Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-09-06
HEARD, THOUGHT AND SEEN.

SJ The article in THE ENQUIRER Of
Wednesday on the subject Of "Juris-
diction of Magistrates" as the same
may be affected by issues arising out
of the John G. Nicely case, has attract
ed considerable attention, and there has
been much local discussion Of 1t. From
the card of Reader" published In an
other column, however, and from opin-
ions expressed to the reporter, It would
appear that the issue still lacks great
deal Of settlement. II there were moth
ing in the constitution on the subject Of
magistrates Jurisdiction beyond the
prohibition of punishment In excess Of
one hundred dollars fine or thirty days
imprisonment, it would be plain that
magistrates are without authority to
sentence to the chaingang. The point
made by Reader" however, disposes
Of the jurisdiction question. The other
point, whether the present statute on
the subject of magisterial jurisdiction
Is vitiated by the alleged fact that the
constitution Is violated in that there Is
an unwarranted exception in the case
Of Beaufort county, remains unchal-
lenged. How the courts might decide
this question cannot be anticipated
safely, although to layman the point
seems we'll taken. However, there Is
no certainty that this feature Of the
case can be entered into when the case
comes up for a hearing on the writ OF
certiorari. There may be question as
to whether this appeal was taken In
proper manner, and 1t is quite possible
that the case can be dismissed without
consideration of any really important
issue.
TT After the business of the recent
meeting of the county board Of commits
sioners was completed, the members In
dulged in a pleasant discussion OF the
recent primary campaign and its result.
But the sickest man saw in the cam
paign," remarked Supervisor Gordon,
was Mr.. Stanton, on the road to Pied
mont Springs. He looked like the last
friend had left him, and when teased
him, he said: with plenty Of business
at home and having very good living,
don't see what ever possessed me to
become such a fool as to trot around
over the county asking for votes for
little $50 office" All present, except
Mr.. Stanton, laughed at the recital.
He continued very serious until the
good humored bandinage WIS over, and
then he answered.: "Yes, I confess that
I was sick. had spent the night with
a friend, who told me that they were
telling that the reasc-, chat Billy WIKI
erson did not run was because he had
squandered county funds, and could not
account for them" Mr.. Wilkerson and
Mr.. Gordon joined in the laugh, and
Mr.. Stanton continued: when l
learned Of the lies they were telling on
a man like Mr.. Wilkerson, was wor-
ried to think what they might be tell
ing on me-" Following this reply, the
three gentlemen reviewed some Of the
campaign SIOFlSS tudl uno oSSh Wv
lated during the weeks and months
previous to the election, and many OF
them were Of a startling nature. While,
of course, no responsible citizen Is going
to believe or circulate such cruelty mali
cious stories as most Of those repeated
proved TO be, still they are more or less
annoying, and it is aggravating that
there is no way of establishing the
truth. This suggestion is not put for
ward as remedy; but some good
might be accomplished If every one OF
these stories were catalogued with the
best authority that can be secured be-
hind them, and each Of them laid be-
fore the grand jury, for the thorough
Of that body. If a few
authors or circulators Of some Of these
ISLANDERS could be punished, others
would be more careful about how they
tampered with the truth. "