The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-04-10
Proceedings OF Court.

Thursday morning the following cases
we're 90 trial:
The State vs.. Louis Laws, breaking ioto
railroad car and grand larceny Seotence
so days or $50 6ne
Ths Grand Jury reported the following
bills o. Indictment:
The State vs. Bsrry Banding, violating
the dispeossry law True bill
Tue State vs.. Aleck Eoerhart, murder.
Troe bill
The State VS. Jesse Mcdonald. murder.
True bill.
The State vs.. Lewis Lave, Wesley Nc.
DoosId, Walter Mcdonald, Jobn Baker,
breaking into railroad car and grand Larceny.
No oil
The State vs George Dow, abductiug
maid under sixteen years OF age. No bill.
The grand jury made the following pre-
sentiment aud was discharged
To His Honor R c Watts, Presiding Judge:
The graad jury having passed upon al
bills Of iodictment handed them by the Soil
cilor and having returned the same TO the
court, respectfully submit the following pre-
ssntmeot:
We viaited the aims house and End that
the superintendent is giving conscientious
and Efficient attention to his duties We
found 81 inmates l9 of whom are white and
IL colored These Inmates claim that they
are kindly treated and receive every atteatfon
from the superintendent The buildings sre
ell 10 good repair, except the barn aud sta.
bles " hich are u very bad conditon, aud We
recommend that they be repaired as 5000 es
possible. We would call the attention of the
county board to one of these inmates whose
peculiarly sad condition needs special atten-
tor A recommendation made by the grand
jury at the Merch term of court, 1900, in
regard to the erectiou of wood apd wash
shed has DOT baeh complied With, and would
recommend that this work be dooe as soon as
possible.
We End upon investigation that there are
irregularities practiced in Sumter dispensary,
and recommend that that the Board of Con-
troll require strict enforcement of the law.
The Jail having been partially destroyed by
Ere We recommend that the same be repaired
ar early as practicable.
We visited the city guard bouse 10 which
the prisoners have been con6oed sioce the
huraicg of the Jail and End them well cared
for We think the prisoners can be Kept 10
The guard house until the Jail is repaired
We have not examined the county Offices at
this time but propose to do that work before
the next term Ct court.
Complaints ts have been made from various
sections of the coasty IN regard TO the deplor-
able conditions of the public roads. In
some sections of the county the .oads have
net been worked in several years 10 some
sections of the county the public roads have
beeo 80 eocroached npon by ploughnen that
there is oot Sufficient room for tWo vehicles
to psss each other.
If good roads are 40 evidence of 90 ad-
vanced state of civiligvtion Sumter County
seems to De oehiod the age in this line OF
progress. This state of things ought no: 10
exist and We would respectfully urge upon
our County Supervisor strict enforcement
Of the road laws
In concluding our duties for the term ne
take occasion to ,haok your Honor, the Solic.
ltor sod other officers of the court for cour-
tesies extended and assistance given rs 10 the
discharge of our duties. Very respectfully,
G q Reid, Forenaa
The cases against Carpenter, Jennings and
Simmons for breaking open railroad car
aud stealing whiakey were concluded Thurs
day The following is the record:
The State vs Benz u. Carpenter. breskiog
and entering Q railroad ear and grand
larceny. Not guilty.
The State vs. Walter Simmoos snd Wesley
Jennings. breaking aud eo,ering railroad
car and grand larceny. Plead guilty. SEQ
,ence foor months at hard labor on chain
gaag.
The business of The criminal court was con-
Guided Saturday, Judge Watts sentencing
oil. of the prisoners who had not been pre-
siously sentenced A motion for new trial
10 the case of The State vs Joho Nickens aod
Amanda Calhoun was beard snd denied and
sen,ences imposed. The jury was discharged
last night ell cases for trial having been
heard. The following sentences were i'm
posed:
The State vs. Robert Taylor. assanls Od
battery of a high and aggravated nature
Guilty Sentence, months or pay 6ue of
$40.
The State vs Jesse Mcdonald, murder. Not
guilty.
The State VS. Elliott Peterson, guilty of as
saul. With intent to ravish Sentence, Is