The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1897-01-15
CRIME IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
The Attorney General Makes His
Annual Criminal Report.
A LONG LIST OF HOMlClDES.
Constables Have Not Presented
Strong Cases--Concealed Weapon
Law u Dead Letter.


the year beginning November 1, 1895,
and ending December 81, 1896, has
been completed and turned over to the
State printer. The report is brimful of
interesting 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
dispensary law or else the law is not re-
ceiving the moral support of the people
of the State. Here is what the attor-
ney general says:
'cF'rom the general consolidated
statements it will be seen that 3,002
criminal cases were disposed of in the
State during the last fourteen months
covered by this report. OF this num-
Der, there were l., ,175 convictions, 4S3
acquittals and ,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 reason
that such cases are not required to be
reported
cit further appears from the consoli-
dated statements and former reports of
solicitors to this office that the follow
ing number of criminal case have been
disposed of from 1887 up to and includ-
ing 1895, to wit: Seventeen hundred
and thirty eight cases in 1887; 2,119
cases in 1888; 1908 cases in 1889; 2,096
cases in 1890, without the number in
the Fifth Circuit; ALAS cases in 1891;
/ $40 cases in 1892, with the number in
the Third, Fifth and Sixth circuits;
!, $3.50 cases in 1893, without the number
In the Fifth and Sixth circuits; 1850
cases in 1894, without the number in
the Third circuit; 1850 cases in 1896,
and 3, 002 cases in 1896. During the
last decade there seems to have been n
remarkable uniformity in the number
of criminal cases disposed of each year
in the State, which indicates that there
has been no marked increase in crime
during this period.
''The crime of assault with intent to
kill and aggravated assault and battery
seem to have been predominant, there
being GA 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 carrying concealed
weapons in this State, and this was ig-
nored by the grand jury, which shows
that this law is not enforced
"The next most important crime
seems to have been the violations of the
3aiiisseepsarv law, there being G27 cases
~" c~ti:nS Charley. --,.ss..S ,.s.sS-
clt.-, -uscs have also D,v.-. ..rge, the
number disposed of being 201 cases.
The per cent of convictions in cases dis
posed of during the last IT 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 80, in larceny so, in as
sault and battery 81 and i'll dispensary
cases about 25
"Of the convictions for the last Il
months there were five sentences to
death and 20 in the penitentary for
life 8l1 to terms in the pcnitentiary
and 467 to Jail and chaingangs.
"By way of comparison it was found
that in 1891, 2,303 cases were disposed
of in the State. OF these, S35 were
discontinued and no bills; there were
1895, 2,031 cases were disposed of Of
these IA cases We're no bills and dis
continuances, and in S91 cases there
were convictions, and in 800 cases &C
quittslls. 1t will thus he seen that the
proportion of convictions has been
maintained and there has been some
| increase.
"From the consolidated statements,
| it will be seen that during the last II
| months there was the very large num-
Der of ,344 no bills and discontinue
ances in the criminal cases in the State,
which 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 legislation to
prevent this evil.
cit appears further that during the
period covered by this report there
were 207 homicide cases in the State.
| OF these, in SO cases there were convic-
tons, in | 10 acquittals and in 45no bills
and discontinuances In 1889 there
were III cases of homicide disposed of
in the State. Inc cases there were
convictions. in Is acquittals and in 3
mistrials and II discontinuances and no
| bills. The per cent. of convictions
was "a.
SIN 1895 there were 2O5 homicide
cases disposed Of. In 2G cases there
were no bills and discontinuances, in
| G6 cases convictions and l13 acquittals.
The per cent. of convictions was 3D.
''By comparing 1896 with these years
it will be seen that there Is no increase
of the cases of homicide or decrease in
the number of convictions.
"During the last IA months there
were only If cases of rape disposed of
| Ill the courts. OF this number there
were five convictions and three acauit-
tails and six no bills. There has been a
commendable decrease i'll the number
of cases of burglary and larceny during
| the last 10 years. There We're Al cases
of highway robbery, 30 of forgery, 24
of perjury and 30 of obtaining goods
under false pretenses, which shows q
considerable increase in these crimes.
'It will be observed that in the CON
solidated statement it does not appear
that in the Fourth circuit any person
convicted was sentenced to Jail. pre-
sumo all those convicted W ere sentenced