The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-01-29
THE SESSIONS c,ocuRT.
Judge n. o. Purdy, Of Sumter, Pre-
\ siding Many Gases Awaiting i q
n Trial Special Term Asked a
rs ,,5 ii RS y For. MI 4 %'lg

f$i S f5E s h y Ss E M ~ .S
The court Of general sessions for
Newberry county convened yesterday
morning, Judge r. @. Purdy, of Sum
ter, presiding. Solicitor r. "A. Coop
er and the other court officials We're
present. N s. i i. s5.s s5 B Is4
While Judge Purdy is serving his
second term this is the first court he
has held in Newberyy. When the
circuits were realfanged after the:
creation in 1905 Of two additional
circuits, each circuit judge held his
first courts, under the new arrange
ment, in his own circuit, and Judge
Purdy went back to the third circuit.
1t is a matter of deep regret to the
bar aud to the people Of the state
generally that Judge Purdy has tend
cred his resignation, to take effect
OH September l, at the close Of the
summer term. During his service on
the bench, Judge Purdy has made an
enviable reputation. Learned in the
law and of judicial temperament,
he has conducted the business of the
courts in a manner which, has marked
him as one Of the foremost men on
the South Carolina bench. He is
clear and decisive in his rulings, and
permits no unnecessary delays. Judge
Purdy will be succeeded by the Hon.
Jno. S. Wilson, Solicitor of the third
circuit, and brother-in-law Of Judge
Purdy. Mr. Wilson has been solici-
tor of his circuit for number of
years, and is eminently fitted to sue
ceed Judge Purdy.
The grand jury was organized yes
terday morning, with Mr.. Thos. E..
Wicker as foreman. Solicitor Coop
er handed out a number of indict-
ments, and Judge Purdy charged the
grand jury both as to their general
and specific duties.
In addition to the new indictments
handed ont yesterday morning, there
are many cases awaiting trial which
have, for various reasons, been
brought over from former terms, of
the court. Among these is the case
of the State V. B w. Goodwin, chag-
ed with murder, and the case of the
Safe v. Thos. j. Davenport, charged
with assault and battery with intent
to kill. Neither Of these cases will be
tried at this term, on account Of the
absence of Hon. Cole. l.. Blease, who
is in the state senate, Mr.. Blease rep
resenting the defense in both cases. A
number Of other cases will be contin-
ued at this term for the same rea-
son, it being the custom of the courts
to continue cases in which counsel
are interested who are engaged in
the state legislature. Owing to the
number Of cases OH the docket, Soil
citor Cooper has asked for a special
term to be held the fourth Monday in
March. Solicitor Cooper is ready in
his cases and desires very much OF
have them disposed of, and the docket
cleared.
Judge Purdy delivered strong
charge to the grand jury. Nearly all
the mistakes and nearly all the wrong
doing, he said, that had crept into
county Offices in this state had start
ed in inattention to details, in neglect.
Therefore, the grand jury should see
that the county Offices were keeping
up with their duties. He believed
there was no state which had high
er class of officials than South Car
olina, and where there had been de-
falcations it could be terodact
falcation it could be traced to mat
tention and neglect in the beginning.
Judge Purdy took up the county Of
fees separatelyand spoke Of the grand
jury's duty to investigate each one
of them. In speaking of the super
visor's Office he said that it took as
much ability to conduct that office
as to manage the affairs of the big
gest bank in the county, and, per-
! eonally, he believed that the man in
charge of that Office should have moth
ing to do but sit in his Office and
look after the finances, to keep the
records and the accounts straight.
He told, the grand jury that if in it's
Investigation Of any county Office
anything criminal was found, the
wrong doer should be punished. If
there was anything short Of Grimm
ality, a word to the negligent official
would probably be sufficient. The oath
- . Il L. j