The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-10-08
Grand Jury Plessltnent.

Grand Jury Prgsltngnt.
September Term. 1902.
To bis Honor Judge Il. G. Waits. Presiding
Judge:
The Grand Jury beg leave 10 make The fol.
lowing presentmeni:
We have passed upon all bills handed us BY
the solicitor.
We have examined the Jail and found tn"
building In good condition.
A committee of our body visited the Poor
House, and found the paupers well cared for.
aud the health OF the people good.
A committee whose business was to visit
the chain gangs and examine the conditions
OF the roads, report the same In fn!r condition.
II has been reported 10 the Grand Jury that
The guards are In the habit OF riding The
County mules when visiting their homes.
We think the mules should be allowed To
rest when not at work. We recon mend that
the Superv!s !sor be requested that this privi'
Iege not be granted In the future.
We respectfully request the Solicitor TO as.
stat us in having our recommendations car
ried out, which wns made at last term oi
Court. together with Recommendations made
a, this term. The man we referred 70 In our
last presen,ment TO be discharged from the
County services IL Geo. w. Calvert.
We have examined all OF the County offices
and checked of the books Of said offices for
year ending september 2, 1907, and found
same correct.
We received from the Auditors once the
following data:
Ants. reed. from taxes and all other
sources for 1901 and '0s.....-....". saG,3lG
A mia. maid ont for aIl purposes...... 41.a29 3!
Leaving a deficiency oL.-........... l.67sS
We fiud that the County sometime ago Dor
rowed from the State sink Ing fund $25 COO, o
this amount about SIS. 600 has been paid bacs
leaving q balance due that fund $1,000. Add
this amount TO 81 SIS. 50 as shown above. makes
the County In debt, to Sept 3, 1909. sll.67ss9.
We thank your Honor and the officers VI the
Court for courtesies extended Us.
Respectfully submitted.
J.F. Miller. Foreman.
GENERAL ORDER.
eSss
OF the presentment OF tho Grand Jury as re-
lates To the management OF the convict camp
be filed with said presentment.
r C. Watts,
Presiding Judge
To his Honor Judge Il. e. Watts. Presiding
Judge:
Sir: The Grand Jury for Abbeville County
, In It's finsl presentment OF september 20. lSG'
makes certain references TO matters touching
my duties as Supervisor OF said County, 10
which, for the further Information OF the
Court, would respectfully ask permission u
reply.
The presentmept states "that the County
con vict guards are In tho habit OF riding The
County mules when visiting their homes.
and recommends THAT the mules be allowed
10 rest when not at work"
The presentment M 70 this matter We pre-
sumo was suggested by the fact that. on Saiur
day afternoon, Sept. .0'h, one Of The guards
drove q county mule 10 his home, and ths,
during the night, the mule died. the guard
states, With collie
have nos objected to the guards visiting
their homes occasionally, and as they are
poor men. working on meager salaries, unable
10 hire couveyances, have permitted then,
the use OF The County mules for this purpose
occasionally. The custom 10 To use the mules
ordinarily employed In wagonipg and such
lighter work, and ] have always cautioned
them whether IN driving or nj work. 10 treat
them with proper care. As al evidence that
this Injunction 10 not commonly disobey ed
the directors Of the State Pennitentiary 70
Gently stated "that we had the best mules IN
the State"
/ feel that Il IL my duty 70 Investigate this
case, and II the mule died from over driving
to reprimand or discharge the guard. but
can not think that this incident should entire
~ deprive the guards OF moderate and proper
use OF the mules. for the above stated pur'
poses.
In tho Grand Jury's presentment, June
term, Is02. they made reference to the fact
that certain bliud white woman. an Inmate
OF the poor house. had given birth TO an ilIe-
gitimate child. alleging that one OF the Coun
ty's employees was the father. understood
then, m they stated In their recent present
ment, that their reference wns 10 Mr.. Geo W
Calvert
We confess that this matter In shameful
and II Il is cnargable TO Mr.. Calvert he should
be punished therefor so far an am Inform
cd, there 10 no evidence of his guilt. except thu
unsupported statement OF the mother Of the
child, and % her paat conduct has been shame
full, having previously given birth to two
iIleg itimate children, one OF them O negro.
thought II insufficient evidence on which Il
discharge man whose reputation has been
good, and whose services to the County have
been most faithful and economical.
Other recommended Of the Grand Jury
at prev ious Courts, were TO the effect: That
procure tent niea for the protection of th'
County muiea. and that employ q nigh
guard for the County convicts.
To the first OF these. stated To the commit
tee making the Recommendation, that would
procure the tent fies before the cold weaihe
set IN, which expect TO do.
CON fess my Noncompliance with the sec
ond recommendation, not out OF any spirit o
disrespect to the Court or Grand Jury, bu
because felt that q recommendation not be
ing peremptory, left me some discretion fo
the exercise OF my judgment and experience
My observation is that night guard for th'
county convicts, IL an unnecessary expense
They are securely locked at night to a gaui
chain, the truaties sleeping with them, anl
they rarely ever show any disposition TO es
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