The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-19
TIL: COURT.
Judge with"rspoon's Charge-Full GTand
Jury-Thc Causes Tried and the
Icrdicts Reached.


noon, having missed connections III
coming over from Spartanburg.
The grand jury Was organized witc
\. J. kilgore rs foreman and, after the
charge by the Judge, the business was
commenced. The whole panel OF grand
jurors was present, there being not an
Notwithstanding that does not Of
ten happen.
Judge Witherspoon in his charge to
the grand jury said: The constitution
and laws Of this State guarantee to
every citizen his rights, liberty and the
protection of his property. You, the
grand jury, are the gurdians OF the peo..
Die, and are charged with the duty OF
seeing that the law is enforced aud that
the citizens are protected in those
rights. This is not voluntary duty.
The law demands your presence.
You are to make inquiry into all mat
ters coming before you, and to perform
YOUR duties fearlessly and impartially
The actions and deliberations Of the
Jury 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 hlnders
the administration ofjustice. 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.
Ifany 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 III this community
largely depends upon you. When any
citizen has a personal motive and is
aggrieved, a prosecution generally fol
lows. But the law is also for the pro-
lection of society and there are some
violations which affect the whole COM
munity. 1t is the duty Of the grand
Jury to investigate such cases. The law
is especially Jealous of the public
peace.
Does it not come within your know
ledge that there is feeling of insecur'
ity pervading society in every COM
munity? The fault lies upon the courts
and juries, but primarily upon the
grand jury, for no prosecution can be
had except upon a presentment of the
grand Jury. If they fail the Court is
paralyzed. At one time every one felt
secure. It was when the law was
rigidly enforced. In this day I fear it
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,an
the fault lies with the court and jury.
If the law was enforced fearlessly and
impartially, I venture the assertion
that this pernicious habit would cease
at once. You have nothing to do with
the law but your duty is to enfore this
law, as any other duty that devolves
upon you. I am talking plainly be.
cause there is necessity for plain talk
So long as the law remains dead let
ter men will continue this perniciou:
habit and make Of themselves walking
arsenals to do violence and commit
murder. It is your duty as conserva'
tors Of the peace to hear complaints u
the violation of this law and bring
them to the attention Of the grand
jury.
Ee then charged them as to the bills
handed ont by the Solicitor, and called
to their attention their duty in the eX-
animation of the county offices, and to
see if their duties were faithfully per-
formed. And also to examine all off.
cial bonds. They were also to have
oversight Of the roads and bridges, the
county poor, and to make report to the
Court of their acts.
The Judge then notified witnesses
for the State and jurors that it was theil
duty to remain in the courthouse anC
if any had to be called their pay woulc
be cut off.
The work was pushed along anc
Tuesday afternoon the docket wa:
cleared and the Court adjourned sint
die.
Under an act of the Legislature the
Common Pleas Court cannot be opened
until next Monday.
Judge Witherspoon left for home or
Wednesday morning.
The following bills were handed tt
the grand jury:
The State VS.. Dick Williams-assaul
and battery of high and aggravated
nature.
The State VS.. T. Y. Johnson-assaul
and battery with intent to kill.
The State VS.. Howard Stevens-bur
glary.
The State VS.. Jno. Brown-larceny
The State VS.. Jno. Caldwell and Dicl
Brown-larceny.
The State vs.. Jim Rilley-rape.
The state VS.. Jno. Piester and Aaror
Duftie-breaking and entering hous'
with intent to steal and larceny.
The State VS.. T. H. Davis-breach o
trust.
The State VS.. Jno. Gary-assault anc
battery of high and aggravated nature
The State vs.. Spencer Spearman-as
sault and battery of a high and aggra
voted nature.
The Staae VS.. VIM. Cannon-assaul
and battery of a high and aggravated
nature.
The State VS.. Andrew Savage-con
cealed weapons.
The State VS.. Kiah Miller-concealet
weapons.
The State VS.. Henry Hodges-hous
breaking and attempt to steal.
True bills were returned in all tn
cases except that of Jim Riley for rape
in which the grand jury reported NJ
bill.
The following cases have been dis
posed Of:
Adam Savage, concealed weapons
guilty-penitentiary six months or pa.
q fine Of fifty dollars.
VIM. Cannon, assault and battery Q
a high and aggravated nature-no
guilty.
Dick Williams, assault and batter.
of high and aggravated nature, guilt.
-penitentiary at hard labor for thre
years. -,
Aaron Dufie, house breaking, guilt.
-peuitentiary for one year.
Jno. Piester, house breaking, guilty.
county Jail for two months.
Kiah Miller, concealed weapons
guilty penitentiary four months @
paw a fine of thirty dollars.
r. H. Davis, breach of trust-no
guilty.
sd nyNf tor