Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-04-18
CIRCUIT COURT.

The spring term or the court or gen.
eral sessions for York county convened
in Yorkvlle yesterday morning, Judge
Robert Aldrich, presiding, and pro-
ceeded to business by the organization
of the jurors.
Practically all of the jurors drawn
were present; but as usual, several
were excused for various reasons and
an extra venire was drawn to fill va
cancies.
Mr.. NJ. L. Carroll Of Yorkville. was
chosen as foreman of the grand jury
and the morning session was taken up
with the swearing of witnesses, his
honors charge to the grand jury and
other routine work.
There was nothing unusual about
the judges charge, except maybe It's
remarkable clearness and potent force
in explaining to that body just what 1t
stands for and what its powers and
duties are.
Under our system Of government,
declared his honor with impressive
deliberation, the grand jury plays an
important part in the enforcement Of
the criminal law. In fact, but for the
office of the grand jury, the whole
machinery of the law would be stopped.
You gentlemen of the grand jury,
are not only the grand inquisitors of
the county; but a great conservative
force that protects and upholds the
liberty of the community as we'll as
the individual. This body Is evolved
from the great contest for liberty that
has so long been going on in the
world, and it's office is based upon the
idea that the accusing body and the
trying body should he separate and
independent of each other to the end
that no citizen should be presented
through envy, hatred or malice, and
that no accused citizen should go un-
whipt of justice through fear, favor,
reward or hope of reward.
A few years ago, 1t was decided that
by way Of improvement it would be
well to have the grand jury serve
through the year, instead of having
a new body at each term Of the court
and more recently there has been pro-
vided a still further improvement,
whereby six members who served dur
ing the previous year shall hold over
for the following, thus making of the
grand jury perpetual body
Your Jurisdiction extends to all pub
lie matters, particularly over all pub
lie affairs, and it is your especial duty
to look after these officers and see to
it that they are performing their res
pective duties in an intelligent, lawful
and efficient manner. No faithful
public officer can or will take any ex-
ceptions to your looking thoroughly
into the manner in which he transacts
the business of his office. AS mat
ter of fact, it is not his office. 1t Is
the peoples office, and you are pecu-
liarly the representative of the peo-
pie 1t has been said that through In
vestigation Is vindication, and this Is
the attitude of all faithful officials TO
investigation.
If as the result of your investiga-
tions you find anything wrong, you can
promptly correct it. l am sorry to say
that in one of the counties OF my cir
cult the grand jury found the county
treasurer short in the sum of $4,000,
and the shortage had been growing
over a period of five years If this
shortage had been discovered earlier
or in the beginning. 1t would have been
so much better not only for the coun-
ty treasurer and his bondSmen, but Tor
the public as well.
In investigating the fiscal affairs OF
the county, 1t Is not necessary for the
grand jury to proceed as body; but
rather by means of committees COM
posed of men qualified by education,
experience and habit of life. This
committee may do its work at conven-
lent times ana report the result Vi us
Investigations to your whole body,
and through your body to the court.
Another very important duty of the
grand jury is to see to it that the
county supervisor and the county
commissioners are keeping the ROADS
of the county in proper repair as far
as possible with the means at their
command. have no reason to belleVe
that the officials of this county are not
doing their duty in this regard; put
If they are doing their duty one OF the
ways to account for the fact, IS be-
cause YOU are behind them.
When you make a report or present
ment To this court, the court makes
nroper orders and has copies of those
orders served on the persons presented.
If at the next term your recommenoa
tions have not been carried out, II IS
YOUR duty to report that fact ana tne
court will take it upon itself 10 hhu