Tabor City tribune. (Tabor City, N.C.) 1946-1991, 1957-03-06
March 2, 1857
Foreman Horny County
GRAND JURY
Conway, S. G..

1t would be greatly appreciated if you some
other member of the Grand Jury in session Monday
March a, 1857, would read this letter to the panel
in connection with the proposed hearing of alleged
misconduct tire part of some members of the Horry
County Sheriff's Department
was at first requested by Solicitor Reuben Long
to meet with him in his office and divulge certain
Sformation relative to allegations regarding mscon
duct on the pant of some members of the Horny
Sheriffs Department that appeared in The Loris
Sentinel, issues of February 20 and 81, 1857. was
later requested by Mr.. Dan Beckman, of the South
Carolina Law Enforcement Division, in the company
of Sheriff John T. Henry to appear at the Grand
Jury hearing On Friday, March l, 1857, Mr.. Beck
man and Sheriff Henry again called on me at my
office in Tabor CITY, N c. and after had concluded
q conversation with them left witness subpoena On
MY typewriter directing to appear before the Court
of General Sessions in Conway, S. c., at 1000 AN.
Monday, March a, 1857. This subpoena was served
outside of the State of South Carolina by South Caro-
lima officers this within itself multiplying any authority
that it might have. Second it was signed by Sheriff
John T. Henry and the laws of South Carolina spe-
officially state that subpoena served outside tire
county in which court is being held must be signed
by the Clerk of Court and served by the sheriff of
De county in which the witness resides The subpoena
is also Joe Doe ct al, document not specifying whom
| being asked to testify against.
| know that by not appearing before your dis
tinguished body voluntarily and not testifyng to tie
information relative to the alleged misconduct of some
members of the sheriff's department., that you will
be inclined think that cannot verify the statement:
made in the Loris Sentinel. You might also be inclined
to think that have personal fear in not appear
M
believe that any and all allegations made by The Lors
Sentinel be proven in due process of law. Lct
me also say tha- it is not from personal fear that
choose not to testify at this time My reluctance tc
testify in the best interest of the TRUTH in the
best interest of the Investigations and in the long
in the best interest of the respected ctizenry OF Horr
County and the State of South Carolina.
q have been specifically requested by investigators
not to divulge the sources of my information, the
Of the witnesses, the names of the officers
under investigation and other pertinent information
Investigators, except for the South Carolina Law En-
forcement Division land perhaps they feel the same
way) believe that Grand Jury hearing at this time
is premature in that the investigation is still far from
complete and all the evidence available is not in the
proper form to place before the Grand Jury.
1 have never been uncooperatve with any court
- any branch Of Government In my lie. indeed
do not like to be in that position now. However, l
am sure that if you in similar situation now,
you would share ny belief that this is not the proper
time to testify on this Other key witnesses:
whom | understand will also not be present, have
the same basic reasons for their absence.
| would like to say that if you would consider
postponement of this proposed hearing until the June
term of the Court Of General Sessions, snail De happy
tsaappear before your body and present all the facts
at my disposal would prefer to give this information
at that time directly to the Grand Jury and have that
body subpoena witnesses by agency othrr than
the sheriff's department believe that some OF the
witnesses in this case would be subject to all KINDS
of pressure and intimidation if their names were re-
vealed otherwise. There is some reason to believe
that such pressure has already been felt by certain
individuals. , .,,
Grand Juries are designed to protect the rights
ofthe people, implement enforcement of the law and
to see that Justice is served. sincerely feel that
of this proposed hearing Patience study and effort
will insure the people fairness in this case . :,
This letter will appear as an open Letter 10
The People" in the Lors Sentinel, Lorls b C III the
issue of March 6, 1857. 81, /.
Your kind and patient understanding will be
appreciated vouu. ,orv tru,v
W. Horace Carter
he IOriS Sentinel