The leader., 1904-12-21

aUAOuSlO OOAOAO 1AlC S0uASSs u w
will keep every thing a secret;
and you are warned in this oath
that If you diyulge anything,
death is the penalty, SO help me
God. =
The difficulty Of getting impor-
tant witnesses In this secret, oath
bound organization before the iu-
ry, and of drawing out Of them
what they knew, has greatly pro-
tracted our labors.
On behalf of ourselves and all
friends of law and order in the
county, we desire to here express
our sincere thanks and great APP
probation to Your Honor for
your vigorous and timely charge
against the crime of white cap
ping at the opening of this court,
and for your firm and courageous
efforts since to enforce the laws
and restore a healthy, normal con-
dition of affairs at a time when
decisive action is so much needed.
We returned 5 indictments for
murder, / for manslaughter and 5
for assault with intent to kill and
murder, in cases in no way con-
nected with white Gaping.
Every felony coming to the
knowledge of the jury was inquir
ed into; but number of misde
meanors over which justices of
the Peace have jurisdiction, were
passed over without investigation
for lack of time, to avoid unduly
protracting our session. We
would recommend a more active
and vigorous enforcement Of the
criminal laws by justices of the
Peace throughout the county gen
orally, ia all matters within their
Jurisdiction, and the imposition
of severe penalties in the cases of
all persons who are persistent vio-
lators of the laws.
We would also recommend that
strict attention be given in the
future to the holding Of inquests
in cases of homicides. Cases have
come to our knowledge where no
such inquests we're held, where
the unsworn statements of per
sons interested in suppressing the
facts have been accepted as proof,
when a prompt and thorough in
quest would have established
quite the contrary.
The jury also believes that not
enough care is taken against the
acceptance and approval Of INSULT
cient or straw bonds by some
of the officers of the county. Wei
likewise deprecate, as contrary to
sound public policy, the practice
of some of the county officials GO
ing on the bonds of persons charg-
ed with the gravest crimes, thus
throwing their moral and official
influence on the side of the crinI-
inal classes, rather than en- the
side of law and order, where the
public have right to expect them
to stand.
A committee from this jury Wis
tied the county convict farm and
poor house and carefully examin-
ed into its affairs. The farm
shows lack of good cultivation
and systematic management. Dur
ing the past year there have beer
some things in the way of the EN-
ployment of vicious and improper
guards, and Of drunkenness on the
part of the superintendent, which
are a scandal on the management
One prisoner was shot and killed
during the year while trying to
escape, but under the facts and
circumstances developed before
before the jury, we did not think
an Indictment in this case was
warranted. We found 13 Prison
ers in the colored cage and one in
the cage for whites. One negro
prisoner reported that he had been
cruelty whipped. Their quarters
we're in fairly good condition.
We found 2 white paupers and 81
colored ones on the portion of the
farm set aside for these unfortu-
mates. One colored pauper had
fust died before the committee ar
rived. All Of them seemed to be
comfortably provided for, and
both prisoners and paupers in
formed the committee that condi-l
tions had been improved under
the new management. In looking
over the farm we estimated that
it had on hand 10 tons of hay, $50
bushels of corn, % or so bushels
of potatoes, 10 or IL bushels Of
peas, and s or S tons of cotton.
seed. OF live stock there were /
Poland China SOW, s head of cat
EtIe, 4 cows and 2 calves; and 4
mules, all in good condition. We.
found one two-horse wagon, with
a set Of double harness, but no
plow gear. Quite a lot Of farm
ling implements, mostly in good
condition. were found. The
Board Of Supervisors has lately
taken a full inventory of the
county property on The farm,
which IS fuller than tile jury had
tinae fo make and which we have