The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-10-17
Grand Jury Presentnlent.
To HIS Honor, Judge D. Il. Townsend.
Presiding:

To HIS Honor, Judge u. Il. 1ownseh1,
Presiding:
The Grand Jury have been kept here
much longer than is customary on ac-
count of the Investigations they have
made in the County Offices. We have
found the Jail to be neatly and secure
ly kept. Seven of our number visited
the poor house and as far as we could
Judge the inmates are as comfortably
housed as circumstances permit and
when questioned said they were we'll
fed. We recommend the appropria-
ton of about forty dollars ($40) for
necessary repairs on the stove room
and cook room of the main dwelling
house. We have examined the books
of Trial Justice Jennings and trans
cripts of the business of Justices Play
er. Nettles and Shedd and they seem
to have conducted the affairs OF their
offices satisfactorily. Justice Wells
furnished short statement showing
fourteen dollars and fifty cents ($l4.5O)
collected on criminal cases and turned
over to the Treasurer. Justice Mosely
excused his failure to report by sick
ness of himself and family. The
others made no report.
We recommend the selling of the
present Court House and grounds and
the building of another Court House
on 8 more suitable lot, we think the
old Jail lot would answer. A more
modern building is badly needed for
greater conveniences and security.
We have employed Mr.. George
Manotte, who was highly recommend
ed. as an expert to examine the books
of the School Commissioners, the Coun-
ty Commissioners, the Auditor and
the Treasurer and affix his sworn re-
port as a part of our presentment.
We only call attention to the fact that
the Treasurer's reports show to this
body twenty six hundred and sixty
one dollars and thirty cents ($2, SOL 3O)
as court expences up to date for this
year. but his books show balance of
thirteen hundred and nine dollars and
forty eight cents to paid said expeDces,
is not mentioned by him. 1t is very
much to be regretted that the Treas
urer could not be present, but we had
commenced the examination and did
not like to stop. We could not take
up any more time in the examination
of the other offices but have tried to
perform very tedious duty which has
been demanded by great many and
have been told by some of the officials
that it is the most thorough that has
been made in sixteen years. We also
call attention to the fact that the
Grand Jury in June 1898 reported ex-
Auditor Peter Thomas short in nine
hundred and ninety dollars ($99O)
in taxable valuations and the present
Auditor A. B. Stuckey reports to us
that the Comptroller General has done
nothing to straighten this, although
he took the papers and said he would
do so himself last year. 1t IS with
great pleasure that we testify to the
assistance and encouragement we have
received from the presiding Judge in
the performance of our duties. In
conclusion we wish to express our
sympathies with solicitor Jno. S. Will
son in his sickness, and without mean
ing any reflection on the acting
solicitor, we hope that this, impartial
faithful and courageous officer will
soon be restored to health and the post
of duty. Very Respectfully,
W. j. REEs,
Foreman.
We present that one Richard D.
Moore, did heretofore commit forge
ries in Sumter County, as follows:
1st. By forging the name of Jas. S.
Pinckney, on the 1st day Of April,
1894. to a school check for fifteen dol
dars ($l5) and passed the same as true
and genuine upon Levi Bros.
End. For forging the name of Jas. S.
Pinckney, on the lst day Of May, 1894,
for nine dollars ($9) and passing the
same as true and genuine on Levi
Bros.
3rd. For forging the name of Jas. S.
Pinckney, on the 18th day of April,
1894, for eleven dollars ($1D and pass
ing the same as true and genuine on
Levi Bros.
4th. For forging the name of Jas. s.
Pinckney, for nine dollars ($S) on the
10th day of April, 1894, and passing
the same as true and genuine on Levi
Bros. And others amounting to
$l44.
5th. And that W.. DuRant, Jas. S.
Pinckney, VIM NJ. Sanders and Levi
Bros. are material witnesses to prove
the same.
w. J. REEs,
Foreman.
REPORT OF Mr.. MANOTTE
Gentlemen Of the Grand Jury:
Having complied with the duties imposed
upon me by your body, to make thorough
examination of the following county officers
books, namely Treasurer, Auditor, School
Commissioner and County Commissioners, !
beg leave to submit my report.
SCHOOL COMMISSIONER.
have examined the books of this officer
aud found them correctly kept. l went over
every voucher and did not allow claim un-
less there was showing for it. Nine dupli.
este school vouchers were missing but the
original vouchers were found In the hands OF