The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-02-10
CRIMINAL COURT CONVENES.
Judge Bowman Makes Impressive
Charge to Grand Jury on Law En-
forccincnt and Schools.

forccIncnt and Schools.
From The Daily Item, Feb. S.
The Court Of General Sessions ror
Sumter county convened this morning
with Judge l. w. Bowman OF Or
angeburg presiding. The feature of
the day was the impressive charge
made by Judge Bowman to the grand
jury emphasizing upon them the inn
portance Of their duties and the i'm
portance of the public school work in
Sumter county. There was cOnsid-
cradle delay in getting court started,
owing to :hc absence OF witnesses and
the late arrival Of a member Of the
grand jury, judge Bowman declining
to commence court without all of the
mebers Of the grand jury present.
Judge Bowman in making his charge
stated that he was especially glad to
hold court in this county, which had
the reputation all over the State of
being a progressive and prosperous
county, whose citizens had respect for
the law. He stressed upon the men,
bers Of the grand jury the importance
Of their office, as upon them depend
ed in large measure the enforce
ment of the law, as they must not
only pass upon all bills, but must ex-
anime all OF the county Offices and
see that they were being conducted
properly. He told them that it was as
important for them to bring in a mo
BILL" If evidence did not show a pri-
ma facie case, as it was to bring in a
true bill" if the evidence showed
prima facie case against the person
charged. He stated that it was prop
er for the members Of the grand jury
to visit the public schools and make
presentments of anything that they
saw which was not as it should be,
such as the lack Of the proper work
ing apparatus for the school, ineffi-
cient teaching, or anything else
which prevented the school from CIV
ing the patrons and pupils good SER
vice, for the type Of future citizens de-
pended upon the manner in which the
schools were conducted, and the state
depended upon it's men and women,
who secured their training in the
schools.
Several cases were called and set
for different times and bills were CIV
en- the grand jury to return.
The grand jury organized with J. c.
Dunbar, who was foreman during the
past year, as foreman again.
T. p. Sanders, Jr., and T. V. Walsh
were excused from jury duty.
The following cases were disposed
of: Jim Dixon and w. /. Johns rule
to show cause; Willie Hopkins and w.
/. Johns, rule to show cause; Gather
inc Hopkins and w. !. Johns, rule to
show cause; these parties failed to
appear for trial in a magistrates court
and the rule to show cause was issued
same to be dismissed when the parties
appeared in the magistrates court.
Susan Barno and Ellen Barno
plead guilty to resisting an officer and
were given sentences of $40 nr 80
days each.
Charley Wells, murder, continued.
E. w. Dabbs, assault and battery
with intent to kill. continued.
Luke Wactor, larceny Of live stock,
continued with rule to show cause.
Alma Washington, murder, case set
for Tuesday.
John White, larceny OF live stock,
continued.
w. s. Jones, assault and battery
with intent to kin moi pressed.
Nose Deas was charged with MUIR
der Of Crummie AllstOn and plead
guilty to the charge Of manslaughter
and was given sentence Of two
years. He also plead guilty Of the
murder of his wife, Nephelia Deas,
and was sentenced to serve three
years, the beginning of the sentence
to start with the expiration of the
former sentence. Deas. it will be re-
membered, shot and killed his wife
and the other negro when he found
them in a room together.
Fanny Singleton plead guilty t. Vio-
lation of the dispensary law and was
sentenced to pay fine of 500 or
serve three monts in Jail, the rest of
the sentence being suspended during
good behavior upon the payment OF
$40.
The case of John Tucker. charged
with larceny of live stock, was III
progress when court took recess FOR
dinner.