The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1919-09-10
GENERAL SESSIONS COURT
NOW IN SESSION
Judge Il. W. Memmngcr, OF Charles
Ton, Presiding. EIGHT Pleas OF
t,riIt,.


The Court Of General Sessions con
vcncd Monday morning with Judge r.
". McmmingCr, OF Charleston. presid-
ing and all or the other oIlctals in
their accustomed places. Judge Mem
mingcr, in his charge to the grand
Jury, criticized the condition OF The
court house, saying that it should be
Kept more clcanly and that necessary
repairs should be made more prompt
~. In an interesting description of
English court procedure, he pointed
out where the English had made ad-
Vanccs and this country fallen behind,
particularly i'll the matter OF transac-
ton Of business. The many delays
caused ~ the objection to jurors by
attorneys and the absence OF Witnesses
as well as the difficulties of securing
competent Jurors on account of the
exemptions granted in this country,
he pointed out as practices which the
En&llsh had gotten away from and
urged their encouragement here.
There have been eight pleas of
guilty and four cases sent to trial
since court convened. Among the cas-
es to be disposed OF during the re-
maindcr Of the week are those Of Fur
man AbcrcrOmbic, who Shot his uncle.
Magistrate Abercrombic, last Thurs
day night, and Magistrate Woods who
killed a negro while attempting to
make an arrest Friday night. Neither
case is expected to take up much time.
The following had entered pleas of
guilty up until the time Of adjournment
yesterday:
James Rccks, petit larceny, 80 days
or 500.
Ben Hill petit larceny. 30 days or
500
Roy Sanders. house breaking and
larceny. 30 days.
VIII Anderson, larceny, 80 days or
500.
Douglas Williams, petit larceny, 80
days or 500
Simpson Allen, violation of prohibi-
ton law, months; sentence suspend
ed on payment Of $50 or service of two
months.
Hughcy Choice, assault and battery,
3 months or SIS.
Douglas Rccdcr, charged with forg-
ing a check on the account Of the late
T. j. Wcathcrs at the Laurens Nation
al Bank, was found not guilty.
Joe Stoddard was found guilty Of as
sault and battery and carrying CON
ccalcd weapons. Sentence had not
been passed upon him last night.
The case Of John Henry Hunter,
charged with seduction, was in the
hands of the jury last night.
The case of Porter Irby. charged
with the murder of Will Jctcr on the
j, Fl. Sullivan place, is now being
tried.
Solicitor Blackwell said last night
that the court will be engaged the rest
Of the week and that few minor cases
will be carried over to the next term.
The Grand Jury made the following
prcsentment:
Finm Prcsentmrnt OF the Grand Jury.
TO the Presiding Judge:
The Grand Jury has passed on all
bills handed it by the Court:
BY committees. ii has kept in touch
with the administration Of the affairs
OF the County.
1t finds that the Court House is in
need of repairs and recommends that
the necessary repairs for the prnserva-
ton Of the building and the comfort
and convenience Of the officers located
thrcin be made promptly. The Offices
arc not kept in as sanitary condition
as they should be, in the opinion OF
the jury. This condition should be
rcmcdied Proper cases should be
provided for the preservation and
protection OF the public records Of the
| County. Some Of the Record Books OF
| the Clerks Office have recently beer
| rebound at considerable expense anC
! ihis expense should be avoided in The
| future by better system of shelving
and handling Of these books
/ The Jail, as heretofore referred tC
in many prcscntmcnts, is unsanitary
/ and 10 q large extent unfit for habita
ton. In view of the fact that il i!