The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-10-13
Grand Jury Presentment.
COURT OF GENERAL SESSIONS,
October Term, 1897.

COURT OF GENERAL SESSIONS,
October Term, 1897.
To His Honor, L D. Witherspoon, Presiding
Judge.
The Grand Jury beg to report as follows
/. We have passed upon and disposed OF
al, matters brought to onr atsention, inc!ud-
ing bills of Indictment from the hands OF the
Solicitor.
3. TIE county Offices, the bonds of the
officers, the dockers of magistrates, the dis
pensaries. POOR house, Jail and the public
3highways-iuciuding the system OF road
working--have been investigated apd report
ed upon during the present year, and re hase
only partially looked into these matters dar.
ing this serm.
8. We end that the cost of eqnippiag and
maintaining the county chain gang, inc!ud-
ing the purchase of a wagon and two mules,
from the 23d of March. 1896, the time of its
organization. to the lst of Marca, ,1897-a
period OF eleven (li) months and eight (8)
days-was So, ,6ol.l7, and during this period
the number of coovicts at work ranged from
10 TO %. For the time between the lst Of
March, 1897, and the lst of October. 1885,
instant, seven months, the cost-incinding
tie wages of the overseer, guards aud cook
and the purchase Of two carts-was ST.
l53 "a, with an average per month OF twelve
hapds at work. Therefore It is seen that the
cost per month for the period OF seven
months, ending 3oth Of September last, has
been 1854 80 for twelve copvicts, or S13. .733
per month each. We believe the value Of the
work being done sufficient, considering the
apparent moral effect of its presence in the
eounts, to warrant the Grand Jury ir recon-
neuding that the chain gang be given further
trial.
4. We have examined the repairs upon the
Court House, and, while there has been neces-
sary aud commendable changes and addi,ioos
made, we believe the amount paid, 81, 500, so,
should have secured more complete job and
better workmanship One matter in connec-
tion demanding immediate attention is the
safe or vault In the Auditors Office. This
vault is at present useless, as it's door cannot
be opened by the Auditor and reqnires the
attention OF some skilled hand.
5. Complaint has been made 10 Us con-
cerning the condition OF the peb;ic road at
Rembert's Mill, and we recommend that the
Couciy Supervisor Investigate and if neces-
sary remedy the trouble there oy the use of
the chain gang
6. re would recommend that the Schoo!
Trustees. of District No. l, make suitable
prorisions 70, educating the children ct the
Poor House.
Z. Compiain. has been made 20 rs that
the Clerk Of Court failed to collect the liceose
Of Sf00 for each of the two exhibitors :e-
Gently given in this county By the Harris
Nickel Plate Show, as required By No. 90, os
the Acts Of the regular session Of 1896, ap-
proved March 9, 1886 Upon investigation
of this matter, We conclude that the clerk
desired TO DO his duty 10 the premises, aod
was govesoed by legal counsel, but should
have collected the license fees.
s. We would request our representatives
in the Legislature 70 make every effort to
cause such changes to be made in the existing
Honor laws as will enable the State to protect
our county from original package" essab-
lishmeals, by the in position of prohibi,ive
tax, say 10 the sum of teo thousand dollars
per annum-
We thank yonr Honor for courtesies shown
us, aod are under obligations TO the Solici-
tor fer assistance given us al all times when
asked Respectfully submitted.
j. 4. RHAME Foreman.