The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-10-19

10 Inc non. Il. n. spain. PreSiding
Judge--Fall Term. 1919:
We your grand Jury. beg leave to
submit this. our final presentment for
the year 1912. g.
We have passed upon all bills Of
indictment handed us by the Solicitor
and made our return on the same to
the court.
We have. by committee, checked
over the County Trtasurer's and Aud
ttors ofYices. during the recess, and
have found these Offices In first class
condition. Our Foreman was present
and witnessed the settlement between
tho Treasurer and Auditor and the
Comptroller Genertl. This settle
ment disclosed the fact that these Of
nces were correct In every particular.
One year ago yo'ir grand jury rec
crmended the passage OF q law pro-
N.~iAg for three rural policem, n for
sumter County; at that time we
thought II wise to try the experiment.
Tho Legislature ebassed such a law.
and In the early part of this year.
three rural policemen were elected
by the County Board OF Commission
ers. The rural policemen have ceased
to be an experiment but We think an
absolute necessity. They have done
more. In our opinion. to suppress
crime In our county. than any other
agency. The territory TO be covered
by these officers Is 90 large that II Is
impossible Cor them TO do the work
~ II should be done. We therefore
recommend that the members OF the
Legislature from Sumter County be
requested to pass a law providing for
two more rural policemen. for this
county. We also recommend that the
County Board of Commiss toner's place
In the homes OF these policemen. tele-
phones. at the expense OF the County.
30 that these officers can be readily
communicated with: and we also
recommend that these officers keep In
close touch with the sherifYs office.
so that the Sheriff may at all times
be acquainted with their whereabouts.
We recommend that no extra expense
OF these rural policemen be paid by
the County Board OF Commissioners.
unless the same be recommended and
o. KID by the sheriff. and the said
Sheriff To be held ponsibie for the
necessity for such extra expense.
We note that "A great deal Of time
Is lost In the proceedings OF the court
by reason OF prollmlnaries not being
held In criminal cases before the ses-
sions OF court and we recommend
that the Legislative delegation be re-
auested TO have "A law passed provid-
Ing for all preliminary hearings In
the magistrates court To be held AT
least ten days prior 10 the sessions
OF the criminal court. and n not held
by that time. such preliminary 10 be
deemed waived. IL a case should
arise subsequent To- that time. such
preliminary must be held before the
first day OF said court.
Your grand jury Is Of the opinion
that a great deal OF money ia spent
injudiciousy on the public roads of
our county by reason OF the fact that
the road building IL not OF "A perma
nent nature; We arc of the opinion
that more scientific methods should
be used In the construction OF roads.
and TO that end we suggest To- our
Legislative delegation that they ha .
the law changed. so as To do ay
with the office Of County Sup. .sor.
and devolve the management OF the
county affairs upon BOARD OF Coun-
ny Commissioners. OF seven members.