Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-04-19
GENERAL SESSIONS.


eral sessions was convened in Yorkville
Yesterday morning. with the usual
large number Of people in attendance
as jurors. witnesses. defendants. etc.
and his honor Judge j. W. DeVore Of
Edgefeld. presiding.
The court was duly opened by the
crier ut 1890 a. m.. and at once gotten
into working shape by the OrganiZa-
tion of the grand jury and rolling Of
the venire Of petit jurors to ascertain
the names of those who. for any rea-
son. may have failed to respond to
their subpoenas.
OF the O hal venire Of grand iu-
rors drawn for the present term. the
sheriff reported r. H. Quinn as mot
found" there being no eligible Juror
by that name. The petit iurors
in the mot found" list were: A. c. Bal
ley Gin Chester). w. l. Wright lin
Gaffney), l. B. Brandon.
The following petit jurors answered
to their names: B. +. Massey. d. f.
Quinn, NJ. G.. Bryant, w. NJ. McCarter.
j. F. Ramsey. S. F. Atkins. ]. D. O'Con-
nell. S. c. Clinton. Quinn Wallace. r.
F. Boyd, w. w. Moore. w. T.. Roach, ].
S. H. Faris, ]. A. McGill, w. T. Slaugn-
ter. J. L. McCarter, J. B. Nicely. ].
Hope Adams, w. II. Spencer. r. S.
Hannah, w. NJ. Barron. r. NJ. Oates.
]. L. Rich, Walter Latham. w. G.
Oates. s. A. Robinson. l.. 4. McGill.
S. l.. Pursley. ]. F.. Bankhead. S. V.
Aycock, ]. +. Montgomery. w. S.
Adams. +. H. Horton.
The following We're excused: w. w.
Moore, w. S. Adams. J. L. McCarter.
NJ. G.. Bryant.
The grand jurors answered as fol-
lows: Held over from last years. II.
Epps, T.. n. Stephenson. J. w. Feem-
ster ]. w. Patrick, d. A. Whisonant. r.
W. Speck. New venire-A. A. Burris.
w. /. Brison. r. f. Barron. s. ]. Stur-
gis. y. s. Black, S. w. Merritt, d. NJ.
Anderson. ]. w. Belts. A. o. Jones. w.
p. Boyd, G.. l.. WeStmoreland.
Messrs. R. F.. Barron and f. y. Ste
phenSOn We're excused.
Having been instructed by the court
to retire for the purpose of elcctinS a
foreman, the grand jury returned after
a few minutes with the informa ton that
their choice had fallen upon Mr.. D. A.
Whisonant, who was duly confirmed
as the official spokesman for that body.
In explaining the duties and respon-
sibilities Of the office of grand juror.
Judge DeVorc went into considerably
more detail tnan has been customary in
the past. especially as to the solemn
character Of the oath by which the iu-
rorS are bound. and the extent to which
the well being of society depends upon
the honest. earnest and conscientious
discharge of duty Ey the grand jury.
The most comprehensive idea of the
grand jurors duty, said mis- honor. is
to be gotten from careful conSidera-
tion of the obligation involved in the
oath he takes i'm asSumin" that duty.
That oath is not 4 mere matter Of
form: but of most solemn and binding
Importance. one obligation is to pre-
serve with inviOlablc secrecy the pro-
ceednsS of the grand jury room. The
importance of this is apparent the
grand juror who reports supposed
violator of the law. might. if his idcn-
tity is known. be exposed to the re-
venge of the party indicted and a
nd iurnr VIM 1iSnlnSn.
place in the jury room is Il deliberate
perjurer. and is unfit for service on
the grand jury. Any grand juror who
knows of any violation uf law. is in
honor bound to report it. and if he
fails to report such violation. he com
mitS perjury. Another most important
feature of the oath is that no one
should report anybody from i'll will or
hatred. You are sworn not To do that
1t is your sworn duty also not to re-
ward. or hope Of reward. You are not
to consider whether the viulatOr of the
law is nigh or low. friend on foe. 1t is
only sufficient for you To know that tn"
will place the responsibility of the in
vestigatlnn upon the petit jury.
Touching on the matter of invrsti-
eating the books of the various county
officers. his honor said that it is tn"
duty of the grand jury to make IL thor
ough investigation and report exactly
what it finds. He said that in his
opinion, 1t is not necessary t" employ
experts at from s. to SIS day t" do
this work All of the county officers
are required to give receipts for the
different sums of money thai come in !