The Sumter Banner

THE COURT,
Of Common Pleas and General Sessions for Sumter District, began its sittings on Monday, 1st. inst., his Honor Judge Josiah J. Evans, presiding.

The business on the Dockets cannot be disposed of in six days. Notwithstanding an Extra Court held by Judge Wardlaw in July last, there still remain on the Issue Docket 74 old cases and at the lowest calculation 50 new ones will be added.

There is a heavy Docket preparing for the criminal side of the Court. On the Traverse Docket are 14 old cases, two of assault with intent to kill; other Indictments of a like offence have been given out by the Solicitor. Two cases for murder against the unfortunate Reuben S. Stark, who paid the debt of nature, by hanging, in July last, are still on that Docket—and the Solicitor has under consideration two new cases of a like nature. Independently of these, there are numerous cases of a milder character for libel, assaults, batteries, negro trading, bastardy, larceny, &c.&c.

The Judge seems determined to make an impression on the business in the Court, but we fear that its accumulation will prove too hard for him. No Extra Court can be ordered between this and the Spring Term; the unfinished business of the present Term must find its way, with the new business, to the same Docket at the next Term—an Extra Court in July or August will be the result.

The experiment of a Term of two weeks has cleared the Dockets at Columbia—why not give two weeks to Sumter, at least until the business is finished. Three weeks of court have proved insufficient for several years past—the business of the District demands four. Cannot our Senators and Representatives devise, in their wisdom, some legislation suitable to our condition? The next session of the Legislature will afford a fit occasion for the trial.