The dispatch-news. [volume] (Lexington, S.C.) 1919-2001, 1921-03-09
RURAL POLICE
APPOINTED

Of Brookland and S. A. Mathlas OF
Irno are to be rural policemen for
Lexington county, under the terms Of
an act recently passed by the legis-
lature, providing for two or more
rural policemen. Under the terms Of
the act the appointments are to be
made by the governor upon the rec
ommendation Of the legislative dele
CATION. The gentlemen named above
have been recommended by the dele
CATION and appointed by the governor
and will doubtless assume charge Of
their duties at once. The act under
which they will operate is as follows:
Section /. That Rural Police
system be, and hereby is, established
in and for Lexington county, to be
composed of two or more Rural
Policemen to be appointed by the
Governor, upon the recommendation
of the majority of the Legislative
Delegation Of said county, to hold
office for one year from the date Of
appointment, or unless removed as
hereinafter provided.
Sec. 2. That the said Policemen
shall be bodied men Of good hab-
its and not addicted to the use Of al
coholic liquors or drugs. That said
Rural Policemen shall be subject to
removal by the County Supervisor
and the County Commissioners, or a
majority Of them, at any time.
Sec. 8. Duties.-It shall be the duty
Of said Policemen, under the gen.
eral control and direction Of the
Sheriff Of the county of Lexington, to
patrol and police the county, espec-
tally in rural districts, and to protect
or detect and prosecute violations Of
the criminal law Of every kind, MAX
ing arrests upon their own initiatives,
az well as upon complaint or infor-
nation and to report all Of their acts
and all known, or suspected, viola
tons of the criminal laws to the
Sheriff as often as necessary in each
case before Magistrate or General
Court Of Sessions, and on the first
day Of each term thereof, and report
to the Solicitor the condition with
reference to lawlessness in the
county, and during the term Of Cen
eral Sessions Court to be subject to
the direction Of the Solicitor: Fur
ther, The said Policemen shall pa
troll the entire county at least once a
week by section assigned to each by
the Sheriff, remaining on duty at
night when occasions or circum-
stances suggest the propriety theerof,
to prevent or deter crime or to make
an arrest; and they shall always be
on duty: for not less than ten hours
per day, or more, except when grant
ed occasional indulgences or leave of
absence by the Sheriff. They shall
frequent railroad depots,' stores and
other public places where people con-
gregate or disorder is probable or
vagrants may be loafing or alcoholic
liquors may be sold, bartered or given
away; and they shall as often as prac-
ticable ride by homes that are off the
public highways and in lonely parts
of the county, especially such as are
without male protection, and shall
use every means to prevent or detect,
arrest and prosecute for breakers Of
peace, drunkenness, using obscene or
profane language, boisterous conduct
or discharging firearms on the pub
lie highways or at any public place Or
gathering OF private home, carrying
weapons contrary to law, gambling,
setting out fire. violations of the game
and fish laws, cruelty to animals or
children or the virtue Of chastity Of
any community or violation Of the
Child Labor Laws, lynching and for
the violation Of any and every law,
for the preservation Of the peace,
good morals and good order of the
community.
Failure to aid any Policeman shall
be deemed a nisdemeanor, and shall
be dealt with as is prescribed by law.
Said Rural Policeman, when nee
essary, shall make arrests without
warrants and carry offending parties
before the nearest Magistrate and a
warrant of arrest secured and the
case be disposed Of according to law.
Sec. i. That each of said Police
men shall be paid salaryof fifteen
hundred (s1.5OO.O0) dollars per an
mum. payable in monthly INSTALL