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ISSUED SEMX^WEEEL^ l. m. grist & sons, Publishers. j % dfamilg JgpttTsjra^pr: Jfor the promotion of tho politital, Social, giflrimttural, and (|ommeiirial gnt^stg of the ^eo^lc. {TERMs8iN~oi2^^ ESTABLISHED 1855. . YORKYILLE. S. C., SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1900. NO. 92. _ . - - ? ? . ? . . . _ THE MYSTE . AGA Rw A MM A IfATHA W J ........ Author of "The Leavenworth Cas and Ring,". Copyright, 1900, by Anna Katharine G Synopsis op Previous Chapters. In order that new readers of The Enquirer may begin with the following installment of this story, and understand it just the same as though they had read it all from the beginning, we here give a synopsis of that portion of which has already been published: The story opens with the close of a ball after daylight in the morning. While the guests are leaving the house Frederick Sutherland dashes out frantically and disappears in the woods on the other side of the road. Agatha Webb is found up stairs murdered. The body of Batsy, the cook, is found hanging from a window. Philemon Webb, Agatha's husband, is discovered sitting before a dining table asleep, with a smear of bjood on his coat sleeve. CHAPTER III. mental wreck. As they re-entered the larger room they were astonished to come upon Miss Page standing in the doorway. She was gazing at the recumbent figure of the dead woman, and for a moment seemed unconscious of their presence. "How did you get in? Which of my men were weak enough to let you pass against my express instructions?' asked the constable, who was of an Irritable and suspicious nature. * She let the hood drop from her head and. turning, surveyed him with a slow smile. There was witchery in that smile sufficient to affect a much more cultivated and callous nature than his, and though be bad been proof against it once be could not quite resist the effect of Its repetition. "I insisted upon entering." said she. "Do not blame the men. They did not want to use force against a woman." She had not a good voice and she knew it, but she covered up this defect by a choice of intonations that carried her - * ?. .. . I? v I UgOiegl BptfCU LU LUC unik uuu visaged Amos Fenton gave a grunt, which was as near an expression of approval as be ever gave to any one. "Well, well!" he growled, but not ill ' naturedly. "It's a morbid curiosity ' that brings you here. Better drop It, girl. It won't do you any good in the eyes of sensible people." "Thank you." was her demure reply, 1 her lips dimpling at the corners lik a way to shock the sensitive Mr. Sutherland. Glancing from her to the still outlines of the noble figure on the couch, he remarked with an air of mild reproof : "I do not understand you. Miss Page. If this solemn sight has no power to stop your coquetries uotbing can. As for your curiosity, it is both ill timed and unwomanly. Let me see you leave 1 this house at once. Miss Page, and if in the few hours which must elapse before breakfast you can And time to pack your trunks, you will still further oblige me." "Ob. don't send me away. I entreat you." It was a cry from her Inner heart which she probably regretted, for she instantly sought to cover up the anxiety it showed by a submissive-beud of tbe bead aud a step backward. Neither Mr. Fenton nor Mr. Sutherland seemed to bear the oue or see tbe otber. tbeir attention having returned to tbe more serious matter in band. "The dress wbicb our poor friend wears sbows ber to bave been struck before retiring." commented Mr. Sutherland. after another short survey of Mrs. Webb's tigure. "If Philemon"? "Excuse me, sir," interrupted a voice, "but tbe young woman is listening to what you say. Sbe is still in tbe ball." It was tbe young man speaking, wbo bad been left in tbe ball. "She Is, is she!" exclaimed Fenton sharply, his admiration for the fascinating stranger having oozed out at bis companion's rebuff. "I will soon show her"? But the words melted Into thin air as he reached tbe door. The young girl had disappeared, and only a faint perfume remalued In the place where sbe bad stood. "A most extraordinary person," grumbled tbe constable, turning back, but stopping again as a faint murmur came up rrom ueiow. "The gentleman is waking," called up a voice whose lack of music was quite perceptible at a distance. With a bound Mr. Fenton descended the stairs, followed by Mr. Sutherland. Miss Page stood before the door of the room In which sat Philemon Webb. As they reached her side she made a little bow that was half mocking, half deprecatory, and slipped from the house. An almost unbearable sensation of incongruity vanished with her, and Mr. Sutherland, fur one, breathed like a man relieved. "1 wish the doctor would come," Fenton said, as they watched the slow lifting of Philemon Webb's head. "Our fastest rider has gone for him. but he's out Porchester way, and it may be an hour yet before he can get here." "Philemon!" Mr. Sutherland had advanced and was standing by his old friend's side. "Philemon, what has become of your guests? You've waited for them here till morning." The old man with a dazed look sur veyed the two plates set on either side of him and shook his head. "James and John are getting proud.' said he, "or they forget, they forget." James end John. He must mean the RY OF THA WEBB. lRINE GREENE, ?e," "Lost Man's Lane," "Hand T?f/? XJ IV** y JU WW* -reen. Zables. yet there were many others answering to these names In town. Mr Sutherland made another effort. "Philemon, where Is your wife? 1 do not see any place set here for her?" "Agatha's sick, Agatha's cross; she don't care for poor old man like me." "Agatha's dead and you know It," thundered back the constable with 111 judged severity. "Who killed her? Tell me that. Who killed her?" A sudden quenching of the last spark of intelligence in the old man's eye was the dreadful effect of these words. Laughing with that strange gurgle which proclaims an utterly irresponsible mind, he cried: "The pussy cat! It was the pussy cat Who's killed? I'm not killed. Let's go to Jericho." Mr. Sutherland took him by the arm and led him upstairs. Perhaps the sight of his dead wife would restore him. But be looked at her with the same indifference he showed to everything else. "I don't like her calico dresses," said he. "She might have worn silk, but she wouldn't Agatha, will you wear silk to my funeral?" The experiment was too painful, and they drew him away, out tne constable's curiosity had been roused, and after they had found some one to take care of him he drew Mr. Sutherland aside and said: "What did the old man mean by say Ing she might have worn silk? Are they better oCT than they seem?" Mr. Sutherland closed the door before replying. "They are rich," he declared to the utter amazement of the other. "Tba? Is, they were, but they may have been robbed: If so, Philemon was not the wretch who killed her. I have been told that she kept her money In an old fashioned cupboard. Do you suppose they alluded to that one?" He pointed to a door set In the wall over the fireplace, and Mr. Fen ton, perceiving a key sticking In the lock, stepped quickly across the floor and opened it A row of books met his eyes, but on taking them down a couple of drawers were seen at their back. "Are they locked?" asked Mr. Sutherland. "One Is and one Is not" "Open the one that Is unlocked." Mr. Fenton did so. "It is empty." said he. Mr. Sutherland east a look toward the dead woman, and again the perfect serenity of her countenance struck him. "I do not know whether to regard her as the victim of her husband's imbecility or of some vile robber's cupidity. Can you find the key to the other drawer?" "I will try." "Suppose you begin, then, by looking on her person. It should be in her The perfect serenity of her countenance etrtirk him pocket. If no marauder has been here." "It is not in her pocket" "Hanging to her neck, then, by a string" "No; there is a locket here, but no key. A very handsome locket, Mr. Sutherland, with"? "Never mind, we will see that later; It Is the key we want just now." "Good heavens!" "What is it?" "It is in her band; the one that lies underneath." "Ah! A point, Fenton." "A great point." "Stand by her. Fenton. Don't let any one rob her of that key till the coroner comes aud we are at liberty to take It" "1 will not leave her for an instant." "Meanwhile, 1 will put back these books." He had scarcely done so when a fresh arrival occurred. It was one of the village clergymen. CHAPTER IV. A MYSTERIOUS WOMAN. This gentleman has some information to give. As he war. returning home from the bedside of a sick parishioner some little time before he had been run against on this very corner by a man rushing out of the gateway in a state of great agitation. This man held something in his band that glittered, aud, though the encounter nearly upset them both, he had not stopped to utter an apology, but stumbled away into the darkness in a dazed and feeble way. showing that he was neither young nor active. The minister had not been able to see his face, but noticed the ends of a long beard blowing over his shoulder as he hurried away. Philemon was a clean shaved man. Asked if he could give the time of his encounter, he replied that it was after 11 and before 12, for he was in his own house by 12. I "Did you look up at these windows before leaving?" asked Mr. Fen ton, for this interview had taken place In the presence of the dead. "T must hnvp for I now remember they were both lighted." "Were the shades up?" "I think not, or I should have noticed the ceiling of the room. I remember seeing nothing." "How were the shades when you broke into the house this morning?" inquired Mr. Sutherland of the constable. "Just as they are now; we have moved nothing. The shades were both down?one of them over an open window." "Well, we may find this encounter of Mr. Crane's of decided importance." "I wish I had seen the man's face," remarked the latter. "What did the object look like you saw glittering in his hand?" "I should not like to venture an opinion. I saw It but an Instant." "Could it have been a knife or an old fashioned dagger?" "It might have been." "Alas, poor Agatha! That money, something she so despised, should cause the death of a creature so grand and simple! Unhappy life, unhappy death! Fenton, I shall always mourn for Agatha Webb." "Yet she seems to have found peace at last," said the minister.. "I have never seen her look so contented." Then leading Mr. Sutherland aside he whispered; "What is It you say about money? Had she any considerable amount of It? I ask because in spite of their humble means of living she always put a generous donation on the T MA/inlira^ mAro fhfln pmie, tutu i uaic icvcucu u.v/.*. .. once during my pastorate an unexpectedly large and anonymous contribution for certain charities. As it was always for sick or suffering children I"? "Yes, yes.. I have no doubt it came from her. She was by no means poor, though I myself never knew the extent of her means till lately. Philemon was a good business man once, but they evidently preferred to live simply, having no children living"? "They have lost six, I have been told." "So the Porchester folks say. They probably had no heart for display or for even the simplest luxuries. At all events they did not indulge in them." "Philemon has long been past indulging in anything." "Oh, he likes his comfort, and he has had it too. Agatha never stinted him." "But why do you think her death was due to her having money ; "She had a large sum In the house, and there are some who knew this." "And is It gone?" "That we shall know later." As the coroner arrived at this moment the minister's curiosity had to wait. Fortunately for his equanimity no one had the presumption to ask him to leave the room. The coroner was a man of but few words and but little given to emotion. Yet they were surprised at his first question. "Who is the young woman who is standing outside there, the only one in the yard ?" Mr. Sutherland, moving rapidly to the window, drew aside the shade. "It is Miss Page, my housekeeper's niece," he explained. "I do not understand her interest In this affair. She followed me here from the house and could hardly be got to leave this room, into which she Intruded herself against my express command." "But look at her attitude." It was Mr. Fenton who spoke. "She's crazier than Philemon, it seems to me." Tb^re was some reason for this remark. Guarded by the high fence from the gaze of the pushing crowd without, sjie stood upright and immovable in the middle of the yard, like one on watch. The hood which she had dropped from her head when she thought her eyes and smile might be of use to her in the furtherance of her plans had been drawn over it again, so that she looked more like a statue in gray than a living hrnnthinfr woman. Yet there was menace in her attitude and a purpose in the solitary stand she took in that circle of board girded grass which caused a thrill in the breast of those who looked at her from that chamber of death. "A mysterious young woman," muttered the minister. "And one that I neither countenance nor understand." interpolated Mr. Sutherland. "I have just shown her the displeasure I feel at her actions by dismissing her from my house." The coroner gave him a quick look, seemed about to speak, but changed bis mind and turned toward the dead woman. CHAPTER V. BLOOD ON THE GRASS. The inquiries which followed elicited one or two new facts. First, that all the doors of the house were found unlocked, and, secondly, that the constable had been among the first to come in, so that he could vouch that no disarrangement had been made in the rooms with the exception of Ratsy's removal to the bed. Then, his attention being drawn to the dead woman, he discovered the key in her tightly closed hand. "Where does this key belong?" he asked. They showed him the drawers in the cupboard. "One is empty," said Mr. Sutherland. "If the other is found to be in the same condition, then her money has been taken. That key she holds should j open both these drawers." I "Then let it be made use of at once. It Is Important that we should know whether theft has been committed here as well as murder." And drawing the key out he handed It to Mr. Penton. The constable immediately unlocked the drawer and brought It and its contents to the table. "No money here," said he. "But papers as good as money," announced the doctor. "See, here are deeds and more than one valuable bond. I Judge that she was a richer woman than any of us knew." Mr. Sutherland meantime was looking with an air of disappointment Into the now empty drawer. "Just as I feared," said he. "She has been robbed of her ready money. It was doubtless in the other drawer." "How came she by the key, then?" "That is one of the mysteries of the affair. This murder is by no means a simple one. I begin to think we shall find it full of mysteries." "Batsy's death, for instance?" "Oh, yes, Batsy! I had forgotten +?!?> oho wo a found dead too." "Without a wound, doctor." "She had heart disease. I doctored her for it The fright has killed her." "The look of her face confirmed that." "Let me see. So It does. But "we must have an autopsy to prove It" "I would like to explain before any further measures are taken how I came to know that Agatha Webb had money In her house," said Mr. Sutherland as they stepped back Into the other room. "Two days ago I was sitting with my family at dinner. Old gossip Judy came in. Had Mrs. Sutherland She, pointing to the grass at her feet, said quietly, "See this?" been living she would not have presumed to intrude upon us at mealtime, but as we have no one now to uphold our dignity this woman rushed into our presence panting with news and told us all in one breath how she had just come from Mrs. Webb, who had a pile of money in her house; that she had just seen it with her own eyes; that going up stairs, as usual, without knocking, she had seen Mrs. Webb through the crack of the sitting room door walking toward the fireplace cupboard with a huge roll of bills in her hand; Vin* HotAnlnnp aha hoarH hop flflv* Mllflt fifteen hundred! Too much money by far to have In the house.' After which she heard first one lock turned and then another, and, satisfied that the money had been put Into some receptacle In the cupboard, she crept out as quietly as she had come In and ran away to tell the neighbors. Happily I was the first one she told, but I have no doubt that in spite of all my injunctions she has related the news to every one who would listen." "Was the young woman I see down yonder at the table with you when Judy told this story?" asked the coroner, pointing toward the yard. Mr. Sutherland pondered. "No; I do not think she was. Frederick was seated at the table with me, and my housekeeper was pouring the tea. but Miss Page had not yet come down, I think. She has been putting on great airs of late." "Can it be possible that he does not know that his son Frederick wants to marry this girl?" muttered the clergy man into tne consiaDie s ear. The constable shook his head. Mr. Sutherland was one of those debonair men whose very mildness makes them impenetrable. The coroner on leaving the house was followed by Mr. Sutherland. As the fine figures of the two men appeared on the doorstep a faint cheer was heard from the two or three favored persons who were allowed to look through the gate. But to this token of welcome neither gentleman responded by so much as a look, all their attention being engrossed by the sight of the solitary figure of Miss Page, who still held her stand upon the lawn. Motionless as a statue, but with her eyes fixed upon their faces, she awaited their approach. When they were near her, she thrust one hand from under her cloak and, pointing to the grass at her feet, said quietly: "See this?" They hastened toward her and bent down to examine the spot she indicated. "What do you find there?" cried Mr. Sutherland, whose eyesight was not good. "Blood," responded the coroner, plucking up a blade of grass and sur veying It closely. "Blood." echoed Miss Page, with so suggestive a glance that Mr. Sutherland stared at her In amazement, not understanding his own emotion. "How are you able to discern a stain so nearly imperceptible?" asked the coroner. "Imperceptible? It Is the only thing I see in the whole yard." she retorted, and with a slight bow which was not without its element of mockery she turned toward the gate. "A most unaccountable girl," commented the doctor. "But she is right about these stains. Abel," he called to the man at the gate, "bring a box or barrel here and cover up this spot I don't want it disturbed by trampling feet till the jury I shall soon call shall have had an opportunity to look at it" Abel started to obey just as the young girl laid her hand 011 the gate to open It. "Won't you help me?" she asked. . "The crowd Is so great they won't let me through." "Won't they?" The words came from , without. "Just slip out as t slip In, and you'll find a place made for you." Not recognizing the voice, she hesitated for a moment, but seeing the gate Swaying, she pushed against it just as a young man stepped through the gap. Necessarily they came face to face. "Ah, It is you," he muttered, giving her a sharp glance. > "I do not know you," she haughtily c declared, and slipping by him with 1 such dexterity she was out of the gate 1 before he could respond. But he only snapped bis finger and t thumb mockingly at her and smiled ? knowingly at Abel, who had lingered to wateh the end of this encounter. j "Supple as a willow twig, eh," he t laughed. "Well, I have made whistles out of willows before now and?halloo! where did you get that?" r He was pointing to a rare flower that 2 hung limp and faded from Abel's but- e tonhole. 2 "This? Oh, I found it in the house r yonder. It was lying on the floor of the c inner room, almost under Batsy's skirts. Curious sort of flower. I won- 1 der where she got it?" The intruder betrayed at once an un- t accountable emotion. There was a strange glitter in his light green eyes 1 that made Abel shift rather uneasily * on his feet. "Was that before the pret- 8 ty minx you have just let out came In here with Mr. Sutherland?" "Oh, yes; before any one had started r for the hill at all. Why, what has this c young lady got to do with a flower dropped by Batsy?" t "She? Nothing. Only?and I have c never given you bad advice, Abel? r don't let that thing hang any longer ? from your buttonhole. Put it into an envelope and keep It and if you don't c hear from me again in regard to it & write me out a fool and forget we were 1 ever chums when little shavers." j The man called Abel smiled, took out t the flower and went to cover up the * grass as Dr. Talbot had requested. The 8 stranger took his place at the gate toward which the coroner and Mr. Suth- fi erland were now advancing with an air 8 WD1CI1 HXJOWeu Ills gil'ttl anxifij iu sneak with them. He was that one of 8 the five musicians whom we saw se- c cretly entering the last mentioned gen- 1 tleman's honse after the departure of ? the last servant. As the coroner paused before him he spoke. "Dr. Talbot," said he, dropping his eyes, which were apt to betray his r thoughts too plainly, "you have often t promised that you would give me a job t If any matter came up where nice detective work was wanted. Don't yon J think the time has come to remember j me?" r "You, Sweetwater? I'm afraid the affair Is too deep for an inexperienced j man's first effort. I shall have to send t to Boston for an expert. Another time, J Sweetwater, when the complications * are less serious." The young fellow, with a face white ^ ?? rroa fntmlnop QTuar fi ao minx* nao ?* ?? "But you'll let me stay around here?" he pleaded, pausing and giving the other an imploring look. "Oh, yes," answered the good natured coroner. "Fenton will have work enough for you and half a dozen others. Go and tell him I sent you." "Thank you," returned the other, his face suddenly losing its aspect of acute disappointment. "Now I shall see where that flower fell," he murmured. TO HE CONTINUED. TEMPLE OF FAME. A Temple of Fame is to be opened soon in New York, a goodly sum of money having been given for the purpose. Whose names shall be therein inscribed? and how shall these names be chosen? were the two. practical questions, which were settled by the choice of an hundred men?jurists, college presidents, publicists and editors?to act as a jury. Each of the hundred votens is to vote for one hundred names to be inscribed in the Temple, and no name is to be accepted unless it received 51 votes, a majority of the whole. As many votes can be taken as are necessary to complete the list. So far only 30 have been chosen, and 20 more must be selected during the year 1902. All the names are to be of 8 Americans. It is wholly a temple of American fame. The 30 thus far chos- | en are as follows, in the order of the 8 votes received: e George Washington 97 Abraham Lincoln 96 Daniel Webster 96 Benjamin Franklin 94 U. S. Grant 92 John Marshall 91 Thomas Jefferson 90 R. W. Emerson 87 f Robert Fulton 85 ? ?- SK Jtl. W. i-iUiigienuw w? f Washington Irving 82 J Jonathan Edwards 81 S. F. B. Morse 80 1 D. G. Farragut 79 Henry Clay 74 v. Nathaniel Hawthorne 73 i George Peabody 72 R. E. Lee 69 9 Peter Cooper 69 Eli Whitney 67 J J. J. Audubon 67 1 Horace Mann 67 H. W. Beecher 66 J James Kent 65 Joseph Story 64 t John Adams 61 W. E. Channing 58 Elias Howe 53 " Gilbert Stuart 52 ^ Asa Gray 51 f Army to Be Increased.?Senator Proctor, of the senate committee on military affairs, and Adjutant General c Corbin, of the war department, held r an informal conference with the presi- r dent last Saturday relative to the leg- t islation to be asked of congress in r connection with the proposed increase r of the regular army. il "Under the existing law," said Sena- t tor Proctor at the conclusion of the c conference, "the present strength of v the army, 65,000 regulars and 35,000 o volunteers, will be reduced on the 1st day of next July, to 27,000 regulars. Congress will be asKea Dy me presiuem to reorganize the army upon a larger basis. "My judgment is that congress will . provide a regular army of about 55,000 1 or 60,000 men, with discretion to the t president to raise the total to 100,000. t I have no doubt that this legislation 's will be enacted at the coming session." a pijscdlaiifous grading. REPORT OF THE 6RAN0 JURY. >ome Recommendations Have Been Acted Upon and Othera Have Not?Compliments For Some of the County Officers?Coroner's Office to Be Locked Except When In Actual Use of Coroner?Things Generally In Good Shape. The grand jury got through with its vork last Wednesday, and before being llscharged, submitted the following as ts final report: . ro the Hon. J. C. Klugh, Presiding Judge: We, the grand jury of Tork county, leg leave to submit this, our final prelentment: . ' 1st. We have passed upon all bills of ndictment handed to us by the solictor, and returned the same to court vith our findings thereon. 2nd. The county supervisor's report elative to the county home, chain gang ind magistrate's records, was received is information. It is a very commendible report, and without further continent we submit the same as a part of our final presentment. 3d. After scrutinizing said report, ve did not deem it necessary to visit he county home and chain gang at his time. 4th. A committee of our number visted the county Jail and report same jenerally in good condition; but we call Lttention ta the fact that certain recommendations made by this body at a irevious term of court, relative to venilation in the jail, has not been carled out, therefore, we still insist upon them being carried out. 6th. Recommendations made at July erm of court relative to certain manges and improvement in the court oom, we are glad to state, have been md are being made. 6th. We respectfully call attention of the county supervisor and road overleers to the proper and lawful width of oublic roads. Complaints from various oarts of the county have been made hat the public roads are too narrow or me convenience or rne puouc, ana isk that they look after the matter. 7th. A committee of our body, conilsting of J. H. McFadden, E. A. Big,'ers and T. A. Mills, was appointed at luly term of court, to make an expert ind thorough examination of the vari>ur county officers' books. The comnittee performed this duty during the lummer, and at this term made the folowing written report, which was idopted by our body, to wit: To the Grand Jury of York County: "We, the undersigned committee, ap>ointed by your foreman to examine he books of the various county officers, >eg leave to make the following report: We appointed J. H. McFadden, of our lommittee, as an expert accountant, to nake these examinations, which he las just finished, with the following esult, viz.: I have examined the following offilers' books: W. W. Boyce, auditor; W. 3rown Wylle, clerk; H. A. D. Neely, reasurer; W. H. McCorkle, probate udge; John R. Logan, sheriff, John 3. Carroll, superintendent of eduction; T. G. Culp, county supervisor. In the auditor's office I checked the various footings of the different townihips, with the abstract made for a lettlement with the treasurer, and 'ound them correct. I am glad to state hat the auditor has carried out our luggestion of 1899 and has quite an inirease on his books for taxation. The books in this office show that a rreat deal of extra care and work has >een given and put on them. We have lever gone through a more complete let of books, especially as to neatness ind correctness. In the clerk's office, I checked the :ash books from the date when the >resent incumbent took charge of same ind found them correct. These books ihow that the clerk has in his posseslion. for which he is responsible to the lounty, the sum of *6,872.40. On en[uiringr at the different banks of the :ounty, I found that the clerk had $5,72.40 on deposit; thus showing that he lad, at his command, every dollar he s responsible for. This office Is well cept and references easy made. In the treasurer's office I made a rery careful examination of all matters >ertaining to this office and found >ame in good condition. I checked all roucher8, also books with settlement heets made up for annual settlement vlth the comptroller general, and ound them correct. In checking up he cash books, I found that the treasirer had in his possession belonging 0 the state and county, $11,739.71. The reasurer exhibited his bank pass >ook8, which showed, with the cash on land, that he had on deposit, more han $11,739.71, which was verified by tatement from said banks. The treasurer's books show that 98 3-5 >er cent, of the ordinary county, and 01 per cent, of the poll tax was collectid for the year 1899. The probate judge's books are neatly md correctly kept. I found his bank iccount greater than his liability. As in officer, the judge Is to be complinented on the neatness of his office. The sheriff's books are well kept and ire correct, showing an improvement >ver former years. His assets as an oficer are greater than his liabilities. In the office of the county superinendent of education, I found the books rery well kept. I checked his books * * - A-- am/4 f AI in/1 ? mn me couniy ucusujci o auu tuuuU ame correct. The coroner failed to produce his ? ooks when asked for them. Therefore. did not make any examination of ame. I carefully looked after all of the ounty officer's bonds, and found them as we believe) perfectly good. ? The officers were all very courteous J md kind to me while working in their : espectlve offices, and offered any asistance desired, for which I wish to , hank them. * I wish also to thank the committee ^ nd grand jury for the confidence re- ? losed in my capacity to do this work, ' nd assure them that I have tried faith- ? ully to do the same. J. H. McF^dden. * We are glad to note that the county t ommissioners have carried out our t " 1 * J- ? lOftA U.. * ecommenaa lions maae in uy iui- j ilshing the clerk's office with an addi- c ional metal case to keep books and \ ecords In. Also by placing a much i leeded desk and bookcase in the sher- r fT's office, and by placing a light near r he county treasurer's office, for his i onvenlence at night, all of which we ery much appreciate and tender them t ur thanks for same. c Respectfully submitted, > J. H. McFadden, i T. A. Mills, E. B. Bigqers. | We take pleasure In commending 1 or its completeness and thoroughness, * he above report, and we recommend hat J. H. McFadden be paid for his j ervlces as an expert, the usual mount paid for such work, viz.: $20. We recommend that the room now get apart for the use of the coroner, be used as a storing room for the election boxes, and that the county commissioners be requested to see that it is securely locked and cared for. That when . the room is in use by the coroner, that the said coroner be requested to be eareful to protect the property of the jounty stored therein and be responsible for the same. And we urge that this matter be attended to at once. In conclusion we take pleasure in thanking your honor, the circuit solicir tor and the officers of the court, for Curtesies and considerations extended to us. All of which is respectfully subnltted. IREDELL JONE8. Foreman. REPORT OP SUPERVISOR. ro this Foreman of the Grand Jury of York county: Agreeably to the provisions of an act >f the general assembly of South Carolna, approved February 19, 1898, requlrng the county board of commissioners >f each county to make an annual report, at the fall term of the court, to he foreman of the grand Jury, on the lockets of the magistrates of their :ounty, and to report any irregularlles shown thereby, we, the county comnlssloners of York county, beg leave :o submit this, our annual report, on laid matter: The nine magistrates of the coun^ lave submitted their respective dockits to us for examination every three nonths during the year ending Novem>er 1st, 1900, as required by law, and, vhlle some of said dockets are more :orrectly And neatly kept than the othirs, we have discovered no lrregulari:ies In any of them. There are nine townships In York :ounty, and each township constitutes i magisterial district, and the followng Is a statement of the amount of :rimlnal work done by each magistrate md constable in their respective dis+V>?% iroar nnrlln rr Mnirnm _ .11CIO uui Ui5 IUC jwat Vuuiug >er 1st, 1900: Broad Rtver Township?G. C. Leech, nagistrate.?Salary for self and conitable for criminal work, (160. Number >f warrants Issued, 14; number of convictions, 3; number compromised and )&ld costs, 2; bound over to court of lessions, 4; cases under compromise, 2; lot arrested, 2; number sent to chainfang, 0. Bullock's Creek Township?W. S. Plazlco, Magistrate?Salary for self ind constable, $160. Number of cases, .6; number sent to chain gang, 6; comnltted to court of general sessions, 4; llscharged, %\ committed to county lall, (women), 2; cases compromised, !; fines and costs collected, $32.40. Bethesda Township?A. L. Nunnery, Magistrate.?Number of cases, 8; comnitted to court of general sessions, 2; :ompromised, 1; left state, 3; acquit ;ed, 2. York Township?C. H. Sandifer, Magistrate?Salary of self and constajle, $500; warrants Issued, 79; sent to :halngang, 10; committed to court of i, i in. flail 7 cessions, n; cuiiiyiuuuscu, iv, uvu, , ines and costs paid, $198.60. Kino's Mountain Township?J. A. McMackin, Magistrate.?Salary of self md constable, $160; warrants issued, 13; committed to chain gang, 14; discharged, 3; sent to court of sessions, 6; compromised, 2; transferred, 2; fled :he county, 6; fines and costs collected, 1113.10. Fort Mill Township?J. W. McElhaley, Magistrate.?Salary self and constable, $200; warrants issued, 20; compromised, 4; not guilty, 4; hound over, !; sent to chain gang, 2; committed to iall, 1; paid fines, 7; costs and-fines collected, $44.96. Bethel Township?S. N. Johnson, Magistrate.?Salary self and constable, .160; warrants, 26; convicted, 8; acluitted, 5; fled state, 6; awaiting trial, !; compromised, 2; appealed, 1; comnltted to chain gang, 6; fines and costs collected, $45. Ebenezer Township?R. M. Anderson, Magistrate.?Salary self an<T constable, $150; number of warrants, 31; sent to chain gang, 12; sent to court of general sessions, 3; escapes before arrest, 4; withdrawn by prosecution, 3; ippeals, 1; not guilty, 3; fines and costs collected, $90. Catawba Township?T. C. Beckham, Magistrate.?Salary for self and conitable, $500. Warrants, 109; convicted Lnd fined, 18; convicted and sent to jail, 6; convicted and sent to chain gang, 5; bound over to court of general sesilons, 12; bound over to keep the peace, .; compromised and paid costs, 2; not fuilty, 19; dismissed for want of pros- ' coutic~ 1; fled state before arrest, 21; tearch warrants issued, 35; fines and costs collected, $171.10. The county supervisor, also sudiuub he following statement In regard to he county poor house: The superinendent's house has been neatly paint>d since last court, and also another saupers' house, with two rooms, has >een built. There are at present 29 innates in the poor house, 8 of whom ire children between 1 and 9 years of ige, and 14 colored inmates, making a otal of 43. Four have died during the rear. The following crops were raised >n the farm during the year 1900: Two hundred and twelve bushels of vheat, valued at $200; 750 bushels corn, ralued at 60 cents, $450; 7,000 bundles of 'odder, valued at $85; hay and oats, ralued at $65; meat and pork, valled at $72; 20 bushels of sweet potaoes, valued at $10; 16 bushels of onions, ralued at $10; 224 bushels cotton seed, ralued at $60; 8 bales of cotton, valued it $400; total, $1,352. The amount of money paid out for lupplies, farm work and salaries during he year, amounted to $1,500. The following report on the chainrang is also submitted by the countv lupervisor: The public roads and bridges of the ounty are in a fair average condition, since the last meeting of this court, lie IIUI1 Uliugc Okiuss Vyautnuu ..... _ ias been completed at a cost of *8,300. Tne chain gang, since last report," Inished work In Bullock's Creek townihlp, where a great deal of grading was lone and about one mile of macadam oad built. The gang then worked for everal month? In Broad River town- * hip and then spont three months vorking In King's M??ur:aln township, ind, after doing some work In York ownshlp, was transferred to Fort Mill ownship, where a great deal of gradng has been done, and about one mile f macadam built. The gang has been working for the past three weeks In Sbenezer township, putting in abutnents to bridges and opening up a new oad between Neely's Ferry and the lock Hill road. The general health of the gang has >een very good, with the exception of ine convict who had consumption and vho was transferred to the state pententlary. The average number on the chain rang during the past year was 28; the naxlmum number, 38; and the mininum, 16, the number we have at preset. The cost of the chaingang for the >ast year was about *3,546.54. Respectfully submitted, T. G. Culp, County Supervisor.