The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-01-13
CRIMES IN CAROLINA.
ATTORNEY GENERAL hNALfZ5S TAs
YEARS RECORD

ftGh , HeCOHD
Comparisons VI .de-Copcealed Weapon
Law Dead Letter-How DispeDaary
Cases Have Eared.
COLUMBIA, S. c.. jan. 6 That po-
ton of the annual report OF the attor.
ney general dealing with the criminal
statistics of the courts during the year
beginning November l, 1895, and end
ing December 81, 1896, was completed
yesterday and turned over to the State
printer. The report is brimful OF in
teresting information and the most
essential point is that it shows that
the constables have not presented
strong cases to the courts for violation
of the dispensacy law or else the law
is not receiving the moral support OF
the people Of the State. Here is what
the attorney general saws:
From the general consolidated
statements it will be seen that 3 OO2
criminal cases were disposed of in the
State during the last Il months COW
cred by this report. Of this number,
there were 1,175 convictions, 4S3 ac-
ouittals and 1,344 mol prosequis and
no bills. Besides these cases disposed
of in the court OF general sessions,
probably hundreds of misdemeanors
have been tried by the magistrates in
the different counties, no account OF
which reaches this Office, for the rea-
son that such cases are not required 70
be reported.
1T further appears from the consol,
idated statements and former reports
Of solicitors to this office that the fol
lowing number of criminal cases have
been disposed OF from 1887 up to and
including 1895, to wit: Seventeen hun
dred aud thirty. eight cases in 1887;
2,1l9 cases in 1888; q, ,093 cases in 1889; !;
3 096 cases in 1890, without the num-
Der in the Fifth circuit; 2, 148 cases in
1891; 1, $40 cases in 1892, without the
number in the Third, Fifth and Sixth
circuits; l, $50 cases in 1898, without
the number in the Fifth and Sixth cir
cults; 2, $50 cases in 1894, without the
number in the Third circuit; 2 $50
cases in 1895 and 1902 cases in 1896.
During the last decade there seems to
have been a remarkable uniformity IN
the number of criminal cases disposed
of each year in the State, which ludi-
Gates that there has been no marked
increase in crime during this period.
The crime of assault with intent to
kill and aggravated assault and bat
terry seem to have been predominant,
there being 674 cases-about 20 per
cent. of all the criminal cases disposed
of in the State. There was only one
case OF the kindred crime of carry ing
concealed weapons in this State, and
this was ignored by the grand jury,
which shows that this law is not en-
forced.
The next most important crime
seems to have been the violations of
the dispensary law. there being 627
cases. The crime of burglary foots up
27S cases, and larceny 193 cases.
Homicide cases have also been large,
the number OF being 207 cases. The
per cent. of convictions 10 cases dis
posed of during the last Il months IS
about 80; no bills and discontinuances
about 46 per cent. The per cent. of
convictions in homicide cases is 25
in burglary about SO; in larceny SO;
in assault and battery 81, and IL dis
pensary cases about 25.
"Of the convictions for the last Il
months there we're FIVE sentences to
death and 90 in the penitentiary for
life; Gil to terms in the penitentlary
and 447 to jail and chain gangs.
by way OF comparison, it is found
that in 1891, 2,303 cases were disposed
OF in the State. OF these S35 were
discontinued and no bills; there were
9S2 convictions and 4S6 acquittals. Ia
1895, 2,037 cases were disposed Of. OF
these, T74 cases were no bills and dis.
continuances, and in S97 cases there
were convictions, and in 365 cases ac-
ouittals. It will thus be seen that the
proportion of convictions has been
maintained and there has been sone
increase.
From the consolidated statements,
it will be seen that during the last Il
months there was the very large num-
Der OF 1874 no bills and discontinue
ances in the criminal cases in the State
whicA was about 40 per cent. This
should be remedied in some way, for
the expense uselessly entailed on the
courts is very large. Something
should be done in the way of legisla.
ton to prevent this evil.
1T appears further that during the
period covered By this report ther2
were 207 homicide cases in the State.
OF these, in 50 cases there convictions,
in 10 acouittals and in As no bills
and discontinuances. In 1852 there
were Ill cases of homicide disposed OF
in the State. In 81 cases there were
convictions, in 65 acquittals and in S
mistrials and II discontinUances and
no bills. The per cent. OF convictions
was "a.
In 1895 there were 205 homicide
casea disposed of. In 26 cases there
were no bills and discontinuanceS, in
66 cases convictions and 113 scquittals,
The per cent. OF convictions was 32.
BY comparing 1896 with these
years it will be seen that there is no
10 crease Of the cases OF homicide or
decrease in the number OF convictions.
During the last II months there
were only ii cases of rape disposed Of
in the courts. o. this number there
were five convictions and three acquit-
tails and six no bills. There has been
a commendable decrease in the num-
Der of cases of burglary and larceny
during the lastten years. There were
Il cases of highway robbe'y 80 Of
forgery, 24 of perjury and 30 of oh.
tanning goods under false pretensess
which shows considerable ircrease
in these crimes.
"It will be observed that il the con
solidated statement it does not appear
that in the fourth circuit any person
convicted was sentenced to l. /