Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-07-04
EFFICIENCY OF TIE COURTS
South Carolina Solicitors Consider
Serious Problems.
PROCEDURE NEEDS MUCH REFORM
MANY Appeals Are Merely for the Fur
pose of Delay-setter Jurors way
be Had by Cutting Out Exemptions
State Should Have as Good
Show as the Defendant.

be Had by Cutting Out Exemptions
State Should Have as Good
Show as the Defendant.
Columbia State Friday.
Efforts to bring about changes III
procedure in criminal cases so as "
preyent so mitch delay and to get more
inta,,ieent and fewer ignorant men
nm the iuries featured the annual con-
ference of solicitors here last nlght'
the solicitors being practically IN ac-
cord that too many appeals are mace
IN DELAY the sentences OF the court
At the same time the general opihioh
was that the right. of appeal shoula
not be denied in any case, but 'he
abuse of this right should be stop
ped by the courts
Following addresses and suggest
ions two committees were appointed
by Attorney General Wolfe to frame
recommendations along the lines as
suggested by the solicitors TO prihs
about some changes in the matter OF
criminal procedure, especially In 'he
matter of appeals, and to see "ha'
could be done to strengthen the Juries
nv recurring service of more OF the
better class of men. Solicitor A. D.
Hydrick of the First circuit, Solicitor
In. Gasque of the Twelfth circuit ana
Solicitor Gunter of the Second cir
cult were appointed on the committee
IN make recommendations in regard
TO the changes to be suggested IN the
procedure for criminal cases. Soilcl-
tor /. c. Blackwood OF the 'Seventh
circuit, Solicitor Randolph Murdaugh
NJ the Fourteenth circuit and Solicitor
Thomas p. Stoney Of the Ninth circult
were appointed on the committee TO
look into the matter of jury service
Recommendations made by the COM
mittees will be presented to the legis-
lature next year. }
Opened by Wolfe.
In opening the conference, which
followed a dinner at the Jefferson,
Attorney General Wolfe spoke of the
crime record in South Carolina Tor
the past three years, pointing to the
fact that in 1920 the records show
that 247 people were slain and in lS2l
a total of 24S. In classifying the
crime element Mr. Wolfe said that he
had yet to see a college trained man
on trial for murder or larceny. Mr.
Wolfe said that there must be some
change that can be made to remedy
the defects in the law so as TO stop
the crime wave and he told the solicl-
tors it was up to them % use their ef-
forts to this end. The attorney gen.
eral emphasized the + ghts of deren-
dants must be respected, but that the
abuse of these rights ought TO be
stopped. "We must show the people
that Justice will be meted out by the
courts and we will have no mob vio-
lence." Mr.. Wolfe d, clared, adding
that where justice was not given
mob violence was encouraged. MIR.
Wolfe complimented Solicitor Spigner
for the handling of the Annette case
and declared that the manner in (which
this case was handled created n whole
some respect for law and for the
courts.
John p. Thomas, Jr, said the crime
situation in South Carolina was most
serious at this time and he quoted
figures TO show that the United States
record was 90 times as great as that
of England for murders and that
South Cardinals was 90 times rs great
as Englands. "It looks like the Grim
inal laws of South Carolina are made
for the benefit of the criminals" Mr.
Thomas declared. He spoke of the
circuit courts netting out justice
speedily, and of the mere notice OF