The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-02-15
COURT BEGINS
THIS MORNING
Judge Shipp Announces That
Chain Gang Sentences
Await Those Convict
ed of Making and
Selling Liquor

Sumter county convened Monday
morning at 10 o'clock for the spring
term Of two weeks. with his Hon
or, Judge S. w. G. Shipp, Of Flor
ence. presiding.
On account of the absence Of
Court Stenographer D. r. Stack,
due to his illness. Mr.. J. j. Bren-
non. of Hardy & Co.. was appointed
to fill this position for this session
of the court.
At the roll call Of the grand
jury, drawn to serve during the
year of 1922, all members We're
found to be present and ready to
!. take upon them their duties. Mr..
E. H. Rhame, ST.. was appointed
as foreman OF the grand jury.
Judge Shipp, in his charge to the
grand jury, stated that he was
pleased to again be in Sumter and
to assist in the holding Of this
court. He expressed his sorrow at
learning that since the last time he
presided over court in Sumter, that
several members of the Sumter bar
had died.
Judge Shipp, told the foreman
and grand jury that they had been
selected as a body TO have general
supervision of the county during
the year, and that it was their
duty to look into every department
and Office Of the county and 70 see
that each officer is properly dis
charging the duties of his Office
and that all the business Of the
county is being properly conducted.
He stated that it was no reflection
upon any of the officers, nor could
they take exception, since this was
the direct duty Of the grand jury.
It is the duty of the grand jury to
look into the school affairs Of the
county and to see tnat the, schools
are being properly conducted and
that every child in the county is
having proper educational advan-
tages. He stated that should the
grand jury find any naiSmanage-
ment or evil that it was their duty
to have attention directed 10 this
evil in order that it might be eradi-
Gated or corrected. He stated that
the recon- mendation Of grand
jury, always has great weight. That
the people look up to and respect
the members Of <his jury, which
he considers the most import
ant position that a citiZen
traced as originating within the
grand jury rooms. Judge Shipp
stated that Of course it was not eX-
pected that the grand jury could
discharge at once all Of the nu-
merous duties imposed upon them,
but that they had the entire Year
il which TO perform these investi-
cations and TO make disposal Of all
matters.
His Honor stated that at the
. present time there seemed TO be a
wave Of crime over the state and
]. that the criminal docket was
crowded with cases Of murder. lar
ceny and particularly with liquor
cases. He stated that the blame
| for this wave of crime has been
| placed upon various branches Of
! the court. Some place the blame
! upon the judge, some place it on
! the courts and others on the ju-
ries or grand juries. Still others
+! placed the blame on the delay
| which is sometimes occasioned in
j the courts. Judge Shipp seemed to
think that this Of all other named
! causes was probably in part to
! blame. He stated that he did not
think there would be so Very much
! crime in the county if everyone
knew that speedy and certain
punishment awaited the perpe-
! traitors Of the crime Judge Shipp
/ bench as judge for fourteen years
and was now commencing his
fifteenth year. From his observa-
ZION during his experiences as
| judge, he states that vast major
ity Of cases that come into Il court
are directly descended from the IL
legal sale and handling Of whisk-
ey. The penalty on the statute
books for the conviction in these
cases is that the offender must
serve on the public works Of the
county The person convicted must
serve at least one month and the
remainder of the term may be sus-
pended upon the payment Of fine.
Judge Shipp expressed himself as
being heartily for the sentencing
TO the chaingang of anyone COR
victed on any whiSkey charge in
which the selling Of liquor was con-
cerned He stated that TO make
a person who has been manufac-
turing whiskey for selling purposes.
pay fine IS only 20 make that per-
son pay the fine and then laugh at
YOU. ''1As long as this law is on
the statute books said Judge
Shipp, Il will not violate my oath"
He stated that Il case of this ma
ture would not get Off With theipay-
ment Of Il fine; but would have 10
serve on the chain gang.
\ number of indictments were
placed in the hands of the grand
jury after Judge Shipp had explain
cd the law governing each case and
the terms no bill' and true bill,
were defined.
The hours for the court sessions
a.