The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1913-10-14
JUDGE PRINCES ABLE
CHARGE TO GRAND JURY
If Members Perform Their Duty
Will Have Their Hands Full.
RAPS SCHOOL TRUSTEES.
Time to Call Halt on Blind
Tigers-"Go After Them
Without Gloves"

The October term OF the circuit
court convened Monday with Judge
George E. Prince presiding. Solicitor
j. K. Henry and Stenographer Henry
McCaw were in their places. Sixteen
grand jurors were present. The fore
man, Mr.. t. X. Cunningham, being
unable to attend court, the Judge ap-
pointed Mr.. G.. f. Cook, a member of
the panel, foreman for the time be-
ing. Thirty-four out of the panel of
Sc petit jurors were present. Judge
Prince then proceeded to deliver one
OF the best and most comprehensive
charges to the grand jury ever heard
In this county.
The Judge began his charge by
calling the attention OF the grand
jury to the carpet on the court house
floor. He said If there is anything
In the germ theory there must be a
million or more in It, Little better
than hog pen," is the way his honor
characterized it. "The court house."
said he, Should present as neat an
appearance as any church in the
county. This carpet is an offense to
the good Lord, to say nothing to
man" He explained that they need
not be costly, but the furnishings
should be neat and clean. He ex-
pressed the hope that the grand jury
would think about this matter and
make mention of 1t in their present
ment.
His Honor then proceeded with his
general charge by quoting the oath
which the jury had taken, as follows:
I'VE do solemnly swear that we will
diligently inquire and true present
ment make of all such matters and
things as shall be given us in charge;
the states counsel, our fellows and
our own we will we'll and truly keen
secret We will present no one for
envy, hatred or malice; nor shall we
leave anyone unpresented for fear,
favor or affection, reward or hope of
reward, but we will present all things
truly as they come to our knowledge
according to the best Of our under
standing, so help us God"
II am satisfied" said His Honor.
that many jurors do not under
stand the full meaning OF the oath
they have taken, thinking that their
oath relates only to the finding OF
bills and the examination of public
offices. These constitute but a small
part OF your duties the law devolves
upon you which should occupy your
attention between courts. You have
secret all things that take place in
the grand jury room. There cannot
be free expression of opinion by mem
, bers of your BODY If what they say
is to he repeated on the outside"
AS to how the grand jury stands in
their finding of a true bill in case of
n division of opinion should not be
known on the outside because If it
is the twelve of more who voted for
the finding will be spotted. You
swore that you would not present any
from envy, hatred or malice, nor
leave any unpresented from fear, ia
vor or affection. 1t is small man who
Will allow his prejudice to outweigh
his judgment. The average Caro-
linian is not afraid to do his duty, so
] will not say anything about being
afraid, nor will say anything about
reward or hope of reward, for from
many years of experience both at the
bar and on the bench, 1 know of no
single instance where justice has
been bought or sold in the courts
II wish could say the same thing
as to affection. This is one of our
weaknesses. We are all averse to
getting our friends into trouble. We
had rather shield them. But you
swore that you would present all
things that came to your knowledge.
/ presume that you are men, we'll
balenced, too, men of moral courage
and that you will do your duty.
"Your responsibility to the people
of Lancaster county and South Caro-
lima is measured by your powers:
therefore, you cannot afford to fall
down on your duties.
You have general supervision of
the official conduct of all county
officers, from the highest to lowest.
as well as school teachers and trus-
tees. If you are fully aware of what
your duties are and perform them,
you will have your hands full. The
county supervisors Office is one of
the most important - the county.
You should examine his books, ac-
counts and vouchers. He pays out
large sums of money and is i'm a posi-
ton to easily bankrupt your county.
You should see that he properly
works the roads of the county and
this can only be done by having in
diidual members OF your body go and
inspect them. don't know who
your supervisor is and know nothing
about him one way or the other, but
he should he a road builder, with
knowledge of civil engineering, a soil
expert and one of the best business
men in the county, and he should be
paid a salary woHphy of such a man.
n you have oneNNf this kind fem
sure you are not paying him enough.
Such men are not common: they
don't grow on treesh A county SUI
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