The dispatch-news. [volume] (Lexington, S.C.) 1919-2001, 1920-01-28
PRESENTMENT OF
THE GRAND JURY

Among the recommendation con-
tanned in the report of the grand jury,
presented at the term of court held
last week, was that of abollshing the
office of county supervisor, the duties
now devolved upon that office to be
discharged by four commissioners, one
from each of the present districts, the
commissioners to be elected by the
voters residing in the separate dis
tricts.
It is also recommended that LeXing-
ton county. make provision for rural
policemen, that a set of double entry
books for the county be installed, and
that the feasibility Of erecting q bridge
at Hopes Ferry over Saluda river be
looked intol
The presentment follows in full:
The State of South Carolina, County
of Lexington.
To Hon. J. W. DeVore. Presiding
Judge:
We beg to submit this, our first pre-
sentiment of the year 1920.
The grand jury has acted upon al.
bills of Indictment given US at the
present term, and returned same to
the court with our findings endorsed
thereon.
We have by committees ex-
amined the County Jail, Poor House
and Court House and find them in fair
condition. We have appointed all COM
n1ittees to visit the County Jail, Poor
House, Court House, Chain Gang,
Public Schools, Roads and Bridges and
have also appointed a committee to
have the books of County officers ex-
amined.
We recommend that a set Of double
entry books be opened in which all
financial transactions of the County
shall be noted, and that the Legisla-
tive delegation determine what officer
of the county shall keep same.
We recommend that the office of
County Supervisor be abolished, and
that four Commissioners be appoint
ed, one from each of the Districts now
in existence, to handle such affairs Of
the County as are now handled by the
Supervisor and Road Commissioners,
such commissioners to be elected from
each district by the people residing
,it1ssuch districts. ......
- We also recommend that provision
be made for the esta ablishment of a
Rural Police system for Lexington
County and that the police or police
men be paid fixed salaries and no
fees allowed
We recommend that the Magis-
trates of the County do not seek to
shirk the responsibility of determining
upon the probability of cases before
them in which preliminaries are held
and desist from passinng this respon-
sibility to the Grand Jury. In this con-
nection we have been compelled to
consider Il number Of cases in which
we feel, if the trial magistrate had ac-
cepted the responsibility resting upon
him. we would have not had to waste
our time in finding no bills.
We regret the report that in parts
of the County the law relating to the
observance of the Sabbath is not en-
forced. and we urge the magistrates
and all officials of the County, as well
as all good citizens see that this law
is observed.
A previous Grand Jury has reported
and we again report that within the
County u great deal of unlawful, sex
ual intercourse is practiced, in, along
and near the public roads of the
County and especially those leading
into Columbia and We request the
peace officers of the County to use
their efforts to break this up.
We recommend that the County
Poor House be screened before sum-
nrer, and ministers Of the Gospel be
invited to hold religious services at
the Poor House.
We also recommend that the Court
crier be paid $3.50 per day. and each
baliff be paid $3.50 Il day.
We also recommend that two base
burner stoves be Installed in the court
room
We recommend that the feaS-
ability Of erecting Il bridge at Hopes
Ferry over Saluda river be looked
into.
In two previous preScntMcntS the