The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1910-06-23

RkEsENTMENT. QE f. GRAM. JURY.
Below is published the present
ment OF the Grand Jury made up
on tho conclusion of their labors at
tho recent term of the Court 1t is
a strong and able paper, reflecting
credit upon the Grand Inquest of
the County and giving evidence of
the ability, intelligence and strength
or character of the citizens who com
pose that body. while it is worthy to
DO filed among the archives OF the
County as the first General Present,
mont of the first Grand Jury Of thAs
first Court held in and for the COM
u OF Dillon. Judge Prince com5li.
mented them in the most flatte fling
terms upon their final report and
also for the prompt and Intelligent
manner In which they hRd dis
charged their duties. He iDpressed
upon them also the fact that they,
were. during the recess Ys well as
whils the Court was iy session.
Grand Jurors obligated 70 bring viz
Jlators OF the law to Justice
1t is gratifying to note the SEN
stble way In which the grand Jury
disposed of the charges in refer
ence to the last primary election.
Doubtless there was, BY some of
the candidates, conduct subjecting
themselves to severe criticism, but
there were no specific charges, and
1t was unjust that the entire coun-
~ should be condemned by the out
side world for the misconduct of a
few Of its citizens. 1t will be no.
ted also that certain charges in
reference to the Maple Mill. poll
poll are not sustained by the grand
jury. and inasmuch as these char
ges wore given full publicity in
these columns at the time they were
made. the sweeping denial OF the
grand jury Is given equal promi-
!, Hence.
To tho Honorable George f..
i Prince, Presiding Judge:
We, the Grand Jury, empanelled
for the County Of Dillon for the
present year. upon theconclusion of
. our labors for the pending term of
the Court of General Sessions, beg
leave to submit the following gen
Aral Presentment:
!. We have passed upon the
bills submitted to US by the soilc-
tor and returned the same unto the
Court with our findings endorsed
thereon.
4. The Grand Jury has made no
Z, effort to examine the offices and
books OF the different County Off
eers more especially for the rea-
son that these have but recently
qualified and entered upon the dis
charge of their respective duties,
hence they have scarcely had the
time or opportunity to get their
Asffices organized or their books in
proper shape. A committee has
boon appointed, however, consisting
OF e. T. Elliott, as Chairman, ]. ID.
Manning and Morris Fass, who will
examine these offices and books dur
ing the recess, and make their repor
10 the Grand Jury as a whole, the
results Of which will be embodied
in the general presentment to be
submitted to the next term of this
Court. Among the books to be ex-
anined are the dockets Of the sew
oral Magistrates of this County.
We have been advised that the stat
utes Of this State require "All Mag
iutrates to submit their dockets quar-
terly to the County Board of Com
missioners at their regular quarter
ly meetings, and sad Boards, res
pectively. shall make report annu-
ally, prior to the Fall term of Court
" IhO VI ShO Nj anu III ,
as to said dockets. and any irreg-
ularities shown thereby. We pre-
sumo that the County Board of com
missiopers will perform the duty i'm
posed upon them, both to make the
quarterly examinations and the Se-
port TO the Grand Jury. yet we ace
admonished by your Honor's .charg$
that this statutory duty OH the
part of the County Board of Com
missioners does not relieve the
Grand Jury of examining these dock
ets. This committee will therefore
require each Magistrate of the Coun
~ to appear before them with their
civil and criminal dockets, to be ex-
amined as rigidly as the books of
Amy ether County officer.
q. In this connection we desire
10 report that we have made as
4 thorough Investigation as we could
! Of the matters embraced In the pa
| pers turned over to us by your Hon
J or We are informed that the idea
that they had the legal right and
it has been the custom of all the
Magistrates and constables of the
County, to collect and appropriate
to their own use costs and fees from
defendants In criminal cases. Act
+ ing upon this idea, some OF the
MAGISTRATES and Constables have
been artiye m settleinG cases, reQuir