Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1899-07-20
GRAND JURY PRESENTNENT.
CHARLES LAY PRESENTED FOR ASSAULT
AND BATTERY WITH INTENT TO KILL.
PEES OF C0NSTARLES AND WITNESSES
Becoming Burdensomc to tho County Roads
in Several Districts in Rad Condition.
WAIlIAILA, S. c., july l3, 1899.
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, |
nI,INNlNlN ((NIrAItHN.

W., thc St"hu jury, DcS lCaNc W
make this our general prcscnlmcnt
We have examined thoroughly the
Offices Of the County superintendent
Of Education, Master, Probate Judge,
County Commissioners and Auditor
and find them all in good order and
neatly kept.
We have taken special pains in
examination Of the TrcaSurcr'S Office
and books, having compared and
checked off every receipt and
voucher with the Trcasurcr's books
and the Auditors charges against
the Treasurer and find I'LL the money
fully accounted for.
We desire to say, however, in this
connection, that the County Trea-
surcr's books show the payment to
him in fines, by the various Magis-
trates, from July 1st, 1893, to July
SCh, 1899, the total sum of $295.9o,
while during that period the Audi
Cor has charged against him only the
sum Of S35. Manifcstly some Of the
Magistrates, in paying over fines to
the Treasurer, are overlooking the
law, which requires them also to re-
port the same to the Auditor that he
may charge it up to the Treasurer.
We find evidence Of nothing more
serious than tarc]cssncSS in this mat
ter and think we need only to call
the attention of the Magistrates and
other officials to it to have them
make these reports in future.
We have, 10y committees, visited
the Jail and poor farE,, and find the
Jail neatly kept and in good order,
but very much crowded with prison.
crs--most Of whom arc under sen
tcncc from the United States Court
for violation Of the Revenue Laws.
At the poor farm we found every
thing in good shape and the paupers
(of whom there are now on the farm
about twenty) well cared for and
kindly treated.
In connection with the cxamina-
tion of the farm and the books Of
the Supervisor and the Board of
County Commissioners we could find
no record at all of the crops made on
the poor farm, and especially Of the
surplus crops, such as cotton, extra
corn, &c, which mnst have been
considerable, as the farm is n good
one.
On further inquiry we learn that
it has bern the custom of the County
Commissioners to allow the Steward
Of the Poor Farm or Supervisor to
sell or dispose OF these surplus crops
and invest the money in such other
supplies or things as they thought
were needed there, and no account
whatever kept of the transactions,
either in the County Treasurer
Office, or in the Office of the County
Board Of Commissioners.
We have as yet found no evidence
of loss to the county by reason OF
this practice, but We cannot approve
it. We think it neither wise nor
lawful.
In onr Judgment all surplus crops
should be sold and the money turned
into the county treasury, and then
let accounts be made and sworn &c
in the regular way, az required by
law, for what the poor farm may
need. In no other way, we think
can it be known whether the pool
farm is properly managed, and what
the cost Of its maintenance to the
people really is.
We find that only one dealer il
pistols, cartridges, &c, in this count,
has paid for and obtained license a
the law requires. Other dealers in
form us that they have been permit
ted to fall into the practice Of sellin!
merchandise to the County Commits
siOncrs from time to time, and ar
then, at the end of the year, permit
ted to set off these accounts agans
the &25, which they should hav
paid the County Treasurer at th
beginning Of the year, or before the,
made any sales, thus really scllin!
the whole year without license an,
illegally.
The County Commissioners ar
requested to sec that this practice i
discontinued, and to report TO thi
grand jury all persons selling with
out license that we may have thcr
indicted.
We insist that Magistrates b
more careful in binding over wit
ncsscs to this court who do not kno,
anything about the case. This az
pears to us to have grown to be
great evil and expense to tho county