The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-12-02

Of Supervisor. II appears necessary 10 pro-
,.:,,r -; once for rcopenin@ the REGISTRATION
hno,;: =. rs to give to those persons entitled
10 vof-au opportunity 10 get l2"al cert.hc':tes
in Time ioT the municipal election, "h!ch
cc:::cS of december M;h pfoTiIno.
And while mentioning this matter OF Illegal
rrni.tr;.iion I wOG'd r.ii attention 10 the !act
that in Sevcr:: CoaI.tir>. rs am informed. Il
large number OF certificates hearing date Ju!y
: 1890 we're issued lTaUdUlcuty after the
books closed las; July. and recommend the
f:>-,s,. o: IN Aei s:%c,;'rin+ an ceTIiac:t'eS @
Eichland. Fairfield. Sumter and Berkeley.
g.:e Criminal Law.
As the duties Of my office bring me into in
ttmatc connection WITH the fehitehtlafy, ana
thr matter OF pardon$ being also a source OF
constant iabor and .corry, have had my at
tention directed 10 certain defects IN the GRIM
in:ll Jaw to which | ask your attention. "Ihe
laws delay" has been 4 matter oi complaint
for co crfu, les and there have been ni late so
many instances OF the failure OF justice 70
ipunsh The most fragrant crimes. ana, II at all,
|: after tie patience Of the people has become
| exhausted, that cannot too strongly impress
upon the Legislature the necessity OF some
! changes. ContinuanceS are granted upon the
slightest prclcNt. Appeals are taken upon 70
! prctext at ali sometimes. ana crime, "hcn
backed oy money, appears 10 override OF
| break through the ne>hcS OF the !a~ Win
iInpuaity, that it is no wonder that oar clti.
IZcnS have at times forgotten themselves ana
taken the law into their own hands.
! give us instances OF justice long held at
bay The Turner and Sem cases IN spartan
burg the James case III Darlington ana lhe
Jones case in EIgeti!d.
one remedy which I desire 10 suggest is,
| that the jurics, which have every reason 10
believe now are sometimes tampered with or
fixed beforehand, shall be drawn in open
Court Tor the next term. after the Judge IN
| person shall have examined the boxes and
seen that everything is correct,
| In the prosecution OF criminal cases the So
| licitOr is always at q disadvantage, he IS o.
ten confronted by the ab!est lawyers at the
bar, who live IN the County, and are ac-
| guainted with witnesses, Jurors, ETC. But
these difficulties ar frequently overcome and
verdictS obtained in spite OF them.
The main reason why so many crimes go
"unwhpt of justice is that the cases are not
properly prepared for the solicitor by the
Trial justices or Coroner.
II the Office OF Coroner were diSnified and
the salary or fees made commensurate SO as
to make 1t a desirable office; If it were filled
by L competent lawyer, whose duty II should
be TO investigate all deaths caused by Vlo-
lence, collect evidence, prepare the case ana
act as assistant prosecutor n his County, we
would have many 4 man convicted VINO now
goes scol-free. Then If Trial Justices were re-
0uired to attend Court and help The Solicitor
in cases where they have he'd preliminary
exam inaJion, 1t Wou!G aCd iarSely 10 Tue iisI
of convictions.
Another abuse is, that instead Of prisoner
under sentence, and in whose case appea! mas
been taken, being required 10 be Drought INTO
Court at the next term for resentence thus
: entailing expense upon the county lor man
tenance, the sentence should be executed as
soon as the Supreme Court snaH nave dlsinlss-
:, Then there should be strict and mandatory
legislation prob biting 4 Judge from contlnu-
ing a case that had been once continued, eN-
cept under extraordinary circumstances.
Another is 10 make IL obligatory upon lne Su-
preme Court TO disbar aay attorney VINO
talk cS an appeal on frivolous grounds IL mas
colue TO the pass that an appear Is alln1sI d
) matter OF course, and a stay OF proceedings
follows.
: In reference to the punishment Of criminals
!, desire 20 direct attention TO the advantages
! in a retormatory sense of what is known as
the indeterminate sentence, which obtains
under different conditions i'll MASSACHUSETTS,,
New York and other Northern States. Socle,
" for its protection against crime has enacted
} a code OF laws for its punishment, and the
primary object is first 10 secure the commu-
nifty from II repetition by incorporating the
prisoner. The next object should be the rel
ormation Of the criminal and his restoration,
If that be possible. Under the arbitrary tpSe
dirt OF Judge great wrongs are often COM
mtted and sentences altogether out OF Pro-
portion 10 the enormlty OF the crime lih-
posed.
The system to which I allude provides
maximum and minimum punishment ior the
different classes OF crime. Ihe prisoner wnsn
convicted is sentenced IN the discretion OF the
Judge but he can by his behaviour In prison
reduce Ur increase the punishment oy giving
evidence OF being 4 hardened reprooate or
showing a desire TO reform. The law IN inns
case imposes upon The prison auth horltles the
duty, and gives them the power by fixed ra-
to to increase or diminish the prisoners
punishment in accordance with Els oehaV-
Tor. The offender thus enters prison "lth eV-
cry incentive to reform and grow better.
Another matter which would strongly
urge is the incorporation OF a TequiIenens IN ~
the law that the PenitentiaTy Directors snail
>parat te all criminals under the. age OF slA-
teen, and such others as shall exhibit excep,
tionalIy good behavior, from the others ana
that these classes be employed on the Stale
farm away from the more hardened GRIM
inaS. Before leaving this matter or CRIME
and its suppression, 1 viii briefly recall 10
your attention the recent tronoie N iennes. s.
See in which the authority OF the STATE gov
ernnlent was overthrow and orougnL lhlo
contempt. 10 this for the purpose OF point.
ing out what some are apt TO forget: tnaI
such diSgraceful condition OF afalrS couIo
not happen in South Carolina.
Tennessee has no militia, or comparatively
none, while we have an adDilraDiy ORGANIZED
and efficient force-amply sufficient al any
and all times 10 uphold the dignity OF the law
and 10 suppress violence and would there-
fore urge that the General Assembly continue
its fostering care OF our militia estaollsn-
ment.
am glad 10 say that during the year the
law in the State has been supreme and that
20 person or prisoner has been lynchea Ihe
military has been called on only twice when
it was thought there was danger, put ING
presence OF 80 many efficient companies scat
tered over the State tends largely to the sup
preston of disorder. The cost Of MAINTAIN
ing this establishment Is very trinlnS "uen
compared with its benefits.
i Another matter in this connection Is, that
there is no provision requiring County ONO
ialS 10 pay for the services OF extra deputies
sworn in by Il Sheriff in an emergency, ana
TO this cause may be attributed some OF the
Iiyncnings which have diSgraced our anna!s.
/ commend that provision be made 1or the
payment OF such services by tne county
whenever the Governor shall order the Sher-
riff to summon such additional deputies.
4 Railroad Control.
Owing to Il difference Of opinion between
session. the railroad law filled and it was too
tate to amend the Act SO that could con-
ScientiouSly approve 1t. may be allowed 10
express The hope that the differences OF opln-
lon which then existed Will be anlcaoIy ao-
| ius,ed ard proper Bill passed. There are
some points in the proposed law 10 WHICH
desire TO direct attention and commend 10
your earnest consideration. One Is a proVls-
ion preventing the consolidation OF compet-
ing lines The absorption by lease or other-
wise has gone on until virtually there are
only four railroad systems in the State. AS
fast as new lines are constructed they are
bought up or leased by the older corporations,
are staggering under u heavy debt contracted
70 aid in the huil6!nS OF competing lnes are
without the benefit OF competition.
There are many more roads needed ID
South Carolina, and they wi! be bullt as tne
State Increases III population and wea!th.
The proper steps should be taken at once 10
relieve the State OF the oppression always IN
cidcnt TO nonopoiies by preventing their ao-
>orption.
The question OF the assessment Of railroad
property has attracted widespread attention
during the year by reason OF the lact lhaE