The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-02-24
Thus YOU not only have committed


the calumny and oppression of false
accusation. While it would be a
wrong to the State and blow to the
safety of the dear ones of your own
firesides for you, by a careless per-
formance of your functions or from
corrupt considerations Of any kind, to
allow the criminal c.ld the vicious to
90 without answering for their mis-
deeds, it would be q yet more intol
erable burden to subject the law
abiding and innocent member Of
society to the anxiety and expense,
and even disgrace, of having to stand
trial for offenses Of which there is not
even reasonable probability that
he is guilty.
The oath which you have just
taken comprehends fully and per-
fectlv the duties which are required
of YOU. l commend its terms to your
careful study, not only now, but dur
irg the whole of the term for which
YOU have been drawn to serve as
grand jurors. You have sworn dill
gently to inquire and true present
ment make of all such things as shall
be given you in charge This, l
need hardly say, has reference to the
bills which the solicitor will give out
to you, and in the manner and spirit
in which you should consider the
same, my foregoing remarks have
been made.
If, upon the consideration Of bill,
twelve Of YOU agree that the accused
should be tried, your foreman will
l. y
true BILL" and sign his name to it.
If. on the other hand, so many of you
do not reach such a conclusion, you
will write NO BILL and sign it in
the same way, returning the bill into
court in each case.
Besides these matters which are
given out by formal bill for your in
vestigations, there may be other
things known to some of you, or
which may come to your knowledge
through other channels than those
constituted by the law, and which
may be grave enough to demand
your censure and the attention of
the court. Such as abuses and viola
tions of law which affect the health
or safety or convenience of the pub
lie, or the good morals and order of
society-things that are injurious
and offensive to the great body Of
our citizens and which yet no private
individual feels sufficiently aggrieved
over to prosecute or seek to have
corrected in the courts. The State
looks to you, gentlemen, and it is
your sworn duty to inquire into such
tn ngs. Mere tritieS you may we'll
overlook, but you should present all
matters that involve or seriously en-
danger the public safety in any man
ner.
1t is also your business to inquire
into the public institutions and offices
of your county. See that due provi
sion is made for the safe keeping as
we'll as the health and comfort OF
those whom the law there restrains
of their liberty The public charity
provides for the destitute and help
less poor and afflicted of your county.
See to it that such provision is dis
pensed in spirit that shall be credit
able to the humane principle which
calls it forth.
The public officers should have
your attention, not in spirit
of fault-fnding, but in more liberal
disposition of intelligent cooperation
with and encouragement of public
servants in the conscientious per-
formance of duty. Exercise a char
liable judgment in all things; yet, II
you find abuses of public trust, viii
full mismanagemeDt or neglect or
oppression in Office, present it un-
sparingly to the attention Of the
court. Easy and safe means of travel
and inter-communication amongst
the different parts of your county
are al unfailing and powerful factor
in the Development and prosperity of
the community. The active efforts
that are being put forth in many of
YOUR sister counties in the construc-
ton and permanent Improvement OF
the public roads, should be an in
spiration to the men of Clarendon to
be no whit behind the foremost coun-
ty in this regard. You, as grand
Jurors, should see to it that those
charged with this duty spare no
efforts in this direction. If in the
administration Of the criminal laws
YOU can force the criminal classes to
contribute somewhat to the public
improvement by exercising their
muscles and strength on the roads
and public works, as is done in many
parts of the State, it will afford
Wholesome check to petty crimes,
while the public will reap substan-
tial benefit in the results of such
labor.
might detain you, gentlemen, to
discuss your duties in reference to
public education, the various means
for the prevention of crime and other
matters that will demand your care.
But l forbear. Let me say that you
are committee Of inquiry into the
public safety and welfare, and as
such, no public interest should es-
cape your intelligent inspection and
careful consideration during your
year of service.
You have a goodly heritage from
your fathers in your county OF great
historic interest and renown, and OF
great present resources. Look to it,
in common with the men of your
generation, that you transmit it to
pOSlerlIS Will uuSuIlleO SSNNtSiieOiI
and with all its interests presented
and bull up, that those who come
after may rise up and call you blessed.
The first bill given them was the
State vs.. Ralph S. DeSchamps,
with murder, to which they
returned true bill and the trial was
at once entered upon. TIE testi-
mony did not differ very materially
from the statement published in TIE
TINES immediately after the deplor-
able affair.
The case consumed the whole of
Yesterday and went over until this
when it was finished. The
ury were not long in bringing in a
verdict of mot guilty" as everybody
expected they would do. The de-
. lol,aa