The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-10-23

iHst court mouse Du1lt In the Village
or Sumter, was a wooden building.
some say, built Of hewn logs, Others
say frame building. However this
may be, it is entirely probable that
preparation for repairs would ONLY be
an expense without any advantage.
Your Committee also recommend the
sale OF th9 old Court House. under the
direction Of the Engineer"
In Mills Statistics of South Carolf-
ma is found the following account OF
Sumterville. This publication was
made in 1926:
Sumterville is properly the dis
trict town. from the circumstance OF
its being the seat Of justice. Besides
handsome courthouse and Jail, the
village contains twelve or thirteen
houses, two churches, two or three
stores and a tavern. It was founded
In 1900, and lies very central to the
district though not convenient for
trade, as there is no navigable water
within fifteen miles Should it be re-
quired. there is very little doubt but
that the waters of Black river might
be rendered navigable within a short
distance of Sumterville."
BY the Act of the General Assem-
bly,, December 10Th, 1855, Clarendon
County was severed from Sumter Ju-
dicial District and was made a sepa-
rate Judicial District, to be called by
the name Of Clarendon District.
The Act provides that from and
after the first Monday i'm January, in
the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifty-seven, clar-
endon Election County constituting at
present part of the Sumter JudicfaI
district, be and the same is hereby es-
tablished and declared to be a sepa-
rate Judicial District to be called by
the name Of Clarendon District. with
the same boundaries as provided for
by the Act Of March 18th. 1885,"
The Constitution of 1853, Art. e..
Section 3, provides that the judicial
Districts shall hereafter be DESIGNATED
as Counties, and the boundaries OF
the several Counties shall remain as
they are now established"
BY the Act Of the General Assembly.
dated February 25th, 1902, a new Ju-
dicial and Election County to be,
known as Lee County" was formed
out Of parts Of Sumter County, Ker-
shaw County and Darlington County
That the said County of Lee was at
tached to the Seventh Congressional
District and was made a part Of the
Third Judicial Circuit.
This brings the History of the Ju-
dicial District Of Sumter, now County:
| practically down to the present time.
AS atfpresent constituted it is aI-
tached to the Seventh Congressional
District and is part of the Third Ju-
dicial CircLit
The Bar OF Sumter has furnished
| many distinguished lawyers to the
State, not a few of whom have worn
the Judicial ermine with dignity and
ability
In short sketch like this 1 can do
no more than to call attention to.
them.
The first, Of these distinguished law
yers and Judges was Thomas Waties.
of whom O'Neall in his Bench and
Par speaks as follows:
Mr.. Waties studied Law, was ad-
mitted to the Bar 18th August. 17S5.
and soon rose to great eminence in
his profession. He was elected on the
2nd day Of February, 1889. an Asso-
ciate Judge, having thus, at the earIy-
age Of twenty-nine, attained to the,
highest legal distinction He resign
ed and was elected a Judge of the
Court Of - lu:ty in December. 1911. I'm
this office he remained until Decem-
Der, 1924. whHn he was assigned TO
the Circu.; as Law Judge. The du-
ties. to esco~e which he had resigned
in 1889 he patiently and admirably
encountered and performed until his
death, 22nd june, 1923.
THUS for thirty-nine years he per-
formed the duties Of Judge He was
most patient Judge, yet on one oc-
casion, at Sumter. he lost his pa
tience. 1t was the last day OF the
Court He had invited friends to dine
with him at his residence ten miles
distant. The last case was a sum.
mary process about a hog. If tried
he could not enjoy his dinner He haiS
the Plaintiff called. ascertained tire.
value Of the hog, paid him the price
or the animal and adjourn ed tne.
Court
Judge Waties was one Of those
men who, in a quiet and unobtrusiye-