The Barnwell people. (Barnwell, S.C.) 1884-1925, December 09, 1915, Image 1
K-'.ff
'Volume XXXIX
PRESENTMENT OF GRAND
JURY. IS MOST ABLE PAPER
Important
Attantion Cal lad to Soaaral
* Matter*.
, To the Honorable J. W. Deyore, Pre
siding Judge: r
We, the Grand Jury of Barnwell
County, beg leave to submit this, our
final presentment:
1. We have passed upon all bills and
otherwise completed our work as shown
in this report.
2. We desire to commend the Sheriff
upon the manner in which he has per-
_ forraedJ(Ts\|utjes in reference to the
violating of our laws against the sales
of intoxicating liquors, and we urge
upon him the necessity of continued
vigilance in the performance of his
duties in this respect and also in regard
lo a second violation of this law by
persons who are convicted at the pre
sent term ot court and fined $100.00,
975.00 of which was suspended during
good behavior. We defer to the judg
ment and wisdom of your Honor in
suspending the greater portion of these
fines during good behavior and trust
' - that your Honor’s action mill have all
^ of the good effect and influence intend-
f , but in view of the flagrant viola-
ps of this law and the public senti-
nt against criminals of this class, as
pressed by the formation of numer
ous law and order leagues in this coun
ty for the enforcement of liquor laws,
we earnestly recommend to your Hon
or’s successor that moat atringent mea
sures be hereafter applied; and with
reference to these suspended fines we
ask that the Sheriff use his utmoet
efforts to carry out the sentence of your
Honor upon the first violation of law by
the person so sentenced.
3. In connection with the foregoing
we here call attention of the Delegation
to the General Assembly to the fact
that in the performance of his duties,
as above stated, in which we have found
cause to compliment the Sheriff, we
are informed that the Sheriff expend
ed the sum of $80.95 in the employment
of a detective and the furnishing of
money for the apprehension of viola
tors of our liquor laws and we recoin
mend to the Delegation the present
ing therewith itemized statement of
said expense.
4. The attention of the Sheriff inhere
called to the sale of what is commonly
know as Jamaica Ginger. We are in
formed that for the sale of Jamaica
Ginger the United States Government
requires the vendor to have a liquor
license and that Jamaica Ginger con
tains about ninety per cent alcohol and
is sold by druggists and merchants in
this county in considerable quantities
sod used by the purchasers as a bever
age. This appears to us to be a plain
violation of law and we bring it to the
attention of the Sheriff and others of
the county concerned in the enforce
ment of law.
5. We have yisited the county poor
yard and have to report one Joe Lam
bert, an inpiate, had on hand rations
^jar about one month while all other
rRmater are given rations for one week
a time. We understand that the
* manager is not careful in his handling
of supplies and we bring this to the
attention of the County Board of Com
missioners for such action as they deem
necessary. There is also a w#man who
is an inmate of the poor house and
is able to work. We here call the at
tention of the County Board of Com
missioners to Sections 969 and 1529 of
the Code, of 1912, which requires that
they shall provide work for able-bodied
inmates of the^oor house.
We also call the attention of the Coun
ty Board of Commissioners to Section
977, which requires them to make a
report to the Presiding Judge at the
last term of the General Sessions in
each year, to be by him submitted to
the G-and Jury, containing all their
actions and doings for the fiscal year,
and containing and itemized statement
of amounts ordered to be paid by them,
with'a list of intnates an the condition
of the poor house farm and inmates.
This report has ndit been furnished to
the Grand Jury.
6. In this connection we call the at
tention of the County Board of Com-
missionep* to the fact that the present,
officer of the poor yard is also
^Coroner of the county.^ Section
[)70 requires the board to appoint a
Superintendent of the poor house and
, we are informed that the Supreme
Court in the case of Sanders vs. Belue,
78 S. C.^ 173, has held that this Super-
Mfetendent is a public, officer. There-
^^t*e, under Article 2, Section 2 of the
Constitution Of 1895, the Coroner is not
eligible for this office.
7. We have visited the other county
offices and find that they are in a neat
condition. Our visit did not give us
further knowledge for the reason that
; no member of the Grand Jury felt cap
able of making such an investigation as
would enable us to make a report, that
» *-
these county offices are hi good condi
tion in ail respects. We have, however,
appointed a committee, consisting of
A. A. Lemon, chairman, R’. R. Johnston
and B. F. Owens, to make an investi
gation of all county offices lind to em
"Ju»t Like a Member of Iff* Family”
BARNWELL, S. C, DECEMBER 9. 1915.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE
SOCIAL AND PERSONAL
NEWS FROM ALLENDALE
To the Grand Jury for Barnwell County:
Your committee appointed to examlpe and investigate the affairs Of the
ploy an expert accountant and assis-' count y dis P en “ r y ,or Barnwell County respectfully reports: *
tant in such part of the work as they' Tbat ’ under order of Circuit Judge T. J. Mauldin, dated March 20,1915, fix-
may find this assistance necessary, and ^compensation to be paid, your committee employed two expert accountants
and with their assistance have examined and investigated the office, books, son Jr -> entertained at
Bril-
to that end we are petitioning your!
Honor to fix the compensation of this p * per8 ’ vouchers accounts of the county dispensary board for the period
expert accountqnf. and assistant. j f rom October 20th, 1913, to April 16th, 1915.
8. Wfth all deference to your Honor ! That your committee herewith submits the report made by its expert accoun
antfthe Bar, we beg to say that we, as a tant8 ’ whicll > in the opinion of your committee, is clear apd in sufficient detail.
In connection with this report, your committee further reports:
1. As to the following, quoted from page five: ,
“Credit balance of $23.97 to Dispenser C. D. McClendon is the net result of
our adjustments as follows: . v
Adjustment No 2, crediting him with error 3Q.06
“ No 15, charging him with errors . ^. . .6.03
Out-«f town Guette Haaored i
Beat Social Affairs, i
^Allendale, Dec 4.—On the afternoon
of Thanksgiving Mrs. R, P. Sear-
bridge, compli-
i
.1
anac
Grand Jury and as citizens, have -the
greatest respect for the officers whose
duty it fit to conduct the administration
of justice in the Court of General Ses
sions, and to the end that this respect
survive and be felt and acted upon by
all the citizens of our county, we beg
to ask tbat the Bar be ever upon its
guard to observe all of the rules of the
courts as to decorum, and to do all with
in their power to enhance the dig
nity of the office of the Pre
siding Judge in the Court of General
Sessions. It would be difficult for the
Grand Jury to say in what particulars
the conduct of attorneys in this court
indicates a lack of respect for the dig
nity of the court,but their dress,manner
and conduct is always observed by
citizens in attendance upon court, and
has its influence upon their attitude
toward the court.
9. We have also made some investi
gation as to the Magistrates of the coun
ty, and find that in some cases costs in.
criminal cases have been collected and
not turn over to the county, and in
some cases fines have not been turned
over to the county and the case not
placed on the docket'of the Magistrate.
In other cases on the Magistrates docket
it is not shown whether a fine was paid
by the person or whether be went to
the chain gang. Some of these irregu
larities were due to ignorance and as to
the others we are making further inves
tigation and will report the result there
of at a later time.
10. At the March, 1915, term of court
we anpointed a committee composed of
W. L Johns, R. R. Johnston, H. Jeff
Hair, A. A. Lemon and C. W. Calhoun
to make an investigation of the office
of the Dispensary Board. We employ
ed two expert accountants to assist iq
this investigation and we present to
the court herewith, as part of this
presentment, the report of this com
mittee and the report of said expert
accountant to the committee.
In connection with this report of the
committee we call the attention to the
matter of five casks of beer which were
shipped to B. A. Best at Ulmer and
which we later found Went to Fairfax
by mistake. We called before us C. D.
McClendon, dispenser at Fairfax, to
explain, if he desired to do so, why he
held this beer from March, 1914, to
April, 1915, after which time he per
mitted the present dispensary board to
charge him with the sum of $90 as con
sumer’s price of said beer. Mr. Mc
Clendon stated that some time back,'
before this investigation, he paid I. L.
Tobin, former clerk of the board, the
sum of $54.75 in settlement of the matter
and took his receipt therefor, which
receipt Mr. McClendon exhibited to the
Grand Jury. From this report of the
committee, in connection with the
report of the accounting it will be seen
that when the board charged Mr. Mc
Clendon with the sum of $90, it made
an overcharge of $54.75, for the reason
that the board had already through its
former clerk the sum of $54.75 on this
shipment of goods. The present board
should, thereford refund Mr. McClen
don the sum of $54.75. We understand
that Mr. Tobin, the former clerk, is
absent from the State at present but the
Grand Jury will continue its inquiry
into this matter.
' c - , v ' • \
111 The matter of white men living
with negro women-has been brought to
our attention. We shall give this mat
ter consideration, and now place it
before the officers of the county whose
duty if is to enforce the law, and also
place it before those citizens of the
county who know of such violations of
the law, and ask that they report speci
fic instances to Grand Jury.
12. In conclusion we beg to say that
we think it advisaule to continue the
Court of General Sessions until
mentary to her guest, Mrs. McDuffie
Hampton of Columbia. After the games
the guests were invited into the dining
roOih, where a luncheon was served.
The honor guests were each presented
with an embroidered handkerchief..
The highest score was won by Mrs. W.
T. Oooge^ '
In compliment to her guests, Mes-
uames Fred T. Buice of Columbia and
t \ ... " I Gilmore Simms, Jr., and W. Porter
Net. difference to his credit $23.97 ■ Beaufort, Mrs. James M.
The chances are that the board will have an offset of $90against this balance, 1 Pstterson entertained at cards Friday
growing out of shipment of March 20th, 1914, of five casks of Blue Ribbon Beer
to B. A. Best at consumer’s price, $18 per cask. Best claimed non-receipt of
these goods and received credit for some. On Oct. 12, 1914, the Southern Rail-
w ay Co. paid the Board $54.75, cost price of these goods, but since that time the
rail road claims it has traced the delivery of these goods to Dispenser C. D. Mc-
Clendon. If the road’s contention be sustained, then it follows that Mr. Me.
Clendon is liable to the board for these goods at selling price, $90, and the board
in turn to the Southern Railway Co. for cost, $51.75.”
The present board informs your committee that this matter has been adjust
ed by refunding to the Southern Railway Company $54.75 and charging the
dispenser at Fairfax the sum of ninety dollars.
2. Beginning on page seven of this report appears the following:
“It is apparent, as a result of this audit, the assets of the board have been
a ugmented by the following itenls, viz: Errors, Omissions, etc. (See Schedule
No. 13.)
Adj. No. 2, 16 and 22, Correction against
B. A. Best $122.45
“ No. 5* correction against M. C. Lee 4.80
“ No. 6, •** “ E.G. Bolen ,...; 96.21
** No. 7, “ “ F.H. Gantt ..... 36.00
“ No. 8, -" “ W. P. Walsh 27.56
** No. 10, cash from I. L. Tobin, clerk 66.00
Carried forward .'.-,841.03
Errors, Omissions, Eta. (See Schedule No. 13.)
Amount brought forward $341.03
Caah from L L. Tobin, clerk for sale of
barrels—collection Nov. 5, 1914, but not
put on cash book until April 16, 1915 93.00
Cash from I. L. Tobin, clerk, Ry. claims
collected in Oct. 1914, but nqt entered
on cash book until April Id, 1915. -r.. 108.67
Cash from sale of barrels collected from
time to time—turned in by manager bot- ‘
tling works April 28,1916 33.00
No. 12. Balance from W. P. Walsh 132.36
No. 13. Charge to Harris, Johnson k
Co., purchases 4.00
W. C. Weller k Sons, purchases \ 36.80
Corrections against C. D. McClendon 6.03
“ •• D. E. Rice 154.02
Adj.
No. 14.
No. 15.
No. 21.
evening. After a number of spirited
gamex Mrs. W. Arnold Searson was
found to hold highest score and was
awarded first prize fon the ladies, a
box of correspondence cards, and J.
Gail lard Stoney, holding hiffctft score
for men, received a pack of eifrds. The
honor guests received souvenir prizes.
A salad course with coffee was served.
Saturday afternoon' Mrs. Alfred A.
Patterson entertained at bridge in
honor of Mrs. F. T. Buice of Columbia
and Mrs. W. Porter Danner of Beau
fort. Appropriate to the season the
room was decorated with brilliant au
tumn foliage and crimson
Mrs. Edward H. Oswald woa the
prize, a box of powder, which she in
turn presented to her guest, Mrs. J.
Norman Walker of Bamberg. As
minder of the afternoon's pleasure Mm
guests of honor were each
with a box of correspoadeuoe
A salad course was served
games.
Mrs. John Qailiard
tained at cards Monday afternoon in
compliment to Mrs. W. Porter Dan
ner of Beaufort. The top score prize
was won by Mrs. F. T. Buice of Co
lumbia and Mrs. Danner was pre
sented with a boudoir cap of lace. A
sweet course with coffee wai
Mrs. W. Gilmore Simms, Jr., of Barn
well is the guest of Mrs. James M. Pat
terson.
Mrs. Tison and Mias Tlaoo of 8a
vanoah have returned to their home
after visiting relatives ia Allendale.
15
OTT NARROWLT.ESCAKS
COSTLT,CONFUGXATK>W
to Dee-
V trey Valuable Property.
Barnwell has narrowly escaped two
costly conflagrations within the past
week. The first was when a pan of
gasoline caught fire in a local garage,
being smothered before any daaaage
was done. The second occurred Tues
day night at 9:30 o’clock, when the
stables and warehouse of R. W. Dicks
k Son, were totally destroyed, the loss
amounting to between $7,000 and $8,0001
partially covered by insurance.
When first discovered, the fire was
burning fiercely in the loft of the build
ing and spread with such rapidity that
very soon both buildings were a mass
of flames. At one time it was feared
that the adjoining store building, occu
pied on the second floor by Mrs. Attiw
way and down stairs by R. W. Dicks k
Son, would also be consumed, bot by
hard work the volunteer fire fighters
succeeding in confining the fire to the
two buildings, although the second
story was badly damaged by water and
much damage was done to the house
hold effects of Mrs. Attaway. For some
time entrance to the lower floor, where
the fire was eating its way through a
door, was refisssd by the owners of the
building, but they were finally persuad
ed to open the door and the
quickly subdued.
The origin of fee fire is
W0BK OF PASTWEEK IN
m GENERAL sEsaon
Total ...:. $908.90
The above item is exclusive of Railway
Claims put on book by Adjustment
No. 19, Schedule 13 $397.50
Bringing total increase in assets to $1,306.40
So me Probable Additional Benefits:
In addition to this total, if it be held that premiums paid ou the surety bonds
of dispensers and members of the board aggregating $307.50
also expenses, in addition to salaries, collected by
two members of the board amounting to ..• 193.50
by improper charges against expense; and finally —
the unearned salaries of the board, from date of
removal in March, 1915, to end of March, 1915, be
paid back, (approximately) 83.33
T he final benefits measured in dollars and cents will amount to $1,890.73
(a) The present board informs your committee that the items shown above
to tailing nine hunnred eight and 90-100 dollars, have been adjusted and taken
in to account on the books of the board.
(b) As to Adjustment No. 19, Schedule 13. the following appears on Sche-
d ule 13, sheet No. 5, of the report:
‘19.
Southern Railway Company^ Dr $273.75
Seaboard Air Line Ry. Dr 123.75
TbeCtvk
At the regular monthly meeting of
the Civic League Monday afternoon,
Dr. R. S. Bailey submitted certain plans
for beautifying the school grounds,
which were adopted. Each patron of
the school and every citizen at the
town is requested to donate a tree.
Water or live oaks are preferred, but
any suitable shade tree will be accep
ted. They should be 6 or 8 feet tall.
Mr. Barksdale has very kindly consent
ed to supervise the planting of the
trees. ■*
Each member of the League who at
tended the meeting promised two trees,
and those who were not present sre
requested to send a like number to the
school house on Monday, the 13th inst.,
by 9 o’clock a. n>., where a committee
will receive them. It will take approxi
mately 125 trees to carry out the idea
suggested by Dr. Bailey. «-
The Court of
this county is still ia
Jury having recommended that aB J*
be disposed of before final ad
journment. Quite a number gf ansae
tried duriag the |
guilty to the
day. Caaas disposed of i
Alex Harris pleaded
chsrge of violating the
and was sentenced to pay a fine ofjMP
or servo all
on payment of 826,
to I
m4 better/ with is tout to kin, psinttag
firearms si another and carrying son-
cealed weapons, wan ooavktod
aault and battery of a Ugh and
vated nature and sentanood to pay a
fine of $75 or serve 9 months at hard
labor.
Nathaniel Felder, charged with as
sault, was found guilty of assault and
battery of a high and aggravated aatnrs
and sentenced to 12 months at
labor.
Richard Walker and Thos.
were convicted of larceny from the (laid
and sentenced to two years
labor.
Isham Charlton charged with i
was convicted of manslaughter.
.Henry Gadsden, alias Henry Johnson,
charged with murder, was convicted of
carrying concealed weapons apd sen
tenced to pay a fine of $25 of serve M
days at hard labor.
To purchases L 397.50
Shipment Aug. 27, 1914, 25 bbls.
Blpb Ribbon Beer claimed lost in
transit from Barnwell to Fairfax
by Sou..Ry. Co.,cost $273.75
This claim is in the hinds4)f Col.
V. S. Owens, atty., for suit. ' ■ . '
Shipment Nov: 14, 1914, 15
bbls. Cooks Beer, claimed
lost in transit between Barn- .
well and Ulmers by S. A. L. - ^
Ry. Co., cost .....123.75
$397.50
The People’s good friend. Magistrate
L. H. Williams, of-Ulmer, who was in
the city last week, has informed the
editor that a large turkey gobbler is
fattening for our Christmas dipner.
And that’s the best news we have heard
it some time.
, The Ladies’ Guild of the Episcopal
Church met at the home of Mrs. C. CL
Simms Tuesday afternoon.
The football game between fee Barn
well and Blackville High School elevens
did not materialize last week, being
called off on two separate occnrionb by
the latter.
———— - i
board has ako caused Dispensers Best, Lee and Hutto to refund to the
the premiums paid by the board for their bonds, these matters not being
tioned in the report of the expert accountants.
(f) As to the item of one hundred ninety-three k 50-100 dollars, ScVdelt
No. 6 shows this expense charged to be:
• .B. F. Peeples, railroad fares and dinners , ' - ..
September 16, 1913, fe Mrroh 13, 1915 .$100.95
S. A. Wise, railroad feres and dinners
Sep t. 6, 1913, To March i, 1915, expens
to Columbia, $7.35, and check No.
' ' ” - 936 for $9.50 * o»«
$MO50
Your committee is advised that this is not a proper or legal charge »g»i»»«*
the dispensary fund, and the present board* informs your committee that this
money has not been refunded to the board.
j* - And, the board further informs your committee that the present board fa
continuing likewise to reimburse its members for actual necessary exp
Both these claims have been filed against-the railroads and dispensers cred
ited with goeds on their stoed books, yet the Ry. companjes have not been
charged with these claims on the books of the dispensary board.”
The present board informs your committee that suit has been entered against
the So uthern Railway Company for the item of two hundred seuenty-three &
a ll : 75-100 dollars, and as io the item of one hundred twenty-three & 75-100 dollars
jail cases shall have been disposed pf, the b oard informs your committee that this claim arose Out of the issuance of a
and as to this matter we ask the con- duplicate bill of lading by the railroad. And that, therefore, the claim is not
sideration of your Honor and the Solid-. we U founded. . . * .... 4
tor - |> (c) As to the item of three hundred seven * 50-100 dollars, premium bond, -iacurredi the performance of their duOes!
13. We beg to thank your Honor, the Schedul e No. 41, shows that one hundred twenty * 00-100 dollars of this is for | 3. Further, your committee calls attention to Schedule Four showiaw
Solicitor and other officers of. the court premiums on bonds of members of the board. ^ - i lignors, beefs and wines purchased during this period and Schedule Three
for the courtesy and assistance extend-1 Your coinmittee is advised that this is a proper charge against the dispen- showing payments made and amounts stall due on these purchases. AnrU 1«.
ed to us in the performance of our sary fund. ~ . . .— , 1915. In this connection your committee reports Uiqt it undertook to have fee
duties at the present session, and trust , (d) Thirty-seven *50-100 of this three hundred seven and 50-100 dollars is board investigate thoroughly and make proper adjustments with all of feeae
thati^wijl be our pleasure .to have sh own by Schedule No. 11 to be for premium On bond for the clerk of the board, creditors, but the board was evidently of the opiaioo that aQ of
your Honor soon again topreside over Your committee Is also advised that this is a proper charge against the
the courts of Barnwell County. d ispensary fund, being a charge that the board could make against the dispen-
Respectfully submitted, sary fund or against the clerk, at its pleasure. " ^
W. I. Johns, Foreman. | (e) As to the remainder of this three hundred seven * 50-100 dollara, to-
w it: One hundred fifty * 00-100 dollars, this sum is shown by Schedule No. 11
to be for premium on bonds of dispedaers Rice, McClendon, Wise and Gantt
Yo ur ccmmittee fa id vised that this is not a proper charge against the dispen
sary fund, and the present board informed your committee that this matter has
be ea adjusted with each of the above named dispensers, and further, that fee
Attorneys J. Henry J. hnson and R.
P. Searsoq, Jr., of Allendale were io
the dty oa professions! oust ness sales-
ilay.w .
debts were just, end now informs your committee that all of
been paid. In this matter a great part of the work of your
attorney has failed to produce material results. ‘
4. That under inftructions of JudgeManldia, given to the
the March, 1915, term of court, your committee employed a
Boul ware, Esq . to assist it and fat expert accountants ia
your committe feels that the
ducted fairly. * ~ ;