The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1921-03-17
JUDGE PURIFOY'S
CHARGE TO JURORS
THEIR DUTIES AS LEADERS OF
COMMUNITY LIFE AND
THOUGHT.
Mr.. Foreman and Gentlemen of the
Grand Jury:

Mr.. Foreman and Gentlemen of the
Grand Jury:
You occupy a very important posi-
ton in your county and in your state.
put on trial for any crime until a
portant and very distinct factor in
the enforcement of the laws of our
country and has come down to US
through many hundreds of years.
There was time in the history of
our race in which a man was put on
trial or in Jail or in a dungeon and
very great injustice was done. How
ever, the grand jury was instituted
by the English-speaking people as a
safeguard to the rights Of the people.
In that day there was a constant
struggle between the people and the
"Crown"-the king, and for hundred
years there was a struggle aginst the
king and the grand jury was inaugur-
ated, first to try the case and then as
an inquiring body. Your function in
connection with this court is the Court
of Inquiry; first to look into case
and see whether the person ought TO
be tried. Hundreds of years ago peo'
ple were put on trial without al in
ouiry; put in Jail and in dungeons
without any accusation even in writ
ing, and then put on trial, but today
we have incorporated in our constitu-
ton that no person shall be put on
trial without first being before the
grand jury, that no person SHALL be
put on trial FOR any crime until a
grand jury has first presented him.
Now you do not try the case; you only
hear one side of it, and, if after eX-
amining these witnesses, you find that
there is something in the Charge
made against the defendant, you bring
in a true bill. If, from the examina-
tion of witnesses, you see there IS
nothing in it, you bring in no-bill.
There must be twelve of your number
agree that the party shall be put on
trial before you can bring in a true
bill. Now, you will not examine all
the witnesses in every case mere, Ii
upon the examination of one witness,
you determine that that statement OF
that testimony is sufficient to put the
person on rial, do not examine the
balance of them, but just bring in
true-bill, but you will not bring in a
no-bill until you have exhausted all
the witnesses on the indictment. What
/ mean is, # upon the examination
of one or more witnesses, you find
that that testimony is sufficient to put
the person on his trial, there is no
use for you to take up your time on
examining the balance of the witness
es. This court is v::y expensive
luxury; takes a lot of money to run
it, and there is no use to take up the
tine or incur the expense of exa1nln-
ing the witnesses, if you have had
enough testimony to justify you in
bringing in true-bill.
If YOU find that perso-: is present
ed for spite or i'll will, or other than
the administration of justice, you will
bring in no-bill.
In addition to your work here as
grand jurors, in assisting in the trial
of the cases, you have several very
important duties to perform. Your
term cf office will extend throughout
this year. When you leave this court
room, your duties will not cease, but
you will have in your minds constant
ly the good Of your county, the prop
er functioning of its agencies and de-
see that thew perform: heir duties
partments. The law provides the dut'
les to be performed by the various
officers. The law requires you to see
that they perform their duties. You
have county organization for the ad-
misistration of your government.
They levy taxes, collect the taxes and
pay out the money. 1t is your duty
to see that the taxes levied are col
lected; that they IRE properly spent,
that the books are properly Kept, and
to know the county. finances of your
county are in good shape and the books
are properly kept. You are the
guardians of the people. TIE law
says that The jury commissioners
shall select men of good moral char
acter and experience. Therefore your
position is one of leadership-men of
experience and good moral character.
And that places upon you very high
responsibility, so that when you en-
ter upon the duties of this office, you
will recognize the fact that you have
been called to this position on &C
oSunt of your standing in the COM
munity. This position Of leadership,
while it is one of honor, yet at the
Nth II