The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-11-20
LOOKING TO LYNCHINGS,
THE CONVENTION FURTHER CON.
sLDERs THE SUBJECT.

/
COLUMBIA, November 11.-Special l.:
When the Convention met this morn
ing President Evans advised the Sec
retary to note all absentees and, ac-
cording TO the rule of the Convention,
all members who were absent and
who had not leaves of absence would
be "docked" for their pay.
| Mr.. Rogers rose to a question of
personal privilege-taking occasion to
reply to an editorial paragraph in The
State referring to him.
Mr.. Frank B. Gary then offered the
following:
Be it resolved by the Constitutional
convention now assembled. That
hereafter the speeches OF delegates
shall be limited to 10 minutes: Pro
vided, however, that the convention
may extend the time whenever it may
deem it proper to do so.
Senator Tillman said he thought the
following, which he offered SIS sub
stitute, would accomplish the same
purpose:
Resolved, That the committee on
rules be instructed to consider and re-
port Wednesday morning, the day for
final adjournment of this convention,
and that it shall be authorized to ar
range schedule of work for The con-
vention, fixing limit for debate, length
of speeches and time of voting on the
various articles and matters vet to be
considered and acted on.
This was adopted without any trou-
BILE.
Mr.. MCGOWAN then offered the fol-
lowing resolutions, which he said he
offered because most of the important
matters were being acted upon by
practically little more than a quorum.
Many of them had been here all
through the session and others should
do likewise:
Resolved first, That all leaves of alb
sence heretofore granted be and the
same are hereby revoked.
Second-That the sergeant-at-arms
be and is hereby instructed to notify
all absentees to report Immediately to
this convention under penalties to be
imposed by this body.
Third-That no leaves of absence be
hereafter granted except in cases of
sickness.
Mr.. Austin made some remarks in
regard to this, and then Senator Till
man said it was scarcely necessary as
the convention could refuse to allow
pay to absentees. He said it looked as
if the pay would be increased to "a
g day, which would be considerable
lever.
Mr.. Bellinger said that a great many
of them had been there all along; that
there were always enough present to
properly conduct the business, and he
saw no reason why such proposition
should be made.
The resolutions were tabled by a
close vote.
THE ANTI-LYNCHING SECTION.
When the convention got ready for
work Mr.. Bellinger offered the follow
ing as a substitute for section 6 of the
article on jurisprudence, hoping Mr..
Johnstone would withdraw his amend
ment, which was the pending ques-
ton:
Sec. 6. In the case of any prisoner
in the lawful custody or under the
control of any sheriff being taken
away by any mob or any other unlaw-
full assemblage OF persons and suffer
ing bodily injury or death at their
hands, the said sheriff shall be pro-
ceeded against by impeachment at the
next session of the general assembly,
as provided in this Constitution in the
case of executive and judicial officers.
And it shall be the duty of the solicit
or of the circuit or attorney general
to present to the general assembly ex
parte affidavits as they may be able to
obtain tending to sustain the i'm
peachment. The official bond of the
sheriff shall be liable in sum of not
less than 1000 as penalty payable
to the person so injured, or in case
of death resulting from violence re-
ceived as aforesaid, to the legal repre-
sentatives of said person, the same to
be recovered by suit in any court of
competent jurisdiction; provided, that
nothing herein contained shall be con-
strued as relieving the sheriff of any
criminal liability at common law or
under the statutes.
Mr.. Johnstone withdrew his amend
ment for the time being.
MIR. Bellinger said that this simply
eliminated the question of a change of
venue from the section.
Mr.. Rogers suggested that the Sec
ton be passed over.
Mr.. Rogers said that the convention
had declared that there should be
proven some connivance on the part
of the sheriff. He wanted to study it,
He moved to pass the section over.
Mr.. J L. Glenn, who had opposed
the section as it was first presented,
then said that he was in favor of 1t IN
this form. 1t simply said that the
sheriff should he impeached.
Mr.. Rogers said this matter was sim
ply doing with money what they had
tried to do Saturday in another form
to hold the sheriff liable whether he
was guilty or not. 80
MIR. Be1linger said that the sheriff
was simply to have trial by jury of
his countrymen. If the sheriff con-
nives then he can be sued for damages
just as anyone else.
Senator Tillman thought the change
proposed would not mend matters.
Mr.. Bellinger-I would like for
some of these gentlemen to get up and
offer amendments instead of offering
objections.
Mr.. Gary-We discussed this matter