The Greenville times., 1894-06-09
REPORT or GRAND JURY.

We, the grand-Juty imPaneled
Tor the May term Of the Circuit
Court OF Washington county, have
the honor 10 report that we have
dihgently inquired into all matters
that hav.. been presented to us;tnat
Ne nave made investigation into
and report herewith upon those
things which it is made our duty to
examine into In the discharge of
these duties We have examined I74 |
witnesses and have taken action
upon 40 charges, returning into
court 50 tue bills.
We have carefully inspected the
county jail and visited and locked
into the condition of the seven con.
vict camps located within the
bounds OF uur county, in all OF
hich We find the sanitary condi-
.tIons favorable, good aud whole
some iood and the prisoners COM
tortabiy clothed, and upon investi-
CATION OF the prisoners no complaint
Is made ot improper or violent
ueatmenl, though v" have been
eallvd upoh 10 make investigation
iuIo the ecent killing Of a convict
in one OF The camps while attempt
ing to escape and resisting recapt-
ure, we have had before us all the
known witnesses to this homicide
and have disposed of the case. AS
warranted by the testimony.
We have carefully examined the
books oil the magistrates of the
county and enquired into the ad-
ministration OF this department Of
Justice and find in some instances
no lists of witnesses in important
cases, aud irregularities and pro-
ceedings which though not criminal
are reprehensible as their dockets
give evidence of greater concern
for the costs than to administer
justice.
We have AS far as practicable
made inquiry into the discharge OF
DUTY by the road overseers OF the
county and find that the public
: roads in a great majority Of cases
are in a most deplorabIc condition
and that road working as practiced
in this county is but farce, and
that the great majority Of road
overseers are derelict in duty fol
! which in a measure the Board ol
Supervisors may be held RESPONSE.
} BILE under Chapter 70 Sec. Of the
Annotated code. 1t Is required thai
(. every road overseer shall make re-
port to the Board at their meetings
in March and September and fail
. ing SO to do the Board is required
to impose a fine Of $40 upon eacl
one who neglects to make report
Yet out OF 81 overseers in th'
county, only one made the Marcl
!, report and there is no evidence o
Q a fine being imposed upon singh
| one of the delinquent eighty, a
+ appears upon their records. w
0 call attention to this matter that
more strict performance Of dut,
. may be exercised by road overeeer
and a more rigid accountability b,
exacted by the Board Of Supervis
ors.
We have made examination o
J. the Books of the various count,
9 officers and Levee Board and Will,
i our time has been too limited L
s make searching examination W
v find the books all to be neatly an'
systematically kept, showing dill
gence and attention of those IL
charge.
II We have looked into the suffi
y cheney Of the bonds Of the severa
. officers Of the county and woul,
y call the attention of the Board o
G Supervisors TO this matter; tina
II they exact that new bond be give
n in cases where they know the bond
n men are insoIvent. We would al
so call the attention OF the Boar,
of Supervisors to the fact that on
of their own members is discharg.
ing the duties Of his Office withou
bond,
! We feel it to be source of con.
graduation to the county of Wash
Q ington that there is marked de
Q crease in crime within her borders
o that there is evident higher re
a gard for law and greater respec
Q for al, that contributes to publi
:, morals.
Having completed all matter
that are now before us and th
court having no further business tc
:, require OF US we would respectful
ly ask to be discharged,
= s NJ. SPENCER, Foreman.