Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-02-16
Judge Edward McIyer Delivers Force.
full Charge.


og General Sessions opened yester-
day morning with more than 100
cases, eight Of which are homicide
affairs, on the program for the en-
suing three or ;our weeks. The
irst work of the day was the organ.
zation Of the grand jury and th>
charge to the body by Judge Edward
McIver. Mr.. J. w. Dawson was nah
ed foreman Of the grand jury for the
ensuing year. Mr.. William F. Bres-
nihan was excused from luty as men.
Jer Of the body for the remainder
the term. The petit jurors for the
week were called and sworn. MI
T. Godfrey was excused from duty
During the day a number of true bills
were returned and the court soon
took up the receiving Of pleas OF
guilty.
In. an impressive manner Judge
McIver explained to the members
of the grand jury their duties, de-
claring that much responsibility
meant not merely reviewing the
cases and other work during a term
Of court, but in keeping a vigil
throughout the year to see that
laws are enforced, that the office,
re run properly and that the i.
,erests of the whole people ar
guarded. Hercalled to the atteL
Lion of the grand jury that there
Ire cases where it appears to be n,
particular citizens duty to see tina,
law is enforced, or that there ar,
contingencies where there IS no
particular interest felt by citiz,
II group of citizens. In such
reminded the grand jurors that it
their duty as a body to see that
the laws are carried out.
Wide Scope for Its Field.
Judge McIver reminded the gram
jury that it was also their privilseh
and duty to inquire into the con-
luct of every office, the judiciar.
not excepted. He presented the il
lustration of man owning a lars,
business enterprise who hired indivi-
duals to attend to his business, bu.
who never gave it any attention
concern. He declared that a reaso
person would be bound to believe that
a business operated in such manner
was bound to fail. In like manner
he stated that public officials must be
held responsible to the people and tha.
the grand jury is the only practical
means of putting in operation such {.
plan of watchfulness.
Plea for the Schools.
The educational system main
tanned by the public, and particular
ly the rural schools, felt Judge Nc
Iver is one Of the most importan,
.rusts which the grand juries of
State have in their care. The further
development Of the system Of public
instruction, for the sake of educate
having it's ennobling influence
citizenship aud IesseuIng crime, Judge
MclVer pointed out, was a most I'M
portant matter Of the present age. He
complimented Charlesl,> County on
having an admirable school system
and reviewed also some of the great
progress which has bee made in Il
State toward better schools durint
he past three decades.
AS whole Judge McIver's charge
was entirely free from hobbies. His
explanation of the duties of the grand
jury were, however, thorough and
claimed the closest attention of the
members of the body throughout. Sool.
after this closed, the grand jury WI
instructed to return true bills to the
court in patches of five cases. Soon
the first batch was in the hands of t.
solicitor.-News & Courier, Charles
ton, Feby. II, 1922.