The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1900-04-11
The Inquiry Into the Complaint Against Mag
istrate Raein-His Restoration.

The Inquiry Into the Complaint Against Mag
istrate Ragil-His Resignation.
\ complaint against Magistrate \.
P. Ragin of Pinewood was sent to Gov
erncr McSweeney, and this was refer
red to the Senator for investigation.
The charges in brief are, that Magis-
trate Ragin refused TO permit w.
D. Barwick to bring a suit in his
court against L. S. Barwick, and that
the said Magistrate certified to the sig
nature of Mrs. Barwick as having been
signed by her before him. when the
fact was that she did not sign the paper
at all. The Senator appointed last Sat
urday for the investigation, and at his
invitation Representative Richardson,
Jones and Woods were present and
acted with them. The party who made
the complaint and the magistrate, were
present. and each were represented by
counsel. who conducted the eNamlna-
tion: the delegation sitting as a jury.
! II was made satisfactory TO appear to
the delegation, that in the matter OF
refusing to bring the suit, the magls-
trate acted as he thought was his right,
ard if he had substantial reasons for
believing that the suit was pending IN
another court his refusal was proper.
The charge against him which was re-
garded most serious, was his making
| false certificates: the evidence showed
clearly that the magistrate violated the
law in this matter, but the circum-
stances convinced the delegation that
Magistrate Ragin thought the matter
was all right, as the name signed, was
really signed by the husband of the
party purporting to have signed it.
| 1t was a careless method OF executing
the law. and one that in some instances
might prove damaging to property IN
terests and rights of individuals.
There was no criminal intention in
the matter nor any wilful Official mis-
conduct. This was the conclusion ar
rived at by the delegation after hearing
both sides. Magistrate Ragin then
said that he had been for sometime con-
templating reSigning his Office and he
took this occasion to do so. Mr.. Ragln
came before the delegation with some
strong letters from the people of Pine
wood endorsing him as an officer, and
urging the delegation to recommend his
retention in Office, but there was moth
| inc for the delegation to do after the
resignation had been rendered, but to
recommend its acceptance which they
did. The investigation took about four
hours.
RESIGNATION.
Pinewood S. C. April 7th, 1900.
To His Excellency Governor NJ. B.
McSweeney, Columbia, S. c.
Dear Sir: l have contemplated for
some time resigning the position l have
| held as Magistrate at Pinewood Clar-
endon Co., and I do so now upon the
finding of the delegation that l have
been guilty of no official misconduct
under the charges made against me by
Mr. W. D. Barwick.
Your Excellency can readily under
stand that this step could not have
been taken while under cloud. beg
that this, my resignation may be acted
upon at an early day.
Respectfully yours,
A. P. RAGIN, Magistrate.
REPORT.
The STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
County OF Clarendon.
In the Matter of Charges Preferred
Against Magistrate a. P. Ragin OF
Clarendon County,
To His Excellency NJ. B. McSweeney
Governor.
Dear. Sir: Complaint being lodged
with your Excellency against Magls-
trate \. P. Ragin, of Pinewood, this
county, charging Official misconduct
against said officer, and the same hay
ing been referred to me for investiga-
tion. I beg leave to submit the follow
ing as my report:
Upon receipt Of the papers in the
above stated matter, | Immediately
summoned the entire legislative dele
cation together with all of the parties
concerned: in order that the party
charged might come prepared to make
his defense sent him a copy OF the
charges. Saturday April 1th, 1900,
was the time appointed for the lnvestl-
cation; the entire delegation was pres
ent, and so were the parties IN interest:
they were also represented by counsel.
Evidence adduced showed that Magls-
trate Ragin refused to act in matter
brought before him for his official &C
ton, and we are satisfied his refusal
was not with any corrupt purpose, but
because he thought it was right With
in his discretion. This matter was re-
ported to the grand jury, and they en-
bodied the complaint in their present
ment. and no action was taken thereon
bv the court. The evidence further
showed that said Magistrate certified
officially to signature on a bond, when
the fact was the signature was not
written or acknowledged before him
bv the party whose name appeared as
having signed the same: that the name
referred to was written by the husband
of the party whose name was affixed,
the husband claiming to be the agent
OF his wife.
In making this certificate the Mag
istrate did wrong, but we are SATISFIED,
it was done without any criminal IN
tent, that he knowing the parties did
not think he was committing a wrong
when he permitted the husband to sign
the wife's name in his presence.
After hearing the evidence, the del
egation reached the conclusion that
Magistrate Ragin is not guilty OF any
wilful official misconduct, or any Grim
inal intent, and inasmuch as the said
Magistrate has rendered his resigna-
ton, which is hereto attached, the
delegation unanimously recommend
that YOUR Excellency accept the same.
Respectfully submitted,
TOTTIS Applet. Senator.