University of South Carolina Libraries
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE Appointed to Investigate the Fi nancial Condition of Clarendon County. At the session of the Legislature, December, 1887, a Joint Resolution was passed, appointing S. A. Nettles, Joseph H. Montgomery, and Henry L. Reynolds a committee to investi gate the financial condition of Clar endon County. Acting under this Res olution, the above named persons met July 3,1888, and organised by electing S. A. Nettles chairman, and Joseph H. Montgomery secretary. Dr. H. L. Reynolds then stated that his. busi ness and professional engagements were such that he could not serve reg ularly with the Committee, but that he would endeavor to be present as often as practicable, and that if at any time the other two members should fail to vaee om any subject, or point at issue, that he would comein as an arbitrator. The labors and opinions of the other two members were, how ever, characterized throughout with harmony and unanimity, and there arose no necessity to call on Dr. Rey nolds for arbitration. He, further more, did not find it convenient, or see fit, to assist in the investigation. The other two members of the com mittee regret much this failure on the part of Dr. Reynolds to act with us, and realize that we have thus been deprived of valuable counsel and as sistance. Realizing the responsibility of the duties we were about to undertake, we, S. A. Nettles and Joseph H. Montgomery, appeared before Clerk of Court Janes E. Davis, and took an oath before him to discharge to the best of our abilities the duties that would devolve upon us, faithful ly, conscientiously, without fear or favor. Throughout our whole inves tigation we have endeavored to let these words (faithfully, conscientious ly, without fear or favor) be our guid ing principles. sCeoor, COMIsfoNE. We find the School Commission er's office has been very poorly kept. The books and records are worth lit tle or nothing to the county. The Treasurer's school book, and his settlement sheet, show more mon ey to be to the credit of the schools than do the School Commissioner's books. Prior to S. J. Bowman's term of office, the old books show a con siderable indebtedness, but we have reason to suppose that this apparent indebtedness has been all settled. When we examined Maj. P. G. Benbow's book, in August, 1888, although all of the schools had, been closed for somine months, there was, nevertheless, not the scratch of a pen to show that there had been any money with which to pay the school expenses; and yet we found all the claims paid. We found, however, that. the claims that had been. approv ed were. registered. This registry should have been performed as soon as the claims were approved, and not wait some months and then enter them, without refer ence to number or date, upon his book.* Very seldom does a school district usein the same year all the funds placed to its credit. In our opinion such reserved fund should be carried forward to the next year, and placed to the credit of the sme school dis triot. This seems to be the better plan, but the Treasurer taking a dif ferent view allows this unused fund in a district to remain there year af ter year, he using for the district only eo much of the funds of a given year as is necessary, leaving the balance, if any, toaccumulate. The School Com misoners, we are informed, desired thus to dispose of these balances, but the Treasurers would not allow it. In this conneotion we would recom mend that the ' feasurer at once re ~or to the School (Commissioner the fulamount of all funds in his hands to the credit of the public schools; and that the School Commissioner, and board of examiners together, ap portion this fnnd to the sever al school districts, as seems to them best and just; and that hereafter the Treasurr er (upon notification by the School Commissioner, at the close 'of each year,of the amount of claims approv ed in each school district) carry for ward the balance to the succeeding year, placing such credit to the re spective school districts. We are decidedly of the opinion that this offie, as generally exercised, is largely an imposition on the peo ple. The offier is not. infrequently a man unfamiliar with, and incompe tent to perform, the real duties of the offce, and frequently his highest ami bition seems~ to beto draw his salary. The pay of this offce as generally understood, not only in this county, but throughout the State, is at least three timettoo much. Two hundred dollars per annum would be a big salary for the work usually done. The chief duties of this offeer should-be to visit the .schools; to see that suita ble school houses are used; that proper-teachers are employed, and that they are doing their duty; to en deavor to awaken and enlist the deep interest of the people in the subject of education,-in short, to improve and elevate the public school system. No wonder the people cry out against the present system: the fault lies in the School Commissioner. - This of ficer should be a man possessing a certificate of educational qualification from the State board of education, and yet a considerable percentage of them throughout the State could not stand a second grade examina tion. We reeommend that the Leg islature, at ita next- meeting, pass an act empowering the constitutional provision requirng School Commis sioners to possess a first grade certifi cate from the board of examiners of their respective conti~e befrev they can enter upon the discharge of their duties as School Commissioner. The Conyers salary matter we found to be correct, he having collected for his salary and traveling expenses only so much as allowed by law. cotVNTY COmtISSIONEfs. We are deeply impressed with the idea that the County has not always been represented by County Com sioners, who, when it same to their own salaries, had the best interests of the county at heart, and the most economical methods of transacting business. It seems to us that the getting of all the mileage possible was the paramount idea. Construc tive mileage and double mileage were charged when possible. We have ex amined the accounts back for ten years, and it is the same throughout. The account of the board of 1883-4 and 1884-5 appearing so unusually large we summoned each member of that board before us. This board charged "constructive" mileage. That is, for example, when they went to a place for inspection or other purpose, they would imagine they had return ed home and come again, charging for the imaginary travel. They would then proceed on their way to another point, do what they came for, imag ine again they had returned home and come again, charging again for the imaginary travel. Then they would make another. inspection, and charge this time for the real travel of coming and returning. The law says plainly that but five cents a mile for each mile actually traveled shall be charged. By this constructive mile age a board would sometimes charge five or ten dollars more on a single trip than they were entitled to. The board for these two years above nam ed consisted of Messrs. J. H. Mc Knight, B. G. DuBose, and R M. Harvin. This board, consisting of all of its members, went over to Salem in March, 1884, to "receive" a bridge. As M:. -DuBose's account was the smallest of the three, we take his ex actly as it appeared on their account book: 1884 Mar. 17. 1 dayon board and mileage $ 2.80 18. Inspection Black Rive r - bridge and mileage 1.20 18. Inspection Johnson's cross ing and mileage 5.00 19. Inspection roads, &c. 5.00 $14.00 (Read testimpny of B. G. DuBose as to number of days served.) The following is a part of Mr. Du Bose's testimony before us, which will serve to demonstrate construc tive mileage: "On March 17th, 1884, I met the "Board, and that night returned home, "a distance of sixteen miles. On "March 18th, the next day, I went to "Black River Bridges, near J. H. Mc "Faddin's, which I inspected; then I "inspected public roads up to Eli Mc "Faddin's six miles from J. H. Mc "Faddin's; from there I inspected the "roads to Mrs. Wheeler's a distance "of four miles; from Mrs. Wheeler's "I went to Johnson's Crossing and in "spected those bridges a distance of "ten- miles; then I inspected one "bridge and the roads from Johnson's "Crossing to W. 3. Gibbons's, a dis "tance of eight miles; from WV. 3. "Gibbons's I returned home, which "was the 20th day of March, a distance "of thirty-three miles. The distance "from my house to Black River is twenty-four miles. Including the "day I was on the board, the 17th, I "was engaged four days on this trip, "and traveled a total distance of nine ty-one miles. I did not charge for the actual distance traveled, but for "the distance from my residence to the place I had to go, at ten cents a "mile. .I made one charge from home "to Black River Crossing, and anoth "er from home [on the same trip] to1 "Johnson's Crossing, though I did not "actually return from the Black River "Bridge inspection. "On one occasion I signed checks "in blank But did it only once, and "refused.thereafter to sign any in "blank I refused in every way to~ "have any thing to do with the build "ing of the present rotten county jail. "[Signed] E. G. DuBosE." In substance, with reference to the charging of mileage, the testimony of Messrs. McKnight and Harvin, the :ther two members, is what Mr. Dui Bose's is. As each member of the Board this year used up his seventy days allow ed by law, of course no more days ould be granted them. Therefore on this famous "17th March Black River Bridge Trip," Mr. DuBose charged more mileage by $3.45 than he should have. Messrs. Mc~night -and Har in charged for this trip. even more han Mr. DuBose. Nor is this an is lated case. Numerous others simi lar in nature can be found. We examined C. L. Witherspoon, hairman of the Board of 1884-5 and 885-6, and B. C. Horton, Chairman f the Board of 1886-7 and 1887-8. he testimony below will show that hey, when it was possible, charged ouble mileage. Mr. Witherspoon testified as fol ows: "In making out his account against the county it was his rule to charge ten cents a mile for distanee "actually traveled one way. If he "continued on a new road till he got back home he would charge ten cents a mile for every mile traveled; "but if at any time, after inspecting "bridges or other work, he should re turn by same road he went out by, "he would charge nothing for distance "back. I never read the law on the "subject. "[signed] C. L. WrrHERSooK" Mr. Witherspoon says that he nev er read the law as to the pay of coun ty commissioners during the term he served in that office. Sad indeed it is, that an officer holding such a high responsible position, should disburse the people'smoney without knowledge f the correctness of his action. Mr. E. C. Horton, chairman for 188-7 and 1887-8: "On February 29th and March "1st he was out inspecting roads "in St. James township, and that "for the two days' work and mileage "he charged $10.05. The distance of "the township is about eighteen miles "from Manning where deponent re "sides. Of this ten dollars And five "cents, $4 wE per diem, and $6.06 "was nileage. During this trip he "traveled sixty and one-half (60 1-2) "miles. charging ten cents a mile as "lie did not return same way he went. "Deponent says if he goes to inspect "a bridge or other work, and does no "other work, he charges ten cents a "mile for the trip there, and nothing "to return; but if he cafres back by "a different route, and for other work, "inspection of roads for instance, he "would also charge ten cents a mile "for the additional distance traveled. "I make it a rule never to return "by the same road I go out by, as I "wish to see and inspect as much of "the roads on a trip as possible. On "these inspections I charge ten cents "a mile. The clerk of the former "board, Mr. J. G. Huggins, who was "also our clerk for one year, told me "this was the custom with the Com "missioners. Members of other "boards, also, told me this was the "custom. I believe I am acting "within the law in making these "charges." "[Signed] E. C. HonToN." Mr. Horton says that, "he believed that he acted within the law" when collecting these charges. He most certainly never read the law on the subject. We are satisfied that the' testimony of the other members of the board would have been substanti ally the same. Mr. Horton expressed himself to us as perfectly willing, in case he were convinced that such chrrges were wrong, to refund all such overcharges to the county. We think we have said enough to show that hundreds of dollars, prob ably tore than a thousand, have been wrongfully abstracted from the coun ty, and we recommend that a commit tee of the Grand Jury be empowered, by Legislative enactment, to ascer tain the exact amount thus over charged since 1876, and that the Commissioners who have made these overcharges be required to return the same to the county. Not enough "red tape," and too much carelessness and confidence, is t common in this office. Commission ers have, when a day's work exceeded ? their usual one, or two, or three hours, become impatient, and signing1 a number of checks in blank, have gone home, leaving their clerk to fill in the amounts at his leisure. We think this practice about discontinued. The office of County Commission ers is probably the most important office in the county, and yet is sought after, not infrequently, by men incom- b petent for the office. We have good t reasons for believing that the law de fining the duties of the office is sel dom read by a County Commissioner. r The clerk of the board is frequently the board. Clarendon County has ; had some good men on her board, y and some that were not so good. And yet, some persons may say that, "when we view it rightly, we do not think the Co.mmissioners so much ~ to blame after all, it being natural 1, with man to wish to better tis con dition, and the office offers to many this advantage." To such persons we would answer, that it is inate with man to attain a higher standard of t action, and he who would gratify his avarice at the expense of his constit uents, is unworthy of a public trust. We believe that if the Board of Commissioners wcre the right kind of men, and would not follow prece- ~ dent, but work for the good of the d&unty, that their individual expenses 1 would be cut down about one-half of what they have been. What we say a may appear harsh and uncharitable, t but the records of the office, and the affidavits in our possession,will prove all wp have said. Let us illustrate: A bri'dge in a distant part of the county is reported to need repairs.e The board at a nieeting decides that 1 it will consider the matter, and the entire board goes to the bridge to "inspect" it. Fifteen or twenty dol lars is the cost of the trip. They de cide to repair the bridge. A fifty dol lar contract is given out. The entire board again goes on a junketing trip to receive the aforesaid bridge, at a cost of fifteen or twenty dollars more. Probably the entire board is compos ed of persons who do not know whether the bridge is properly con structed or not. Any way from thirty I to forty dollars has been paid to the Commissioners to have a fifty or hun- ~ dred dollar bridge built. An honest mechanic, disinterested and compe- u tent, for eight or ten dollars would i have done the same inspection, and t sent in a written opinion on the sub - ject. This would be a large .saving r. to the people. The law allows seventy days for 1 service. In our opinion twenty-five days are quite enough for the Coin- i missioners of Clarendon County to 1 serve, and .we recommend that the 1 representatives of this county endeav or to have the law amended accord- 1 ingly. *1. The chief idea with the Commission- 1 era seems to have been, just a little un- 1 der seventy days, as much mileage and as little work as possible. Suppose ii the poor house needs inspection. The t board meets at twelve o'clock, is in fa session an hour or two, and adjourns, c charging for a day's work. At that r meeting it is decided that the poor house must be inspec' ed. This house tV of charity is distant three miles from v Manning, and it would take only a c couple of hours to tide out and in- i spect it. The meeting of the board a and the inspection of the poor house t< eould all be done, and be easily done, e in a"'small day's work, and at an ad- p ditional cost to the county of only s: issioner would ever dream of such. Ele prefers waiting till a day when the board is not in session that he may reduce his seventy days, and, al so, an important item, may make xome additional mileage by the in spection. Men view the same thing through different eyes. But we are lrmly convinced in our own minds hat a Commissioner, who, when there s additiioal work to be done, that sould be dose the same day, yet will top at a two or three hours' work, and then the next or some subse luent day do this work that could lave easily been done in a former lay's work, is unfit to hold so impor ;ant a position. TREASUBER .ND AUDITOR. We found the Auditor's office ithout copies of Abstracts and Settlement Sheets prior to fiscal year 885-6, and we had to obtain certi led copies of same from the Comp roller-General's office. The certified opies we hate filed in the Auditor's >ffice where we hope they will be pre served as records of that office. The abstract and Settlement Sheet for 882--3 do not agree, differing by 126,675 in property, and $1520.10 in axes. After long and patient research we believe this to have been the Rail oad tax for that year. No record of his Railroad tax was made on the Lbstract, or Additional Abstract, or he Duplicates. The books of the Treasurer are ieatly and carefully kept, and in a >usiness-like way. We examined and ompared, very carefully, for the five rears Dr. H. H. Huggins has been 'reasurer, all the settlement sheets, ;bstracts, Treasurer's books and vouchers, and found but two errors, ne of which was in favor of the treasurer, a voucher for $3.08, for vhich he had taken no credit; and ne, a charge against the school fund or $85.34, for which the Treasurer Lad no voucher. The error of $85.34 was found in the settlement sheet ade May 11, 1885, for the fiscal rear 1879-80. The Treasurer readily kncwledged the error when his at ention was called to the fact, and ipon our order paid it in the recent ettlement made with Auditor D. J. 3radham. Had ex-Auditor Scott iven proper attention to counting the ouchers, this error could not have ccurred. We found, as stated in the Grand ury presentment of October, 1887, hat the Treasurer had collected $9.88 s additional taxes in Dec., 1886, for seal year 1885 -6, from 0. F. Good rin, and had not accounted for same. Ipon our order he accounted for ame in his last settlement. Mr. F. . Cooper also paid an additional the ame year (Dec. 1886) for one Nelson I rince, which was not duly and prop rly accounted for. It was subsequent accounted for. Had Auditor Scott iven proper attention to his duty, y immediately entering these addi ionals on his duplicate, these errors ould not have crept in. These were the only monetary er ars we found against Treasurer Hug ins. The Gr-and 3tm-y of 1887 wa listaken in reference to the A. C. itler matter. That tax was all en bred properly on the duplicates. Owing to a failure to find any re rd of additionals, our work was, of ourse, unsatisfactory, as we could on r take it for granted that the Treas rers have accounted in full for the additionals" collected. For this rea an it is impossible for us to arrive at ny conclusion with reference to the aiirty-eight names ($62.08) brought to se attention of the public by the resentment of the Grand Jury of 887. The Treasurer and ex-Auditor . . Scott both swear that they be eve this list was included in the list f additionals regularly accounted for i the settlement made September, 886. There are no records prior to scal year 1885-6 of any additionals, ther than the aggregate as given in ie abstracts and settlement sheets. Vith no record of course there can e no satisfactory report. The following table will show the mount of additional taxes for the, even fiscal years beginning Nov. 1, 876: FISCAL PROPEBTT POLL TOTAL AD. TEAB. TAX. TAX. CO. TAX. 1876 $ 16.18 8 14.00 $ 30.18 1877 266.83 689.00 955.83 *878 314.48 201.00 515.48 1879 322.96 264.00 586.96 t1880 22.96 351.00 373.96 1881 80.82 216.00 296.82 1882 134.21 99.00 .233.27 1883 52 01 317.00 369.01 1884 58.80 238.50 297.30 1885 721.13 369.00 1090.13 1886 218.02 247.00 465.02 NOE.-* indicates years in whiCh Dr. 3. Ingrm was Treasurer; t R. B. Harvin as 'Treasurer; :Dr. H. H. Huggins w'as reasurer. The following table shows the reg lar and additional assessment of the roperty of Clarendon County for ae twelve fiscal years, beginning No ember 1, 1876: sCAL REGULAB ADDIrION~AL TOTAL VALUE CB. ADBACT. ABSmerA. ALL PROPErTY. 176 $1,815,104 $ 3,236 $1,818,340 177 1,742,066 38,119 ),780,185 $78 1,618.313 52,414 1,670,727 379 1,252,687 40,373 1,293,060 180 1,392,657 2,551 1.395.209 181 1,414,620 19,103 1,433,723 182 1,536,479 18,521 1,555,000 183 1,627,984 5,944 1.633,928 184 1,596,218 7,840 1,604,058 185 1,491,265 96,151 1,587,416 186 1,690,844 27,252 1,718,096 $87 1.749,422 unfinished. The Treasurer was careless in pay ig checks, frequently paying claims 1at were not properly approved; and ~equently not having the checks or aims receipted or endorsed by the ayees. In this connection we would state iat the Treasurer should invariably ite or stamp in red ink paid on fl aims as paid, and the Auditor should kewise write or stamp cancelled on [ vouchers the Treasurer turns over him. The date of payment and of meellation should appear upon the rper. Much carelessness has been iown along here. Accounts have aen approved by approving offcers without- being properly made out and sworn to; Treasurers have paid them when not properly approved; Audit ors have received and cancelled them with all these imperfections, and pos sibly not even receipted. The Treasurer is required to sign the following oath to every abstract and additional abstract: "I do hereby certify * * that I "have compared the Treasurer's Du "plicate with the County Auditor's "Duplicate page by page, that the "two books are properly added and "proved, and that the tax and assess "ment is entered upon both Books." The Treasurer swore to the above oath in every instance, but in very few cases if any was the comparison made. It is owing to this "loose way of business" between the Auditor and Treasurer that called for the appoin' ment of this investigating commis sion. Auditor Scott would be behind in making up his abstract: the Treas urer would swear that there had been done what had no existence, to help him out of his troubik. The Treasurer would tell the Auditor that he had a certain amount of money on hand: the Auditor would then swear he had counted it, and the money was all there. These officers claim that the signing of such affidavits was more a matter of form. On Auditor Scott, however, must the burden of blame rest. Had he per formed his duty promptly and prop erly, and had he held the Treasurer to a strict accountability, no discord could have arisen; but the Auditor was negligent, and as far as "addi tional taxes"-were concerned, left it apparently eutirely to the honor of the Treasurer to account for them. Not one of Auditor Scott's books was ever completed. He says he kept a separate book for additionals, and when he turned over the office to his successor, D. J. Bradham, be left them in the office. Capt. D. J. Brad ham says that he never found any such book, and swears that he "never "mutilated or destroyed any books "since taking charge of the office." The Treasurer should have been sup plied with a duplicate of these addi tional books, and they too should have been filed in the Auditor's office. The Treasurer never had any such books. We cannot concur with the Grand Jury (1887) that the ii.com plete duplicates should be completed. As far as they go, and they will an swer all practical purposes, they are now books of record, but were any additional work done on them, or new books made, their value wopld then cease, not being originals. And right here let us place the blame, the first cause, where it belongs. The Auditor's and Treasurer's offices are a part of the department of State, and under the immediate ani direct control of the Comptroller General. It was his business and duty either to have required the work done proper ly, or to have recommended and re quested the derelict officer's immediate removaL Had the Comptroller General one his duty matters would have been ifferent. If Comptroller General Stoney knew that the work was not being done properly in the Auditor's ffice, and permitted things to no on hus, he was no more fit to fill the of ice which he held, than some of our ounty Commissioners were to dis urse the finances of Clarendon ounty. There is no evidence that Auditor Scott ever collected a cent of taxes hat was not immediately accounted or. The Treasurer testified that Mr. Scott sometimes assisted him in writ ng receipts, but he invariably got the noney. All the charges against Mr. Scott may be summed up in two words, carelessness and negligence. On August 29, 1888, near the close f our regular work, we called upon reasurer Huggins, and requested to e allowed to count the money on. and in the Treasury. We found $1550.50 on hand. In his settle mnt with the Auditor, October 19, 888, about two months later,.he ex ibited $2,812.52 as the amouht of oney on hand to the credit of the ounty. The Treasurer has no right r authority to lend out County funds. The present Auditor, D. J. Brad am, is performing the duties of his office in a systematic and business-like way. GR.AND JU1~is. Was the Grand Jury of 1887 justified n recommending the appointment of this investigating committee? We hink so. Grand Juries ought to have ore powers given them. The Leg slature should confer on them, or on the Foreman of a Grand Jury, full ower in the investigation of the ounty offices to examine all books, records, count mnoneys on hand, and suh other powers as to allow them to ake a complete and thorough inves tigation. Ordinarily the investigation f a Grand Jury is a farce, and their expert a greenhorn. Generally the report rea'ds something like this: "We have examined all the county offices, and find the books neatly kept," with possibly a slur at some officer not popular with the foreman. Because a man is a lawyer does not by any means constitute him an ex pert in -examining county offices, as the past history of Clarendon county will show. An expert should be prac tically familiar with the workings of the office he wishes to examine, and not a person supposed to be theoret ically familiar with the duties thereof. The law provides for four days' expert work. No Grand Jury should en deavor in this short time to examine ll the county offices. A better way ould be to ex.amine as many offices as could be satisfactorily examined, nd to leave the others for a succeed ing year. The Foreman of the Grand Jury f 1887 deserves high ecomiums for his work. By carefully studying the laws bearing on his dnties and the offices he had to examine, he was menale int-elliently to proeute his! work; and then after he had done his work aid made his recommendations, he had the spinality, if we be allowed to coin a word, to endeavor to gyet his recommendations carried out. Were all Grand Jurors as conscientious and persistent ashe was, Clarendon County would be better ofi. IN CONCLUSION. The work before us was enormous, and we could not in forty-five days give a thorough investigation of elev en years' work in four offices, but WE endeavored to distribute our work it such a manner as to obtain a fair ides of the workings of the School Com missioner's, County Commissioners' Auditor's, and Treasurer's offices those included in the Act of the Leg islature, for us to investigate. We have been engaged in this investiga tion much longer than the allotted forty-five days, and yet feel that our work is imperfectly completed. During our investigation we had occasion to summon before us a num ber of persons, and to send for nu merous books and papers, and we feel gratified at the prompt and courteous manner with which our demands were met. Respectfully submitted, S.A. NETTLES, Chairman. J. H. MONTGOMERY, Secretary. Manning, S. C., December 31, 1888. THEIR BUSINESS BOJMING. Probably no one thing has caused such a general revival of trade at Dinkins & Co.'s Drng Store as their giving away to their customers of so many free trial bottles of Dr. Kings New Discovery for Consumption: Their trade is simply enormous in this very valuable article from the fact that it always cures and never disappoints. Coughs, Colds. Asthma, Bronchitis, Croup, and all throat and lung diseases quickly cured. You can test it before buying by getting a trial bottle free, large size $1. Every bot tle warranted. EPOCH. - The transition from long, lingering and painful sickness to robust health marks an epoch in the life of the individual. Such a remarkable event is treasured in the memo ry and the agency whereby the good health has been attained is gratefully blessed. Hence it is that so much is heard in praise of Electric Bitters. So many feel they owe their restoration to health, to the use of the Great Alterative and Tonic. If you are troubled with any disease of Kidneys, Liv er or Stomach, of long or short standing you will surely find relief by use of Electric Bit ters. Sold at 50c. and $1 per bottle at Din kins & Co.'s Drugstore. BUCKLEN'S ARNICA SALVE. The best salve in the world for Cuts, Bruises, Sores, Ulcers, Salt Rheum, Fever Sores, Tetter, Chapped Hands, Chilblains, Corns, and all Skin Eruptions, and posi tively cures Piles, or no pay required. It is guaranteed to give perfect satisfaction or money refunded. Price 25 cents per box. For sale by J. G. Dinkins & Co. C. C. C. Cherry Cough Cure, at Dinkins & Co.'s. - STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. COUNTY OF CLARENDON. In the Common Pleas Court, - against' Mfartha H. Rhodus as administrator of the Estate of Gabriel D. Rhodus, deceased, and in her own right, and Mary A. Mont gomery, A'ugusta Keels, Ella C. Keels, Ed ward B. Rhodus, Emma Rhodus, Willie T. Rhodus, Samuel L. Rhodus, and Mat tie D. Rhodus, Defendants. Under and by virtue of an order to me :irected in above stated case by Judge B. C. Pressley, -bearing date November 1st, 1888, I will sell in front of Clarendon Court House at Manning, within legal hours of -ale, on Monday, the 7th day of January, 1889, the following property, to wif: First, that certain lot of land situate in tie town of Manning, in the County of Carendon in said State, containing two acres, more or less, and bounded on the north by the lot of land formerly owned by A. A. Strauss. but now of Dr. Jno. I. In ram; on the east by Brooks Street; on the south by the street dividing the lot herein described from the lot of Moses Levi; and on the west by lot formerly of E. M. Brad ham, and lot formerly of W. R. Carpenter, Sr. Terms cash. -AL0 That eertain tract of land situate in Clar endon county in said State known as the St. Marks place, containing one hundred and sixty acres, more or less,.- and bounded on the north by lands of .Tackson Pender grass, east by Innds cf Dr.' S. P. Oliver, outh by the Santee public rcoad, and west by lands formerly of G. E. Pritchett & CJo., and of the estate of Mrs. M. A. E. Cantey eceased. Terms: One-half cash, and balance on a credit of one year trom sale, secur ed by bond of the purchaser bearing ten per cent. interest, and mortgage of the premises. Purchaser to pay for papers. H. H. LESESNE, Sheriff Clarendon County. Dec. 12, 1888. Mortgagee'8 Sale. of a certain mortgage executed and deliv ered by Emily Lee to R. D. Rollins, dated the 1st day of February, 1887, and duly re :orded in the office of registrar of mense :onveyane. for Clarendon county, South Carolina, in k "M. M." at page 321. said mortgage and the nete thereby secured hav ing been duly assigned to me on the 9th day of March, 188, I will sell at public outcry before the Court House door in the town of Manning, South Carolina, on Mon day, the 7th day of January, 1889, at the usual hours of sale: All that pieee, parcel or tract of land sit ate on Lynch's River in Clarendon county and State of South Carolina, containing thirty-three acres, bounded north by Lynch's River, east by lands of Archie Car away, south and west by lands of Jesse arrawvay. Terms cash, Purchaser to pay for papers. B. WALLACE JONES, Assignee. C. MULLER, -DEALER IN FINE FAMILY GROCERIES. Headquarters for fine Wines, [Liquors, Cigars and Tobacco, AT BOTTOM PRICES. Kosher Beef, Fat, aud Sausage, fresh by very steamer. Country orders frilled with are; no charge for diayage and package. Corner King and George Streets, CHIARLESTON. S. C. CONSUMPTION SURELY CURED. TO THE Enrron-Please inform your read ers that I have a positive remedy for the above named disease. By its timely use thousands of hopeless cases have been per manently cured. I shall be glad to send two bottles of my remedy Fn to any of your readers who have consumption if they will send me their express and post office address. Respectfully, T. A. SLOCUM, M. C.. 181 Pearl st., N. Y. " 0. and 0. TEA ne chWood Tea &W W I. ABOLUTELV PURL. A MOAT D1UasOS TAmaGL 'I' Tn ili amveto S s bh3mUS*wis It is the Nsemr OGE Lass. from the best plantations and guasen bsati pureanfrefoaf dteaeuoedrf matte The pmalackages area~ and warranted fu weight. It is moss eos' omical in Use than the lowerpgades Oriental A O Wiea T"a C.., s't'n; $e"d~e.8 .aJiwA. Ul,mew Ter S. A. 1UOBYt Manning, S. C. Mortgaee'8 Sale, TNDER AND BY VIRTUE OF A POWEB of sale to me given by the provis ions of a certain moitgag eieeuited and de livered by J. A. Barfield and A. N. Barfield to B. W. Moore, dated the 12th day of Jan uary, 1888, and duly recorded in the ofeu of register of mense conveyance for Clar endon county. South Carolina, in vol. "P, P." at page 36, I will sell at public outcry before the Court House door in the town of Manning, South Carolina, on Monday, the 7th day of January, 1889, at the usual hour of sale: That certain tract or parcel of land situ ate, lying and being in Clarendon county, South Carolina, "bounded as follows: Nosh by Tarais of Pinckney Mims, east by lands of H. I. Barfield, south by lands of W, W. Young, and west by lands of 1. I 1. Kenzie." Terms cash. Purchaser to pay forpapers: B. W. MOORE. Mortgagee. Modgagee's Sale. U NDERANDByVIRTUEOFAPOWER of sale to me given by the provisions of a certain mortgage executed and deliv ered by Edwin W. Scurry to B. Wallace Jones, dated the 15th day of February, 1887, and duly recorded in the oece of registrar of mense conveyance for (laren don eounty, South Caraina, in book "E. K." at page 744, 1 will sell by public outcry in front of the Court House door in the town of Manning, South Carolina, on Mon day, the 7th day of January, 1889, at the usual hour of sale: All that certain piece, parcel or tract of land lying, being and situate in the county of Clarendon and State of oath Carolia, containing fifty acres, more or lesea bound ed north by lands of Miry Conyers, eastby land of Margaret Conyers, south by lands of Amlboy Mc~enzie, and w..e-y 2and of WV. F. Godwin. Terms cash. Purcer to py for per.. 3lortgagee. CHRISifMAS IS COBING! I Goods must be sold, and now is the time to save money in zmaking your purehases.. JOHN MORAN, of Sumter, is selling out his tremen dous stock of Winter Goods at the iery lowest prices ad iltes the people of Clarendon to call and see him. DRY GOODS, 6rocsis, Shoes,. Hats, Hardware, and in fact everything in the genemal merchandise line at JOHN MORAN'S, MAIN STRET ~~~ ~~Sumter, S. V. Jos. H. Miller, -DEALER IN Boot s hoes and Rubbers, TRUNKS,YAUSES,TRAVEUNGBAGS, ETC. No. 308 KnaG Smer, CHARLESTON, S. C. W. T. JOHNS, PDHOTOGRAPHER, 303 KING STREET, CH ARTETON, S. C. Cabinet Photos a specialty. Supe rior finish. Life Size Portraits in Crayon, Oil, Pastel, or Water Colors. CABINET PHOTOS $3,00 PER DOZER during Christmas Holidays. Satisfaction guaranteed. Instantaneous process. A ftall suppy of mixed nats at M. Kalis lUc's, Mannine,. C.(