The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-07-18
COUNTY OFFICIALS
HEAR THE GOVERNOR
Continued From Page One.)

NSOulluueu rom rage Ou0.D
support Of the good people of the
state prevent crime. The solicitors
can not prevent crime without the aid
of public opinion and cooperation on
the part of the citizens. The sheriff
is powerless in the discharge of his
duties unless he is likewise supported
by the people of his county. Grand
ment, but no good results can be ex-
pected unless every presentment is
approved by the people whom they
serve. The magistrate is also de-
pendent for the successful admins
tration Of his Office on public opin-
ion. My experience as prosecuting of
iiCcr has led me to the conclusion that
while all this is true. yet the COVER
nor solicitors. sheriffs and magis-
trates can create a public opinion and
secure the cooperation and support
of the people of their county by a
tactful and efficient administration of
their respective Offices
The Governors Purpose.
MY purpose, therefore, in calling
this conference is that we may take
counsel together, have an exchange of
views as to conditions, and the rem
edy to be applied, and thus aid in
creating not only a sentiment against
crime, but an active, aggressive co.
operation of all the machinery for it's
suppression. / confess to you that |
have felt deep concern over conditions
as they have been reported to me. but
l am not pessimistic. l am not in the
least discouraged, because / am sure
that you gentlemen will give TO me
that support and cooperation which
l need. / can promise you that l
stand ready at all times to support
you in your efforts to give the people
OF your respective colnties that pro-
lection and security that law under
takes to provide for every citizen.
/ think it is not inappropriate that
j give to you my conception of the
duties of solicitors, sheriffs. grand
juries and magistrates. The solicitor
is the states attorney. He represents
the state in all criminal prosecutions.
The office is created in order that the
people who are vitality concerned may
be properly represented in the courts,
and properly protected against the
criminal. While think it inadvisable
for the solicitor, in any case, to be-
come the prosecutor in the ordinary
sense of the word, yet il is his duty
to advise with others as to the method
of procedure in originating prosecu-
tion. He should, therefore. inform
himself as to conditions in his circuit
and advise Investigations and prose
cutions
Discover Criminals.
AS a general rule | think a sheriff
should not become a prosecutor and
yet it is peculiarly his duty not only
to arrest pereson charged with
crime. but to discover persons rel
sponsible for crime. The grand Jury
is the grand inquest of the county.
and once 1T is organized continues in
Office until another grand jury has
been organized according to law. The
members Of the grand jury are con-
servators OF the peace, and the obli-
cations which they assume demand
that they be on the alert during the
vacation of the courts, as well as dur
ing their session, with the view Ct
bringing to trial persons who are sus-
pected OF violation of the law.
Crime Disease.
Likewise the magistrates should
do more than issue warrants on prop
er complaint. Their duty is to con-
serve the peace OF the community,
and wherever the law is being viola:-
ed and the criminal is unknown the
magistrate should take such steps as
will detect the criminal. and see that
he is brought before the bar OF JUS
tice. "Crime Is a disease. contagious
and Infectious / am quoting from
one OF the most eminent OF our circuit
judges. who has passed to his reward.
This disease germ can live only in a
congenial atmosphere, and its anti
dote is public opinion. This public