The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-21
REPORT OF THE GRAND JURY.
Some Matters OF Importance for the At
tention Of the Court and Our LeEisla-
tors.

tention Of the Court and Our LeSisla-
To His Honor T. B. Fraser, Judge
Presiding: The Grand Jury would re-.
spectfuliy submit the following as their
report:
We have carefully investigated all
matters coming before us Of any pub
lie interest. We have given much at
tention to public buildings and county
offices, having Investigated all mat
tiers given 10 cnarge by the honorable
Solicitor, and returned the same. We
find all the offices in proper order,
everything showing great neatness aud
care on the part of each officer. The
exhibits made US by each officer salts
fies US that they are doing their duty,
except the County Commissioners, to
whom reference is made later.
The Coroner's books are well and
neatly kept and in proper order. Our
examination of the books of this officer
convinces US that there is too great lat
itude given to the construction and ill.,
tent of the law. We find that in the
past two years 64 inquests have been
held at a cost to the county of from
S22 to S55 each, aud there has been
seven disinterments with increased
cost. In addition to these, a number
of inquests are held each year by the
Trial Justices. We think that the
Coroner and Trial Justices should be
required to follow more closely the
intent and meaning OF the law, espe-
ciaily where death is we'll known to
have been from natural causes, and
where there are witnesses to this fact.
The cost to the county is too great, and
if there is no other remedy there should
be legislation on the subject.
We find all the public buildings in
good repair. In.Ihe hall there are some
needed repairs. The basin and the iron
cells and the pipe leading to it need to
be repaired. The iron work should be
painted. The other portions white
washed. From information coming to
us we are of the opinion that there has
been an extravagant expenditure Of
public funds, in building bridges and
buying lumber. We are Informed that
there are many instances of this eX-
travagance but sight only few. We
would refer to the bridge over Dun
cans creek and that over Enoree River,
both near Whitmires. Also, the furn-
ishing lumber to build sidewalks in
the village of Helena. The bridge over
Enoree River should be repaired at
once or there will he additional expense
to the county.
We recommend that the board of
County Commissioners before the ex-
piration Of their term of Office be re-
quired to collect or cause to be collected
all tool very kind belonging to tie
couutyS make full itemized ac-
count OF. same to be filed with the
Clerk of ofE~,Grt for future referen e by
other Grand Juries. The tools to be
turned over to,their successor in office
and q receipt to be taken for the same.
We well know that the examination
Of the books of the county officers each
year by the Grand Jury is very imper-
feet. This MAY te because they do not
give the proper time or from the fact
that there is seldom an expert on the
jury who can undertake such work. We
therefore think it would be 10 the line
of economy if an officer was chosen by
the Legislature who would be fully
competent whose duty it should be to
make thorough examination once
each year of the books of every county
officer in each county in the State.
The attention of the Grand Jury has
been called to the fact the Sheriff has
been working outside the Jail, prisoners
sentenced for short terms. We have
the charge and learn from
the S eriff himself that such is the
fact. but that the labor so exacted was
on the property Of the county and for
benefit thereof and without additional
to the county.
Referring to the white infant in the
care of a colored woman in this
county and mentioned in our present
inent at the March term, we find it is
possible at this time to procure good
and comfortable home for said infant
with responsible wife persons, and
recommend that the County Commis-
sioners take charge of said infant and
procure it q good home. We do not
think it proper to allow any compensa-
ton to this colored woman for her at
tSutlou, VI iOI iuSOICdl SCI WIG.
AS to the office of County Commis-
sioners we would say, that we have
examined the same and find the records
well and neatly kept. all claims
filed where we could compare and
verify and vouchers with the exception
of one batch of vouchers from No. 465
to No. SO inclusive, which could not
be found. In this examination we re-
ceived every aid and courtesy at the
hands of Mr.. J. c. Dominick, chair
mau of the Board.
We recommend that the County
Commissioners procure estimates for
heating the Court House with modern
fixtures such as now used for heating
public buildings.
We would ask our delegation in the
Legislature to investigate the present
law as to the Trial Justice system. We
consider the present system q very ex-
pensive mode of dispensing justice. If
it cannot be improved, We would
recommend that the number Of trial
justices in this county be reduced.
We ask that the usual legal fee be
allowed our clerk for services rendered.
H. G. Moseley, Foreman. J. W.
Chapman, 6. G. Lane, J. D. Suber D.
@. Wilson, J. G. Goggans, G. F.
ms, J. W. Scott, J. W. Hartman,