The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-07-15
Reported for tho TINES.
The Commissioners Side of the Story.

| "P'icu ior INC LINES.
| The Commissioners Side of the Story.
| MIR. EDIroR.-The Court has just closed
and the presiding Judge, Hon. James Al
drich, oy his prompt, courteous and business
like ways during the sitting Of the court has
made himself very popular
During this term Of curt our effioisnt
drnnd Jury made n prssentment, part Of
whica created much surprise and comment
AT tho last term it ronplimsutei tho county
commissioners very highly, but at the
present term they presented quito q number
Ok doubtful transactious aud omissions by
the commiss'oners, running back some years,
OF which the Grand Jury greatly disapprsvsd.
Among the charges made against the
county commissioners are that they have
| sold the mot valuable portion Of the poor
house land under its proper value.
They also charge bad management of the
poor house affairs generally, and say thot
the superintendent of the poor house has
been q gaincr by tho management. In
word, they charge that the whole affair has
been run in tho interest Of the chairman of
the Board Of County Com M issioners an A his
brother, who is Superintendent of tho poor
house.
was In tho courtroom whom the pre-
sentiment WINS read, and being curious to
know what the commissioners would say
about 1t, called at their office TO inter-
view them, a the newspaper mon say.
found them WORKING away quietly, with
their efficient clerk, Mr.. Chas. Bolt, at his
post
In answer to question propoandsd to
tnem as 10 what they had to say about the
preseutment of the grad jury, Messrs. j. A.
Chambers and l, NJ. Mobley answered frat.
saying In subs anoe. that they had become
members OF the Board only recently, the for
mer at the beginning Of this term, and the
latter some Time later, and consequently
neither one knew anything Of the matter
charged against the board, except from
hearsay.
The poor house land transaction, they said,
TOOK place before they came INFO Office, but
they understood that the whole matter had
before Judge Wallacs.
I.asked Them concerning the III tr.atment
Of one Of the inmates Of tho poor.bouss
charged against them in the presentment.
nhey replied that according to their inf .rma-
t'on, ne had not been mistrcated at all, but
on one occasion since they came into office
ne osoame unmsnageabls and assaulted the
superintendent and the superintendent was
compelled to uso him pretty roughly to save
his own life. They said further that this
same person, Mr.. Giles, was, according to
their information, very unruly and dan.
gsraus person. and had on several occasions
assauited tho other inmates of the POOR
house, before lie could be restrained: that he
had been there FROM boyhood, and although
an idiot, they felt bound to Keep him and
do the best they could with him, and had
Always recommen dad that -be be trcar I'd tust
as lenlentiy as possible.
10 the charge about q COW purchased for
Sao. and afterwards sold for $40, they replied
that the transaction was before their time
ana that they know nothing Of il, excspt
mat tho money the COW was sold for was
accounted for on their books. which Ar.
open to public inspection.
They denied that there WA, a "schsme an
foot to sell the poor house propsrtv. Tbsv
had the land surveyed. but it was for tbs
purpose settling long disputed line, and
not with any intention Of disposng Of the
property.
Hr. "m. Nj. Gallmsn, who 10 chairman of
the present board, and also was Z member
OF the preceding board, was present, aud
confirmed what was said by Messrs. Noblsy
anu chambers aoout matters which took
place before their time. He denied en-
phaticaily that The terms of tho sale of the
iand mentioned III the prssentment had not
oeen complied with, and said the whole
ma''sr was on The books, and open to public
MIR. Gallmsn said when the COW wa, solo
20 .ns poor houss she wGs very fine COW,
but after suhis went dry, and after eyery
snort to make her furthsr useful failed. she
was sold Tor beef, and tho mensy turned
over to tho county.
In reference to the mules, Mr.. Gallman
SAID thst he had borrow ed them two or ,brse
times, but had amply repaid the county
with the use Of his own mules.
NIT, GGllman also etout~ l..:.1
ohaFgs IN reference TO the death Of the two
paupsrs: Tie says he personally attended
TO their burial tho day after they died.
tie said in reference t, tho i'll treatment ~
diies, no more violence was used than VA,
necessary for his management.
riha,ng mat my notes were becoming
ra,her lengthy | closed the interview with,
out giving them chance to answer all the
questions involved, These gentlemen spoke
calmly and firmly and seemed satisfied that
At the proper time they would bS able TO
answer and fally vindicats all their mast
official acts in regard to the matters in con.
po'e'Afi IfTlRyiRwgR.