The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1906-11-14
9ressntmsnt of the Grand Jury.
STATE or sourH CAROLINA,
County Of Lexington.

In General Sessions
no the Honorable the Grand Jury for
said County and State:
We, Isaac Edwards, Geo. A. Kam-
iner and D. H. Craft, who were elect
ed at the spring term OF the Court to
invegtigate the different county Of
ices, bonds of the officers and the
pubic buildings, beg leave to report:
That owing TO the prevalent idea
that Graft is. abroad in the land,
we made a specially rigid examination
into the financial eondi on Of the diff
ferent offices, and bonds of the county
officials.
We found all the officers to be kind
ana courteous gentlemen, fully conf
petent TO fill theirrespective positions,
their offices well kept, and their books
IN excellent condition. After such
careful examination we found nothing
even to indicate that there is any
thing wrong with either the offices OF
officers.
That the court house and county
Jail are now in fair condition after
some much needed improvements re-
commended by you at your former
sitting, and will be in much better
shape after such Improvements are
completed.
Thespoor house is especially con-
dueted nicely and comfortably, and
the inmates are well cared for; the
steward, Mr.. Ed. Keisler, raising
much of the needed provisions on the
property, and thereby some Of the
inmates have enough employment for
proper exercise. At our last visit
there this fall there was only one
white inmate and nine colored.
We found the conditions of the
county generally better in every way.
The County Auditors books show an
increase In the valuation of the tax
able property the valuation for the
past fiscal year being $4,194, ,S65, and
the present one being S4,80S, ,954, and
increase of fifteen per cent.
We are glad to report the county
out Of debt; the County Commission
sers and Supervisor having been suf-
dcientIy economical in their expendi-
tures for this to be the case, and their
efficient Clerk Col. J. Brooks Wingard
has kept the books in neat and clear
condition.
The books of the County Superin-
tendent of Education show ample
funds to run the public schools for q
goodly number of months and a sur
plus besides.
In fact We find all the county Of
ficers to be very careful in their re-
speetiYe modes of managing of their
Offices, and we congratulate the
county at large for having such efici-
sent and honorable gentlemen at the
head of their public affairs.
We appreciate the confidence re-
posed in us by the grand jury atlarge,
and beg to say that have performed
our duty as best we could.
All of which is respectfully sub
nlitted. Isaac Edwards,
Chairman of Committee.
Nov. 8, 1905.
To the Hon. r. w. Memminger,
Judge presiding for the November
term Of Court for said County and
State for the year 1906:
We, the Grand Jury for Lexington
County, said State, begseave to make
the following report and presentment
to the Court.
1. At our former sitting of this
year, to wit, January last, we elected
fsaac Edwards, Geo. Al. Hammer and
d. H. Craft, as 4 Special Committee
to investigate the conditions of the
various County Offices, with r. C..
Sturkie, Esq, as their Expert, and re-
port such findings to Us at this term.
They have made their report to US
OF their findings upon such investiga-
tion which Is hereby accepted by US
and made part Of this our General
Report and Presentment.
II. We find q general complaint
that gambling is prevalent in many
sections Of the county, among the
whites as well as the colored, and we
urge and recommend that all the mu-
nicipal and county officials be more
persistent in their efforts to stamp
out this seemingly growing evil. And
in this connection we desire to say
that, in our opinion, the fines and SEN
tences imposed On those found guilty
of this charge by the present Honor
able Presiding Judge, meet with our
hearty approval and we think this
fsaeH4l01 aPr AeN .rs,e ;,