
area and the Court adjourned sine me G5 ia
imI
nueT an act OF the Iepislot,ro ~. ESQ
in,on i noLt PIeas Court cannot be opened 'y'
ldge Witherspoon loft for ho
inesday morning. ' Dolne Oh
1e following bills were handed ~ u
grand jury: D'"ueu 10 v
le State VS.. Dick Williams-asso,,,. quo quo
oaetery "a Of high and aggravated a1d 1
e State VS.. I. Y. Johnson-assan,t aabt ana
oa1sery , with intent to kill. ssia ssn'
otate vs. Howard Stevens-bur. I lead
State vs.. Jno. Brown-larcenv zo(
= otate VS.. Jno. Caldwell and Dick cash eb'
otate vs.. Jim Rilley-rape,
state VS.. Jno. Piester and aoro, lid
'mtoreaklng ntont and entering house
etent c TO steal and larceny.
oCate VS.. I. H. Davis-breach of
statevs. Jno. Gary-assault and
OF nigh and aggravated nature w
otaie VS.. Spencer Spearman-as.
na ,nt battery of a high and aggra- stock
Staae vs.. VIM. Cannon-assauIt H..
''efy OF high and aggravated oen
State VS.. Andrew savage-cor. possi}
weapons. 'on
State vs.. Kiah Miller-conooo,oa garde
S. on'eo'ieu
late VS.. Henry Hodges-house seed.
e and attempt to steal.
oiiis were returned in all the ndClOn
eept that of Jim Riley for rape voor-
n the grand jury reported no no '00i D.
blowing casos no, , garder
savage, concealed weapons
9 six months or pav buy th,
fifty dollars. p''1
.annon, assault and battery of ROB
ana aggravated nature-not ~
Vllllams, assault and battery
ana aggravated nature, guiltv
'iafy at hard labor for three We @ ant
l,,e. sell you d
1;ulhe, house breaking, guilty SUMPTION:
tIary for one year. dition: II
Ster, house breaking, guilty. tious M "ai givi, i
lor two months. no benefit
Miller, concealed weanone have your