The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-03-14
GRAND JURY PREsENTMENT.
To Has Honor, ". C. Benet, Presiding
judge:

In accordance with custom the Grand
Jury beg to make the following Pre-
sentiment. We listened to the remarks
of the Court with interest as to our du-
ties and hope that we have performed
them with due and strict regard to the
oath each of us took. We have employ
ed Messrs. Purdy and Reynolds, attor-
news at law, to assist us in the lnvestI-
cations we intend to make in the bonds
books, offices, etc. of our County officl-
cials. But as we found that it would
take more time than we could spare
to make these Investigations at this
session, we appointed a committee Of
five of our number to act with the at
torneys during the Spring and make
their report at the next term of Court.
We inspected the jail and are pleased
to say that everything seemed to be in
good order and the prisoners securely
as we'll as neatly and comfortably kept.
The Jailor called our attention to some
slight repairs needed on the inside wall
and we recommend that this be attend
ed to at once, before it becomes seri-
Gus.
We inspected the Dispensary con-
Quoted at this place. The books SEEM
ed tc be very carefully kept and Mr..
Epperson, the dispenser. showed and
explained to us his methods of keeping
them by which any one can compare
his receipts aud disbursements and if
so desired, find the name of any one
who hasEbought from time since the es-
tablishment of the dispensary. We
submit Mr.. Epperson's report, showing
amount of profits paid to City and
County of Sumter. We have been ask
ed to draw attention to the fact that
there have been no murder trials in the
County since its opening, but We are
not prepared to say that this is due to
the DispensarY in view of the large
amount of whiskey sold and the great
number of assault and battery cases
presented to US, some of which came
very near being murders. We found
that there was more one X corn whis-
key sold than any other kind of liquor
and that the larger number of pur-
chasers were colored people.
We submit report of committee who
inspected the Poor House. We find
that the law requires Trial Justices to
file transcript of thelr books with the
Clerk of the Court ten days before
each session Of Court and find that
only one, Justice Nettles, did so at this
term and he only of criminal docket.
Justice Shedd sent his book showing
his criminal docket and Justice L. D..
Jennings sent his books showing his
civil and criminal dockets and as soon
as Justice c. G. Manning's attention
was called to his omission he furnish
ed us transcript of his business.
AS We think it very important, as
pointed out by the presiding Judge,
that this rule should be observed by
Trial Justices, we hereby notify them
that they will be expected to do so at
next term of Court. We have found
the books of Justices Shedd and .Jen-
nings show cash tallies with their re-
ceipts from the treasurer, but L. D..
Jennings has not itemized the costs Of
himself and his constable.
The following roads have been call
ed to our attention. Road to Poor
House on edge of Mile Branch, in very
bad condition. Statesburg road at
head Of Green Bay, in very bad con-
dition. On same road large hole in
the bridge near Mr.. Calvin Chambers.
Between Mr.. Chambers and Stephen
Bradford's blacksmith shop a bridge
in bad condition. Road between
0swego and Bethel almost impossible.
Nigh cut road from Pudding Swamp to
Lynches River in bad condition, over
low places requiring foot logs, the
work has been very carelessly done,
repairs badly needed at once, Rae
coon road leading from Pudding
Swamp road to Lowery road in bad
condition, the lumber bought by the
County is lying on the side of the road
unused. Some has been there for four
months, while the work is sorely need
ed by foot passengers.
The bridge over Chandler Branch near
Cbandler's y Roads is not wide enough to
span the water at all times, and j20) twenty
foot bridge is recommended. Road about
one and a-half miles from City Of Sumter,
just on other side Of first mill, has been in
very bad condition all winter, and liable to
become so after auy heavy ram. We have