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Scraps and |acts. ? On the yacht Oneida, Captain Robley D. Evans, Grover Cleveland and their host, E. C. Benedict, the banker, are sailing to the south, says a New York dispatch. They left Indian Harbor before noon, Thursday, bound for Newport News, Key West, Santiago and Ponce on a two months' cruise. Captain Evans will take the party to the mariue battlefield, where Admiral Cervera's fleet was destroyed. Mr. Cleveland has taken fishing tackle and expects to catch big tarpon in Florida waters. Mr. Benedict will look out for business interests in our new territory. ? Charlotte Observer, Saturday : A funny story came by express yesterday. Several days ago one of the agents between here and Columbia, S. C., received, with other goods, at Columbia, a box of bees. Shortly after the train left Columbia the bees got out of the box in some way or other, and began flying about in the car. The agent commenced fighting them; but the more he fought the more the bees increased. Finally he locked up the car, and took his seat in the coach. He wired Mr. Sadler to meet the car and the bees; that he was coming in as a passenger with his resignation already written. The curtain drops. ? Macon, Ga., had an incipient riot last Saturday caused by Negro soldiers. Some one pointed out to the Negroes a persimmon tree on which a Negro rapist was hanged nine years ago, and this excited the Negroes to such a state that they fired a thousand shots in the tree and then cut it down, chopping it into kindling wood. At this stage of the proceedings Mr. David Riley, the owner of the land on which the tree stood, came along, and the Negroes started at him yelling "buru him." Mr. Riley was in a buggy and got away. The Negroes then went to Crump's park, a suburban resort, for the purpose of destroying it. Henry Berner, the watchman, attempted to drive them away; but he was assaulted and his Distol taken away from him. ? Commissioner Evans, of the pension office, notified Secretary Alger on Friday that Jesse T. Gates, of the Second United States artillery, who had lost part of his upper lip in the West Indian campaign, has beeu awarded the first pension on account of the Spanish war. The president and the secretary of war each took an interest in this case. Gates called on them in person soon after the close of the campaign and conviuced them of the merits of his claim. Gates will receive $17 per month,, and this heing inadequate, a private pension bill increasing the pension, probably, will be introduced in congress. Claims on account of the Spanish war are now coming in rapid. ly. The total on file up to date is 1,947 for war service and 178 for naval service, exclusive of the claims of the battleship Maiue victims. ? Boston Herald : The men who have come up from South Carolina to Washington to ask for executive action against the lawlessness in that state do not appear to have met with much encouragement at the White House. This tests the policy of leaving the south to mauage its owu affairs, and it seems to establish that policy in the nation. The president would have hAPn embarrassed to depart from it in view of what has been recently seen in Illinois. There the governor of the state has been allowed to direct the shooting down of black citizens of the nation without interference from Washington. The case in South Carolina has been a bard one; but it would be difficult to point out where it is more flagrantly wrong than that in Illinois, and, indeed, in itself it did not so strongly present an occurrence that called for presidential interposition. ? A Springfield, 111., dispatch of Sunday says: "Notwithstanding the declaration of Captain E. C. Butler, in command of the National Guards at Pana, made to Governon Tanner last night, that he felt able to cope with the occasion with the troops at bis command, a delegation of about 50 business men at Pana, headed by the former Mayor Huber, visited the governor at the executive mansion today and informed him that Pana was in a state of terror and that Captaiu Butler appeared to be inadequate to the occasion, and asked the governor to send more troops to Pana and take stringent measures to preserve the peace. Accordingly Governor Tauner ordered Company C, Fifth Illinois infantry, to proceed to Pana this evening. The governor also superseded Captaiu Butler, who has been in command at Pana, with Lieutenant Colonel Frauk P. Wells, Fifth infantry, of Decatur." ? Wilmington special to llaleigh \TOI?AV WoH^oll tArlou rpppiv. i UOV . VM.UJVL J ed three anonymous communications threatening him with death if he failed to leave the city within 24 hours. The incident caused a ripple of excitement in municipal circles; but the mayor treated the matter lightly and stated that it would not cause him any loss of sleep. Several well-known citizens who were promiueut in the recent revolution have received similar letters. All of these were mailed at the Wilmington postoffice, and were written by some ignorant persou or persons, evidently Negroes. None of the recipients has taken the matter seriously. Though if the writer of the missives is found it will prove a serious matter with hiin. Notices to leave continue to be served at intervals on unpopular persons, principally white "Fusionists" and white-skin Republicans, and several badly-frightened men have packed up their effects and left this and contiguous territory in the past few days. ? The forthcoming report of the attorney general will embrace a review of the operations of the national bankruptcy law since July 1,1898. Iu several districts the courts have declined to proceed with bankruptcy cases for the reason that the supreme court has not formulated rules. Since the law took effect 1,700 petitions of iuvoluntary hankrnntev have been filed. Singular ly, the districts of Delaware, eastern Pennsylvania, southern Georgia, New Mexico, Nevada, West Virginia and Wyoming show that no persons therein have applied to be adjudged bankrupt. The following show the number of cases filed in each stale: Alabama 181, Arizona 1, Arkansas 23, California 86, Colorado 20, Connecticut 9, Delaware 0, District of Columbia 1, Florida 20, Georgia, northern district 10, Idaho 3, southern Illinois 38, Indiana 34, Indian Territory 7, Iowa 47, Kansas 65, Kentucky 74, Louisiana 7, Maine 79, Maryland 32, Massachusetts 4, Michigan 17, Minnesota 144, Mississippi 7, Missouri 64, Montana 11, Nebraska 23, Nevada 0, New Hampshire 2, New Jersey 13, isew i>iexico u, i\ew xorK 267, North Carolina 12, North Dakota1, Ohio 76, Oklahoma 2, Oregon 9, western Pennsylvania 31, Rhode Island 14, South Carolina 2, South Dakota 8, Tennessee 69, Texas 132, Utah 9, Vermont 11, Virginia, eastern district 1, Washington 13, Wisconsin 36. $hc 4jorkvillc (Enquirer. YORKVILLE, S. C.: WEDNESDAY, NOV'R 23,1898. ? Reports from Rorto Rico indicate that in many portions of the islaud, a state of anarchy exists. It will be too bad now, since we have quarreled with Spain on account of her failure to govern Cuba, if we should be unable to govern Porto Rico. ? "News of the failure of the Char leston Negro labor cotton mill will be received with much satisfaction by white operatives everywhere. It will be a long time, probably, before capitalists in this section will attempt another experiment of the same kind. COUNTY COURTS WANTED. Iu its final report to his honor Judge Klugh, the Greenville grand jury made the following recommendation : "With constant increase in the population of the county, there appears to be some increase in the amount of crime, and, as a result, the time of our courts is largely consumed with the consideration of criminal business. We think the time has arrived when some change should be made, and that a county court should be established, as is contemplated by a provision of the constitution of 1895. "Of the 41 indictments we have considered at this term, 30 would have been triable in an inferior court with less expense and more expedition. Aside from the fact of the economy of such a court, we are induced to believe that the ends of justice would be more effectually advanced by the prompt and speedy disposition of offenses against the law. We ask that our rep resentatives in tne legisiaiure give inis matter their careful attention." BETTER SYSTEM OF JUSTICE. Taking the cue from the recommendation of the Greenville grand jury, published in this issue, The Enquirer has interviewed the members of the Yorkville bar on the question as to whether the county court system could be substituted with advantage in this county, for the present magistrate system. Most of the members of .the bar have very decided views on the subject, and are able to offer strong and convincing reasons why the change could be made with advantage ; but for the present our readers will have to be content with the meager outline of opinions given elsewhere. Later on, perhaps, some of the lawyers will be pleased to discuss the matter in more extended details. For us to attempt to show that the safety and preservation of free institutions in this country depends on the efficiency, impartiality, integrity and intelligence with which justice is administered through every step of our court machinery, from preliminary initiation to last resort, would entail principally a waste of space. The correctness of such a proposition is too obvious to admit of question, and there are none among us so dull as not to be able to fully comprehend its importance. The only subject for discussion then is whether our present machinery for the administration of justice is as satisfactory as it should be, and can it be improved upon in any particular. We do not propose to discuss the higher courts. Such discussion is unnecessary. They are the pioduct of ages of striving after perfection, and while possibly not perfect, are at least as perfect as the people by whom they are maintained, and cannot be readily improved upon. But in the case of our primary system of justice, there is reason to believe that it can be very considerably improved, not only from the standpoint of economy ; but also from the standpoint of a more satisfactory administration of the law. Theoretically, perhaps, our magistrate system, as now constituted, may be perfect; but practically it certainly is not. To discover the reason is not difficult. Although as a rule our magistrates are good meu morally and probably able men intellectually?men of good common sense?it cannot be tv,o? tiiov nrp trpnfirallv icmorant UCU.CV. mv-j ? ? of the law, and woefully unequal to the high responsibilities of their positions. While we state this as a fact, we do not intend it as the slightest personal reflection on auy of the gentlemen referred to. We only wish to call attention to the fact that while a good magistrate must possess, to an eminent degree, character, integrity and intelligence, it is absolutely indispensible also that he be well grounded in a knowledge of the law. To illustrate. Not long ago, a wellknown lawyer, who considered that he was speaking with full knowledge of the matter under discussion, said in J the presence of the writer, that he did not believe there was a magistrate in York county who was competent to ^ correctly prepare the necessary papers in a case of claim and delivery. Another lawyer related a recent case where he found it necessary to bluff a magistrate into charging or refusing Jo ] charge a jury on a proposition that he had submitted as law. There is another case on record in this county, ^ where a magistrate submitted to the jury tue various conmcung propositions of law banded up by opposing counsel and left it to the jury to decide which was and which was not law. Almost every lawyer of the York bar will endorse the statement that there 1 is not a magistrate in the county capable of presiding over an ordinary jury case in such manner as not to furnish grounds upon which either side may obtain a new trial, either from the magistrate himself or by appeal to the circuit court. At the last term of the * circuit court for this county, the losing s party in a recent case before a magistrate appeared in his own behalf, and on presenting the testimony to Judge ' Gage, succeeded in having the case ' sent back. And so on, cases illustra- j tive of the point under discussion, ( might be multiplied indefinitely. I But, as we have already said, we < have no desire to reflect upon raagis- trates as individuals. These things ( are only mentioned to call attention ( to the inefficiency of the magistrate ( system. While, of course, most of the \ magistrates are honest men, many of i ?l>am ow inrnnronl and t.ha hardshin of ' t Utui WIV l6uw.?uv, MMM - ? r " an injustice perpetrated through ignor- j ance, is just as great as if the injus- | tice were perpetrated by design. ( In another article we shall endeavor j to show wherein some of the most seri- i ous defects in the present magistrate system may be remedied by the adop- ' tion of the county court system, and at about the same, or even less, cost. HOW SHERMAN WAS SHELVED. \ President McKlnley and Senator Hauna . Put Up a Job on Him. | John Sherman now tells of Hanna's iugratitude, says a Washington dis- ( patch of Friday. Speaking to George Alfred Townsend, Mr. Sherman said : ( "They really didn't want me in the ' cabinet; but wanted my senatorial ' seat. It was represented to me that they could not make up the cabinet | without me, and that questions were coming along that I ought to have { control of. I knew that Hanna wanted the rest of my term, and as he had al- ! ways been friendly with me I did not 1 desire to seem disobliging. Hanna was among the first to say that I bad , lost my mentality. It was not a ver/ kind return. "After I went to the cabinet I sawvery little of the president in couuec- 1 tion with the duties of my office. A < man was brought in there from Can- i tou who had run for office only once, ; I think, and had been defeated. He | did not seem to have much to do in the state department; but every night went to see the president. I regarded ' him as my inferior and gave very little attention to him until one day i the president said to me: 'Mr. Sher- , man, what you have been saying, or ( are reported to have said, is embarrassing to Judge Day.' I was very much surprised, and answered : 'Mr. President, do you suppose that I would i say anything to injure the administra- < tion of which I am a member?' The president repeated nearly the sume thing offensively to me. I got mad and I came away and wrote out my ' resignation peremptorily. "I was always a supporter of Presi- ' dent McKinley. You know that whatever he desired to have?governor, ' president, anything ? I sustained. < They always called upon me, and I responded." ^ . , . t McLAURIN AS PEACEMAKER. The Greenwood Matter Has Been Explain- 1 cd to the Federal Authorities. Senator McLaurin hud a long conference with the postmaster general with reference to the Greenwood affair last Saturday, says the Washington correspondent of The News and Courier. The result of the conference is that, as there appears to be no danger of any further trouble there, the government of the United States will not interfere; but leave the matter to be dealt with by the state authorities. Senator McLaurin showed the postmaster general a telegram he received today from Mayor W. A. Smith, of McCormick. Hon. J. L. McLaurin, Washington, D. C.: Tolbert was advised to leave because there was an element here we could not control. Mails have not been interfered with. Mrs. Tolbert, postmaster, is attending to duties as usual. She is respected by all parties, and no insult to her will be permitted. Advise Tolbert's contiued absence. W. A. Smith, Mayor. This telegram made a profound impression upon the postmaster general, and after his talk with Senator McLauriu he understood the situation iu South Carolina much better than he did previously. It is evident that the administration realizes that the Tolberts are a disturbing element in Greenwood county, and under existing conditions there is no need for Federal interference. As previously stated, the Republicans iu South Carolina have practically forgotten an aoout mc Phoenix riotvin their midst and hurry j attack upon the postotfice pie counter. * * * ~ \ Negro Labor Mill Falls. K In the United States circuit court at Charlestou .last Saturday, Judge t Simonton appointed C. 0. White tern- i porary receiver of the Charleston Cut- 1 ton mill upon application of Wallers & t Company aud Newcomer & Company, { of Baltimore. The claims of these c concerns amount to $30,000. It is al- i leged in the complaint that the liabil- 1 ities of the mill amouut to $125,000. e The order issued is made returnable [ December 19th. The mill was reorganized about 14 mouths ago, Negro I labor being substituted in it for white f labor. It was geuerally supposed to I be doing a good business. ( LOCAL AFFAIRS. INDEX TO NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. N. Brown Wylie, C. C. C. P.?See amendment to the advertisement to the sale notice in the case of the British and American Mortgagecompany, plaintiff, against J. K. Allison ana J. B. Martin, administrators of the estate of J. Wistar Allison, deceased, and others, defendants. 3. C. Strauss?Announces that his store will be closed tomorrow?Thanksgiving day?and invites you to call in the meantime and buy some of the bargains he is offering. Robert Witherspoon, Guthriesville?Has lost a Berkshire sow for the recovery of which he will pay a suitable reward. Srist Cousins?Can supply you with seeded raisins, citron ana currants for your Christmas cake, the very best quality of molasses, powdered icing sugar for cakes, uncanvassed hams at 11 cents per pound, and they want eggs, for which they will pay the highest market price. SV. M. Kennedy, Agents-Tells you about the groceries he has on hand, together with stationery, blank books, etc., and he can supply you with tailor-made clothing or almost any quality, wuicu is warranted to fit you. ABOUT POSTING LANDS. At its recent session, the general assembly made material changes in the statutes relating to the posting of lands. The law as it now stands is as follows : Section 176. Every entry upon the lands of another, after notice from the jwner or tenant prohibiting the same, shall be a misdemeanor, and be punshed by a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars or imprisonment with bard labor on the public works of the county not exceeding thirty days: Provided, That whenever any owner 5r tenant of any lands shall post a notice in four conspicuous places on the borders of any land prohibiting entry thereon, and shall publish once a week for four successive weeks such notl"" in any newspaper circulating in the county where such lands are situate, a proof of the posting and of publishing of such notice within twelve months prior to the entry, shall be deemed and taken as notice conclusive against the person making entry as aforesaid for hunting and fishing. Approved the 2nd day of February, A. D., 1898. SHOCKING MISTAKE. Another bloody tragedy has grown jut of the recent murder of Mr. Tom 3. Falls, of Pleasant Ridge, by the Negro Ryan. It occurred at Gaffney last Saturday night. Accompanied by Mr. W. L. Shelor, >f Gastonia, Chief of Police Ryan, of that place, went over to Gaffney last Saturday io search of Ryan, who was supposed to be iu the neighborhood. The two men arrived at Gaffney on the southbound vestibule, and as they 50t off the train, Mr. Shelor went back to the end of the last car, where he saw a Negro in the act of climbing upon the platform. To Mr. Shelor the Negro seemed to answer the description of Ryan, and Mr. Shelor order the Negro to get down and surrender. Instead of surrendering, the Negro started to run away. Mr. Shelor ordered him to halt and fired a shot in the ground. The Negro kept going. Next Mr. Shelor tired at him, the ball entering his bowsis through the hip and bringing him iown. It developed immediately afterward that .the wounded Negro was not the man wanted, and Mr. Shelor surrendered himself to the sheriff to await developments. At last accounts the -V- ; or,/S i^lfgru WHO 1U a tiiiiuai tuuumvu, uuu it was considered likely that he would lie. ABOUT PEOPLK. Mr. J. W. Carr has been quite ill for several days. Mr. Philip L. Moore went to Gastooia, Saturday, on a visit to friends. Mr. J. Frank Puckett, of the Yorkyille F.oller mills, went to Hickory jlrove Saturday. Rev. J. W. Humbert will preach at Philadelphia tomorrow (Thanksgiving) it 11 o'clock a. m. Mr. R. L. McConnell, of Chester, ias been spending several days in Vorkville with friends. Messrs. Ed and Knox Gwin, late of he First regiment of South Carolina /olunteers, intend leaving shortly for Texas. * Lieutenant James B. Allison Jias leen ordered to join the Seventh reginent of U. S. infantry at Fort Wayne, Mich. He leaves today?Wednesday. W. B. de Loach, Esq., failed to keep lis professional appointments last Moniay, and had no apologies to make. He explained, however, that there is a lew boy baby at his house. Following is the roll of honor in Mrs. Li. J. Crockett's school for the past nonth : Eighth Grade?Josie Camp, )9 ; Willie Camp, 95 ; Eunice Long, 95; Lizzie Lowry, 93. Third GradeVivian Bratton, 95. First Grade? Inna Ashe, 95. rn -r^. I 1 ? ??11 inc. JCjINl^UIttClV IJttU U piciuuui/ uuu >d Monday from Mr. F. H. Dover, of jrrover. Mr. Dover says that the leople up his way are not doing much grumbling about the low price of :otton ; but are trying to get out their ;rops aud put them in shape for market. He says also that there will be a jood deal of wheat sown in his section ; >ut as yet the farmers are somewhat >ehind with the work. A considerable quantity of fertilizer has already been jurchased, however. On Monday last The Enquirer revived a pleasant visit from Mr. C. C. Jughes, of Cherokee county, who :aiue to Yorkville to attend to sundry >usiuess matters. Amongst other hings to which he gave his attention, vas to return and oav for several new mbscribers for The Enquirer. Rev. Edward S. Reaves, pastor of .he Yorkville and Fort Mill churches, s taking his annual vacation and will >a absent about one month, part of .he time assisting another pastor in a irotracted meeting in Darliugton :ounty, a few days at the Baptist itate convention in the town of l)arington, and the remainder of the time it his old home in Marion county, and >crbaps a few days in North Carolina. Charlotte Observer, Saturday : Miss Davidson, the returned missionary, has iromised to dress in Chinese costume Sunday morning, and pay the Junior Christian Endeavor society of the Second Presbyterian church a visit. She will give them a talk on missions. Mrs. Durant, the president, extends an invitation to all the children of the church to be present, at 10 o'clock, in the basement of the church. Miss Sara Lily Wolfe will sing, which will insure good music. WATERWORKS CONTRACT. The city council of Rock Hill has awarded a contract for the construction of a water plant. The Rock Hill Herald of Saturday gives the following details: ; Tuesday of this week the register at Ct ? ? A k otnl i%AntninA/) tka n r? m O D LUC l^UrUJIUU UUICI UUUiaiUCU iuu uauico of a great uumber of strangers who , have been attracted to our city by the , fact that the contract for the building of water works in Rock Hill was to be let. There were representatives of manufacturers of all the different parts of the work present and there was much rivalry among them. After the bids had been opened and fully scrutinized, the contract to do the whole work, including the excavating, was awarded to Guild & Co., contractors, of Chattanooga, Tenn., who have the reputation of being expert and most reliable builders of waterworks, having five other contracts at this time. It is the expectation of the compauy that work will be commenced by December 1st; certaiuly not later than the 10th, and the contract provides for the completion of all the work by the first of March. According to the contract with the city council, the mains are to run through all the streets in Rock Hill, and there are to be 40 public hydrants, two driuking and watering fountains, with another in the cemetery. The standpipe, which is to be of rolled iron, will be 120 feet high from foundation, and 15 feet internal diameter. It will be erected on the vacant lot between the homes of Mr. H. C. Cox aud Mrs. Bynum. It will have a capacity of 150,000 gallons. The reservoir, which will also have a capacity of 150,000 gallons, will be located alongside Black street, west of the electric Tight powerhouse. It will have a diameter of 50 feet and be 12 feet iu depth. The mains or pipes through which the water will be conveyed along Main street, will be 10 inches in diameter, and in the other streets 6 and 4 inches, according to need and importance. AS TO COUNTY COURTS. The recommendation of the Green- , ville grand jury, published elsewhere in this issue, brings up a question that has received more or less serious consideration at the hands of all who have appreciated its importance. The issues involved include the rights and liberties of the citizen and the welfare of society generally. So far as we know, South Carolina's magistrate system is almost unique. That it is reasonably economical, there is no question ; but as to whether the administration of justice through it is as satisfactory as through the county courts iu other states, is doubtful. As to whether a change in the magistrate system in this county can be made with advantage, furnishes ground for much difference of opinion. Agitation of the matter can only result in good?the bringing of careful, discriminating thought to bear on the subject, and with a view to getting at the opinion of those who best understand the situation, and giving the public some new ideas, The Enquirer has taken occasion to secure expressions from the members of the Yorkville bar. The question submitted to the different members of the bar was : "Would it be advisable, from the standpoint of economy, and to secure a more satisfactory administration of justice, to substitute for the magistrate system as it now exists in this county, a county court ?" C. E. Spencer, Esq., said : "If the magistrates are retained as committing officers with a very restricted jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters, not involving over $20 or $25, and if the county courts should be given concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit court in matters civil and criminal; but not lUVUlVlUg 3UUU onaic otntuj vvjuuuble, up to a limit of $200 or $300, I think the change would be for the better." Judge Witherspoon: "I prefer not to express myself on the subject." D. E. Finley, Esq.: "I do not think that the establishment of a county court would be practicable in such a sparcely settled country as ours. The advantage in other respects would be offset by the increased expense. I had occasion to investigate the matter while a member of the legislature." J. S. Brice, Esq., expressed himself as follows: i "Under a county court system there would be a county judge at an annual 1 salary of something like $1,000, and a county solicitor at a salary of about 1 $800. At every term of this court at least 36, and probably 54, jurors would 1 have to be drawn and summoned, and ( 50 cents per diem and mileage would i hardly be enough of pay for them. The number of witnesses in state cases I would, of course, vary; but it would j not be fair to summon a witness from i the nethermost corner of the county j and pay him less than 50 cents a day ' and mileage, and the pay of all wit- > nesses would have to be uniform. The 1 sheriff would have to be paid for sum- < raoning the jurors and for attendance 1 upon court, and the clerk would probably have to be paid for extra work ' involved in the system. During the * interim between the sessions of the ' court, all prisouers would lie in jail at < the expense of the county. We would of necessity have to retain the magis- ' trates and constables to arrest and I commit offenders, and would still have 1 to pay magistrates and constables sala- * ries. We would, under our present s constitution, have a court of general j sessions to try all prisoners charged ? with murder, manslaughter, rape or 1 attempt to rape, arson, common law burglary, bribery and perjury. We c would still retain the court of common c pleas with jurisdiction in certain I; causes. Under a county court system r he expenses of the circuit judge, in ny judgment, would not be materially essened. And, therefore, in my opinon, the establishment of a county ^ourt in York county under existing nrcumstauces, from an economical standpoint, is undesirable and impracticable. The advocates of the system contend that pure and undefiled justice would be administered in the county court aud the cost should not be considered. This is only a matter of opinion. The litigant who goes into the circuit court does not always get what he considers justice. Our magistrates are not lawyers, nor are they learned in the law ; but if they err, their errors can be corrected id the circuit court. It is impossible, however. to nass UDon this matter satisfac torily until the general assembly passes an act establishing county courts. After this is done, I may conclude it is desirable and practicable for York to have a county court." Here are the views of John R. Hart, Esq.: "I am in favor of the establishment of a county court. Article 5, section 1, of the stale constitution prescribes that the general assembly may establish county courts and other courts, inferior in jurisdiction to the circuit courts, in any, or all, of the counties of the state. My idea would be to have a county judge?one thoroughly conversant with the law, and paid a salary sufficient to get a good lawyer to take the position. The section of the constitution I referred to prohibits the proposed county courts from trying cases of murder, arson, common law burglary, bribery or perjury. Let the county court meet once a month and dispose of all lesser crimes. The work for the circuit court would then amount to very little. At present the greater portion of the time of the court is taken up in the trial of trivial cases, and appeals from magistrates courts. If the county court were established, all of this would be done away with, and after judgment was pronounced il would be, practically, final if the legislature would provide that no ap"""i ahnnM ho takon ?*nent to the pvu. uuvu>? -V r supreme court. Iu any event, there will have to be magistrates with power to issue commitments and perhaps warrants of attachment." T. F. McDow, Esq., says: "I think the substitution of county courts for the preseut magistrate system infinitely better from the standpoint of economy as well as the administration of justice. This statement is based on the assumption that the act creating the county courts would be drawn so as to meet the eqd suggested." W. B. de Loach, Esq.: "I think this county court matter very important, and I would be glad to see a trial of the experiment. I gave the subject considerable attention while a member of the legislature and discussed it with other members. The concensus of opinion, so far as those with whom I talked was concerned, was to the effect that the county court might prove somewhat expensive at first; but that in the end it would be more economical than our present system. A majority of the members were without any definite ideas as to the views of their constituents, and for that reason, principally, nothing was done toward the getting up of an act to carry out the provisions of the constitution on this subject. It will be necessary, of course, to retain our present magistrates, or at least some of them, as committing officers; but the county court can also be made to relieve, to a great extent the circuit court. It is likely that several counties will establish county courts as soon as the legislature provides authority, and I would be glad to see York among the first of them. If we should once give the county court a trial, I do not believe we would be willing to give it up. Of course, I understand that the proposi tion is likely to meet with a great deal of opposition ; but this is to be expected. People do not feel kindly toward innovations, especially in matters pertaiuing to the administration of justice. But if the court should prove to be a good thing, as I believe it will, our people will not be slow to appreciate the fact, and tbey will bold on to it. Economy is all rigbt provided it is on a proper basis, and tbe administration of justice is a matter in wbicb tbe basis of economy should be considered witb care. Yes, I am certainly in favor of making tbe experiment." W. W. Lewis, Esq.: "Under proper conditions and regulations, I am heartily in favor of tbe establishment of a county court, and I am of opinion that such a court, if kept out of politics, could and would be of great value to tbe county and tbe people who are compelled to litigate in courts of inferior jurisdiction. "Upon the score of economy alone, there would be a considerable saving to tbe county, for such a system could be operated at much less expense than tbe system now in vogue, and this end could be attained even if a salary, sufficient to induce a thoroughly com petent lawyer to assume tbe position of county judge, were paid. "If such a court were established, only competent lawyers, as I have intimated, ought to be eligible for election or appointment to the judgeship. Otherwise a change from tbe present magistrate system would be useless. "It seems to me the many advantages to be derived from such a court are so patent that to euumerate them is unnecessary. Of course, I would not abolish the office of magistrate as it exists; but with the establishment of a county court, they should be committing officers merely, with- a salary commensurate with the amount of work done." Major James F. Hart: "I believe ;ha.t county courts could be established lbout as economically as (he present magistrate system, if not more so, and >ught to prove far more satisfactory, rbe magistrates' and constables' sala ies iu York county now amount to ?2,650 annually. This sum ought to )e sufficient to support a county court lud to retain, at a reduced salary, a lufficient number of magistrates with urisdiction limited to issuing warrants md examining and committing accused lersous. "But in addition to this, the county :ourt would do much the larger part >f the circuit court work, at possibly lalf the daily expense. For it would tot be advisable to have 36 jurors in attendance, as one-half that number would suffice. This item alone would save the county a large amount aunually. "A prisoner confined in the county jail before trial, costs the county about $9 per month. With only three criminal courts in the year, there is an average of nearly four months between terms, and a prisoner confined in jail at the end of one term, remains there at the expense of the county until the ? 4 L..r A exL ieru> uwurc uc uau uo mcu, a county court, boldiag its sessions each mouth, would create a great reduction in the board bill at the jail. "A county court, with a single judge empowered to try all crimes save those of murder, rape, arson, burglary, bribery and perjury, excepted by the constitution, and all misdemeanors, would, in my opinion, advance the administration of justice in a practical * and satisfactory manner. "The county court act of 1866 was satisfactorily enforced for two years and until abolished by the Republican constitution of 1868. A study of its provisions would not be unprofitable now. We are in a better position to exercise this system now than we were . in 1866." W. B. McCaw, Esq., expressed himself as being in favor of the county court system. He thinks that it would facilitate a more satisfactory administration of justice. G. W. 8. Hart, Esq., is still out of town, and the reporter has not been able to get his views. LOCAL LACONICS. Price of Cotton. The price of cotton on the Yorkville market continues to range from 4} to 5 cents. The local receipts continue heavy. Meets In Rock Hill. Tho liDunlv-umnd annual meatinc of the State Pharmaceutical association meets in Rock Hill today, and continues its session throughout tomorrow. Death of Mr. T. O. Falls. Mr. Thomas G. Falls, who was stabbed by the Negro, Alphonso Ryan, at Pleasant Ridge, last Thursday night, died on Sunday at 1 o'clock. Ryan is still at large. Cold Soap Coming. The morning papers of Tuesday reported a severe blizzard raging throughout the northeast, and under the rule in such cuses, a decided fall of temperature may be expected in this section. Exposed to the Weather. The town of Yorkville owns a valuable road workiug plant which stands exposed to the weather on lower Main street, and which, unless protected, will become useless before it has been fully paid for. Thanksgiving Holiday. The exercises of the graded school will oe suspended next xnursaay ana Friday. The children are entitled to Thanksgiving as a holiday, and they worked last Saturday in order to make up for next Friday. After a Century. Mr. John E. Carroll remarked in the presence of the reporter the other day that the recent Puraley-Templeton marriage at Beersheba, was the first marriage that ever took place there. Beersheba has been organized for more than a hundred years. Company Will Be Accepted. Mr. W. B. Moore and others, who interested themselves in the matter during a recent visit to Columbia, were assured by General Watts and Colonel Floyd that there would be no trouble about the admission of the military company that is being organized in Yorkville as a part of the state militia. Married at Hopkins. Hopkins correspondence Columbia State, 17th : Another of York's young men has won and carried away another one of our young ladies. Mr. S. B. Pratt, of York, and Miss Nannie Turner, of this place, were married yesterday at 3 p. m. Mr. and Mrs. Pratt went to their home in York county yesterday evening. Wants Easily Gratified. A visitor to the jail a few days ago asked Dunovant and Castles, the two condemned murderers, if there was anything he couid do for them. He supposed that probably they would ask for a Bible or something of the kind. Dunovant said he would like to have a box of sardines, and Castles asked for a dozen apples. Death of Mrs. Ferguson. Rock Hill Herald, Saturday : Mrs. Mary Ferguson, wife of Mr. James T. Ferguson, died at her home near Catawba Junction last Tuesday, of consumption. She was a daughter of the late John Patton, of this county, and a sister of Mrs. I. Simpson, of Rock Hill. Wednesday her remains were interred in the Neely's Creek cemetery, the services being conducted by Rev. Oliver Johnson. The Only Record. A gentleman came into The Enquirer office a few days ago for the purpose of examining the files of The Enquirer for 1872. He was interested in an estate that should have been settled that year, and it was desirable for him to know whether the administrator had published a notice of an a rtrtlina t inn .for final discharge. The fact could Dot be established otherwise, and the information was very important. The gentleman quickly learned exactly what he wauled to know?that the notice had been duly published as required by law. The Circuit ut Ruck Hill. Forepaugh and Sells Brothers' circus exhibited at Rock Hill last Saturday according to announcement. A number of circus-goers from this place atteuded, and one of them, who is a connoiseur in such matters, reports that the show was a disappointment. "You know what Sell's circus is," he