The copper era., 1904-04-14
Grand Jury Report.

paucllcJ and sworn for the April term 1901, to inquire into 2ll matters brought before u-, beg leave 10 make this, our fiual report.
 We have investigated anu inquired into twenty-five case-.
 We haye found indictments in four teen fIiJ cases. four cases in which no indictments were found. live cases ignored. one case referred back to the justice court. and held two over to await the action Of the next grand jury.
 By different committees appointed uv She foreman. the various county olicc7 have been investigated and the bOOE- examined as well as the limited time wolld permit. We found the af- it.r- Oi She -bcrin- office to be managed in capable manner, but recommend thut the matter Of the col Iccli0u- ol the gambling licenses be given the personal attention Of the sheriff. a- the returns from that source seem to bc small.
 The book, in The Trcasurcr'7 office are kept in d neat, well. regulated and orderly condition. aud We ind good and ample security for all county funds de- posted in the banks. We ind that the banks refuse tO make application for deposit, Of county funds, thereby cs- capiug thc necessity Of paying interest on ~ucn fuud. We recommend that our representatives in the Council and the Assembly Uf tho next Legislature be requested to u-c their influence to have enacted law whereby county funds may hc loaned to persons giving ample securities.
 We iiud at this time ol the year it Is jmpJss bic To make thorough report of the A~-eS-ur'- office a. the work Of the assessor at this time ls not more than bali complete for the present year. All We are able to report Is statement maie by the assessor to our committee verbally. He reports that so far tui- year he has collected in cash on property tax aDout six thOusard dollars that personal property tax Is being collected d. closely a. it Is pOs,i- bIa to do -u: that the collection of poll tax increases each year; that he esti- mates the assessment Toll will have in- creased in tuc years I9J3 and 1904 .,buut one million dollars. fla thorough investigation oi the a7-ee@Or's office Is tO nc made. we recommend that it be done in the lu.l. alter ali the reports have b cu compiled and returned to lI.-- s--------r--= -,.-g Isors-
 We nave examined the office Of the probate judge so lar d. it. Is possible for the limc that could b. devoted to an examination. We found nothing iIle- gal iu the conduct Of said office, and ftuad the books, records and flies kept in d neat and systematic manner.
 In examining the oihce of the re- cordcr wc find the following amounts tu have been received d, fees and that the same have been duly turned into the coItY trcdeurer:
 Tor th.. wear 1908 Sni5 SO ENrcuscs or running office for 1903 ..... 2I5o OO Leaving a net revenue to county Of s sa5 so Received iu January l10i .....-.-..-..-.S 299 10 Received lu February 100. ..... .......-.. 2}6 20 Received tI March 1904 ....--...-. ..--.. 269 45 Total received for quarter ending March
 al,t l9ul ....... ...-.....- 5 s0l n
 We find lhc books and records in said office to oa kept in neat and busi- ncs-.lkc manner, and We respectfully commend Nit S. Simms, recorder, to the taxpayers of Graham county
 In the district attorneys office we find that Ec has tried in all twen:y-four persons. and oL this number convicted twcnty-twO, two acquiltAle. and that Lc has executed the duties of this Of ucc iu a capable and conscientious man ncr, and has done his official duty. We therefore recommend hip to the taxpayers Oi this county for the man uc.' and way in which he has conducted his office. We recommend that an assistant Co the district attorney be em- pIONcd at salary n0t tp exceed seventy five dollars Der month. Il part of whose duties shall be to inspect and examine the docket, and other records Of the different justices of the peace in the county, aud in all manner pOssi ble keep al watchful eye upon such sources O. revenue as fines and the collection ot all gambling licenses and the general welfare of the county.
 The county hospital k clcanly kept and th7 inmates thereof we'll pleased with the treatment and attention given them. The jail is as cieanlv kept as Is possible to be with the cramped aud coz gested taa-ltieS.
 In Investigating the office of the board oi supervisors we find demands have been paid without authority of law, more notably in the Clifton and MOrenci road districts. the road over Seers' bills not being made odt as the statute stjpula;Gs, asd we are uCable to check the accounts to know whether correct or not. We therefore request and recommend that the district attOr- uey bring suit against Isaac Martin dale. the board or supervisors and their boudsmeE for an accounting Of al money spent upon the roads in the Cliff ton and Morcnci districts for the year 1903 without authority of law.
 We have examined the dockets and records oI the Justices of the Peace Of the most important precincts of Gra- ham county. In many of them We find grave errors and haphazard manner Of keeping accounts of their acts, thereby creating much useless expense and trouble The small amOLnt of fines remitted to the county treasury seems ridiculoIsly small compared with the great expense and amount Of claims and bills drawn ol the county. We more particularly censure the justice of the peace at Norenci for the careless manner iu which he has con- 1ucted the affairs Of his office.
 We have appointed H. E. Rice, Charles Pinckney and the District At 5orney 10 employ an expert at a salary of five dollars day 10 examine the books in the different county offices, his finds and report to be presented to the next grani jury.