The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-10-15
Court of General
Sessions Conyenes
Judge Mauldin Charges the
Grand Jury at Length

convened Tuesday for its fall
term with his Honor Judge j. 7.
Mauldin, of Pickens, presiding.
The usual routine business prior
to the opening Of the court was en-
tered into and dispatched as speed
idly as possible Eleven indictmnets
were placed in the hands Of the
foreman of the grand jury. after
Judge Mauldin had outlined, in a
YER. clear manner the specific du-
ties which came under the juris-
diction Of the foreman and mcm-
bers of the grand jury. Judge Maui
din. in his charge to the grand
jury. stated that he did not know
whether or not it, was at all neces-
sary for him to enter into a long
speech to them regarding their du-
ties to the court. He stated that
they should be entirely familiar
with the workings of the court. they
having served in the capacity Of
grand iurymen during the spring
and summer terms and at which
time they had been expressly
charged respecting their duties. He
stated. however, that he would like
to call their attention to the fact
that just at this time the law was
being somewhat brought into dis
,repute and that there have been
indirect and direct charges that
those in charge of the enforcement
Of the law were not doing their
entire duty. He stated that juries
have been charged with failure to
do their duty. He said that he had
no charge TO make against either
the court officials Or the jury MEM
bers. Jury members, he had found
to be for the most part good men,
men who strive to do those things
which they think are right. and
men who seem to have the good of
their country at heart. He stated
that, from his observation during
his seven years on the bench, he
had noticed that jurors, sworn to
try case, made less mistakes in
their province in the discharge of
their duties than do the judges in
determining the law, which is their
province. He stated that the
lawyers who represented clients
were under q most solemn duty to
dc all within their power, within
the scope Of the law. to protect
that Client Judge Mauldin made
the statement that he had never
been brought to the conclusion
that any lawyer has wilfully tried
to fool Or defraud any of the court
officials Or jurymen. His honor
further stated that it had come
under his notice that in cases where
there. was miscarriage Of justice;
that the fault seemed to lie greatly
in the testimony as obtained from
the witnesses in the case Many
witnesses. he stated. come into the
courts obsessed with the idea that
they should not tell all they know
regarding the case. To this and
to false witnesses he laid the blame
for lack of justice rather than the
holding to blame the jurymen,
whom he held generally filed Yer
dict in accorancc with the testi-
mony as presented. A prisoner.
Judge Mauldin stated, was held and
regarded innocent until the courts
had rroved beyond a reasonable
. doubt that he was guilty. 1t is the
prisoners duty to defend himself.
1t is defense OF dignity. He stated
to the members OF thu grand jury.
that just because prisoner was
, indicted was no sign that he was
guilty 1t was the duty of their
body to examine all indictments
closely. questioning the witnesses
and to see whether or not there
could be made out true bill or no
bill The members of the grand
jury are general supervisors Of the
whole county in addition to their
especial duties Of examining the
indictments before trial. 4 special
charge was given the grand jury
that they look into the matter of
the care Of the poor in the
county. Conditions arc not
rs they were two years ago and
consequently the members of the
grand jury must look we'll into all
cases of poverty and the condi-
ton Of the aims house. 1t is the
duty of everyone. stated Judge;
Mauldin, to DO the best that he
can with an earnest, honest endeav
or The indictments were placed
into the hands of the grand jury
after Judge Mauldin had gone over
carefully and defined what was
meant by the charges in each case
The following true bills were
found by the grand jury:
State VS.. Joe Hill, charged with
assault and battery with intent to
kill
State Us. w r. Smith, charged
with assault and battery with intent
to Kill.
State rs. Sam Smith. charged
with obtaining goods under false
pretenses.
State vs. Harry Willis, charged
with grand larceny.
State Us. Harry Willis and Joe
Maurer, alias Benjamin Dollison,
grand larceny.
Case now being tried in the
court: State KS. Robert Gardner.