WHEREAS, At an election ordered and held in accordance with the laws of this State the qualified voters residing in certain portions of Edgefield, Abbeville, and Greenwood Counties did decide by the necessary legal vote in favor of the formation of a new county; and,

WHEREAS, All the conditions required by the constitution and laws of this State regulating the formation of new counties have been fully complied with;

Section 1. Boundaries – Name – County Seat.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina: That a new county as a judicial and election district is hereby formed and established pursuant to the constitution and laws of this State, the same to have the following boundaries: Beginning at a point on the South Carolina-Georgia line in the Savannah River, opposite the mouth of Coffer Creek; thence a straight line, N. 45 degrees, E. 26,728 feet to the fork of roads at Riley’s; thence, the public road, in an easterly direction to Island Bridge over Little River; thence, continuing 6,978 feet to the fork of road; thence, turning to the east, following the right hand road to the south of Little River, known as White’s Creek; thence, a straight line S. 85 degrees, 30 minutes E. 23,800 feet to a point in the road near Clatworthy’s cross roads; thence a straight line N. 78 degrees, 15 minutes, E. 15,700 to a point on the Greenwood-Abbeville county line near Jordan’s mill; thence, the said Greenwood-Abbeville county line, in a southerly direction to its intersection with the C. & W. C. Railway, about one mile south of Troy; thence, a straight line north 58 degrees east 5,000 feet to a stake, south of the incorporated limits of Troy; thence, a straight line N. 46 degrees E. 19,659 feet to a stake on the Abbeville, Edgefield public road; thence, then said Abbeville, Edgefield public road in a southerly direction to a road opposite the Jabe Stone place; thence, 44 degrees, 30 minutes E. 7,200 to a stake; thence, a straight line S. 83 degrees E. 13,361 feet to a stake near or at Callison’s old mill on Cuffytown Creek; thence, up the tun of said Creek to the Callison-Kirksey Township line; thence, the said township line in an easterly direction to the Martintown Road; thence, the said Martintown Road in a southeasterly direction to the Greenwood-Edgefield county line; thence the said Greenwood-Edgefield county line in a westerly direction to a stake about one-quarter of a mile west of the old White place; thence, a straight line south 13 degrees E. 10,978 feet to a stake; thence, a straight line S. 35 degrees 45 minutes E. 20,400 feet to Cochran Bridge on Turkey Creek; thence, a straight line S. 26 degrees 30 minutes E. 16,800 feet to a point where a branch crosses a public road; thence, a straight line S. 59 degrees 30 minutes W. 27,908 feet to the run of Big Stevens Creek; thence, down the run of Big Stevens Creek to a stake; thence, a straight line S. 50 degrees W. 22,828 feet to the South Carolina-Georgia State line in the Savannah River; thence the said South Carolina-Georgia State line in a northwesterly direction to the beginning point. The said county is hereby named McCormick, and the County Seat thereof is hereby established in the town of McCormick.

§ 2. Commissioners – Powers – Duties – Compensation.

That the following named persons, J.E. Britt, T.J. Price, J.T. Fooche, J.B. Harmon, R.F. Morris, J.C. Kennedy, L.N. Chamberlain, Warren McDaniel, and W.R. Parks are hereby made and constituted Commissioners of the said county of McCormick, and they are vested with the power and authority to fill any vacancy that may occur by reason of death, resignation or otherwise of either or any of them by the election of some suitable person or persons to fill said vacancy; and they and their successors in office are hereby authorized, empowered and directed to have the boundaries of said McCormick County duly and permanently marked as now surveyed; and to provide a suitable court house and jail by erecting and equipping suitable buildings at the County Seat thereof; and they are further authorized and empowered to receive and accept in the name of and for the county of McCormick any bonds, money, lands or other gifts now donated or hereafter given towards the erection of said public buildings. The said commissioners and their successors shall continue in office and exercise the authority and power hereby vested in them until the said court house and jail have been erected and made ready for use: Provided, That the said Commissioners shall turn over to the County Board of Commissioners, or such other officers as shall be clothed by law with the authority now exercised by the said County Board of Commissioners, all of the said public buildings when completed and ready for use, and also all of said bonds, money, lands or other gifts in their hands belonging to the said County of McCormick, and not the used and not thereafter needed by them in the erection and proper equipment of said buildings, of all of which they shall be the sole judges, and then their powers and duties hereunder shall cease, and not until then. The said County Board of Commissioners, or such other officers as shall succeed to the rights and powers of the same, shall then take charge of all of the said property of said county so turned over to them by the said Commissioners. A majority of said Commissioners shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any and all business, and the acts of said majority shall be legal and binding to all intents and purposes. The said Commissioners at their first meeting shall elect a chairman and a secretary, and may adopt such rules and regulations for the proper conduct of their business as shall from time to time be deemed necessary. It shall be the duty of the secretary to keep an accurate book of all the proceedings and transactions of said Commissioners. The said Commissioners shall provide all necessary books, stationery and furniture for all county purposes made necessary, or that may become necessary, by the formation of McCormick County, and the expenses of the same shall be paid by said county. The said Commissioners are empowered, authorized and directed to lease temporarily all necessary offices and buildings for the purpose of conducting all county business and affairs. And they are further authorized, empowered and directed to provide a temporary place for the holding of all Courts in said county, and also a temporary place for the safekeeping of all prisoners in said county, and, in case they deem it necessary and advisable, they are authorized and empowered to make arrangements with the authorities of any adjoining county or with the State Penitentiary for the keeping of any prisoners, and all expenses so incurred shall be paid by the county of McCormick. The Commissioners shall each receive as compensation for their services the sum of five dollars per day, not exceeding fifteen days during each year, and also five cents per mile for actual mileage.

§ 3. Election of Officers – Duties – Special Election – Conduct.

That at the time of the general election in the other counties of this State in the year 1916, there shall be held a general election in McCormick County, and at the said general election there shall be elected a Senator, one Representative, a Sheriff, a Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas and Sessions, a Probate Judge, a County Superintendent of Education, a Supervisor, a Coroner and two County Commissioners, all of whom shall perform the same duties and have the same powers that are vested in like officers in the counties of this State where such officers are now provided for by law, and such other county officers shall be elected at the said election as are now provided for by law, as similar officers in the other counties of the State, so that said general election in McCormick County shall be uniform with the general election in the other counties of this State: Provided, That on the second Tuesday in April, 1916, there shall be held in the said county of McCormick a special election, at which time there shall be elected a Sheriff, a Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas and Sessions, a Probate Judge, a Coroner, a Superintendent of Education, a Supervisor and two County Commissioners. The term of office of these elected to the offices just mentioned in the foregoing proviso shall expire and terminate at the same time and in the same manner as the term of all similar officer expire after the general election of 1916, and each of such officers shall be commissioned accordingly, and where a bond is required to be given by law, each shall execute the same for such term. For the purposes of said special election and the said general election in said county of McCormick the Governor of this State is hereby empowered and directed to appoint upon the recommendation of the Commissioners named in Section 2, Commissioners of Election as now provided by law in the other counties of the State, and the same shall have like power and perform such duties as are now required and provided for by law. And the Governor is hereby authorized, empowered and directed to order the said special election by giving notice thereof for three successive weeks by proclamation in some newspaper published or circulated in the county of McCormick; and the Commissioners of Election hereinbefore directed to the appointed shall proceed according to the law to held said election and to do all things necessary and required by law of them in holding the same.

§ 4. Representation in General Assembly.

That until the next apportionment of representatives the said county of McCormick shall be entitled to one Senator and one Representative, who shall be elected at the general election herein provided for, and the county of Edgefield shall be entitled to one Senator and two Representatives, and the county of Abbeville shall be entitled to one Senator and two Representatives, and the county of Greenwood shall be entitled to one Senator and three Representatives.

§ 5. In Third Congressional District.

That the county of McCormick is hereby attached to the Third Congressional District, and shall form a part of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, and the regular terms of the Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions for the said county shall be held at such times as shall hereafter be fixed by law.

§ 6. Jurisdiction Over Territory.

That until the officers to be elected at the special election hereinbefore provided shall have been elected and duly qualified, and all officers required to be appointed have been appointed and duly qualified, each officer of Edgefield, Abbeville and Greenwood counties shall continue to perform and exercise the duties of his office in the territory taken from said counties respectively to form McCormick County; but when the said officers in McCormick County, as herein provided, shall have been elected or appointed and duly qualified, they shall immediately assume their respective duties under the laws of this State and the duties and powers of the officers of Edgefield, Abbeville and Greenwood counties shall cease in said county of McCormick at such time.

§ 7. Magistrates – Jurisdiction.

That the Magistrates now holding office and residing in the said county of McCormick shall be Magistrates of said county until their successors shall have been appointed and qualified, and they shall receive the same salaries and fees that they now receive, and they are vested with the same authority and jurisdiction that they now have: Provided, That in case there be any territory in McCormick County over which neither of the Magistrates in the said county have heretofore exercised jurisdiction, then either Magistrate in said county shall have jurisdiction in said territory in all matters wherein Magistrates now have jurisdiction. The said Magistrates’ Constables shall each receive the same salary and fees that each now received as provided for by law.

§ 8. Indebtedness Apportioned – Expenses – Counsel – Accountant.

The Governor is hereby authorized, empowered and directed to appoint a commission of seven persons, one of whom shall be a resident of Edgefield County, one a resident of Abbeville County, one a resident of Greenwood County, two residents of McCormick County, and the remaining two residents of some other county, which said commission shall divide and apportion between said new county and said old counties the present lawful and bona fide indebtedness of said old counties as provided for by the constitution of this State. All expenses incurred by the commission provided for in the section shall be paid by the county of McCormick, which shall not exceed fifteen days: Provided, That the said commission shall have power to employ counsel, if they deem the same necessary, to consult with and advise them in all matters appertaining to the performance of their duties under this section, and to pay such compensation as they may deem proper, which compensation shall be paid by the county of McCormick, and the said commission is further authorized and empowered to engage an expert accountant to assist them in their work, if they find the same necessary, and to pay such compensation as they deem proper, which shall be paid by McCormick County.

§ 9. Tax Books to be Prepared.

The Auditor of McCormick County, when appointed and duly qualified, together with the Auditors of Edgefield, Abbeville and Greenwood counties, respectively, shall proceed forthwith to make up and prepare such book or books that may be necessary under the law for the purpose of showing what property in McCormick County is properly returnable and taxable in McCormick County, and all tax returns made by property owners in McCormick County, or by those having property in McCormick County, or for poll tax, or otherwise, to the Auditors of either Edgefield, Abbeville or Greenwood counties for the year 1916, shall be delivered upon the preparation of such book or books to the Auditor of McCormick County, and all taxes both upon property and poss in McCormick County shall be payable hereafter to the Treasurer of McCormick County. The Auditor of McCormick County, after the preparation of such book or books, shall proceed according to law to furnish to the Treasurer of McCormick County such tax book or books as are now required by law for the purpose of the collection of taxes.

§ 10. Supervisors of Registration – Books – Where Residents May Vote.

The Governor is hereby authorized, empowered and directed to appoint, upon the recommendation of the commissioners named in Section 2, the board of supervisors of registration for the county of McCormick. The board of supervisors of registration for the counties of Edgefield, Abbeville and Greenwood are hereby directed to turn over to the said board of supervisors of registration of McCormick County all books of registration of the qualified electors who reside in McCormick County; and in case any book or books of registration contain the names of qualified electors of McCormick County and Edgefield, Abbeville and Greenwood counties, then the board of supervisors of registration of McCormick County shall make a list of the qualified electors residing in McCormick County from such book or books and shall enter the same in a book or books of registration, which when so turned over or prepared as herein provided shall be the books of registration in McCormick County to all intents and purposes: Provided, That if any qualified elector residing in McCormick County is registered at a voting place outside of said county he may bote at the nearest voting place in his township as established herein in all elections held under the laws of this State until he shall obtain proper registration in McCormick County.

§ 11. Jury Lists – Jurors – Grand Jury.

That the jury commissioners of Edgefield, Abbeville and Greenwood counties are herewith authorized, empowered and directed to furnish to the jury commissioners of McCormick County, within fifteen days after demand therefor by the jury commissioners of McCormick County, a list of all persons who are residents of the territory taken from each of said counties respectively, to form McCormick County, and who are liable to serve as jurors for the court of Common Pleas and General Sessions: Provided, That the persons whose names are so furnished shall be residents of McCormick County at such time. From the list so furnished to the jury commissioners of McCormick County there shall be forthwith prepared, as provided for by law, the jury box for McCormick County, and from such box shall be drawn according to law the petit and grand jurors and talesmen of the Courts to be held in McCormick County in the year 1916. And the jurors drawn are hereby declared to be lawful jurors to all intents and purposes: Provide, further, That the grand jury for the year 1916 shall be drawn for the Court of General Sessions in the said county of McCormick two weeks before the first term of said Court, and when so drawn shall be the grand jury of said county for said year: Provided, further, That hereafter the grand jury in said county shall be drawn as grand juries are drawn in the other counties of the State. The jury commissioners of McCormick County shall be the same as now provided for by law in Greenwood County.

§ 12. May Borrow Money – Purposes of Expenditure.

That the Supervisor of McCormick County in anticipation of the collection of taxes for said county for the year 1916, be, and is hereby, authorized and empowered to contract for and incur liabilities on behalf of said county of McCormick to the extent of $10,000.00, if so much is needed, for the purpose of defraying all necessary county expenses, which said sum shall be repaid from taxes collected in said county for said year, and to secure which said taxes are pledged: Provided, That the commissioners named in Section 2 are authorized and empowered to borrow not exceeding $3,000.00 for the purpose of defraying all necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties as herein prescribed: Provided, further, That any part of said amount so borrowed that may be on hand and not necessary to meet expenses already incurred up to the election and qualification of the Supervisor and County Commissioners of said county for ordinary county purposes, and thereafter the expenses incurred by said commissioners in the discharge of their duties shall be paid by said Supervisor upon the order of said commissioners.

§ 13. Treasurer – Auditor – Official Bonds.

That when the officers are elected and qualified as provided for in the special election hereinbefore ordered to be held, the Governor shall immediately appoint a Treasurer and an Auditor of said county for a similar and like term of office as that of the officers elected at said special election, and the bonds of all officers required by law to be bonded shall be fixed in an amount required by the commissioners named in Section 2, and shall be approved as required by law.

§ 14. Transfer of Causes.

That each civil action or proceeding now pending in the counties of Edgefield, Abbeville and Greenwood in which the defendant resides in that portion of said counties now established as McCormick County, and each indictment now pending in the said counties of Edgefield, Abbeville and Greenwood in which the offense charged was committed in that portion of said counties now established in McCormick County, shall be transferred to the calendars of the Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions respectively for the county of McCormick; and all the records, commissions and other papers belonging to any of said suits or indictments, together with all legal incidents thereto appertaining, shall be by the Clerks of said Courts of Edgefield, Abbeville and Greenwood counties transferred to the county of McCormick within ten days after notice and demand therefor by the Clerk of the Court of McCormick County: Provided, That the said Clerk of the Courts of McCormick County shall duly receipt to said Clerks of the Courts of Edgefield, Abbeville and Greenwood counties for each and every record, commission or other paper so transferred: Provided, further, That all cases, both civil and criminal, now pending before any Magistrate residing outside of McCormick County, shall be transferred to the nearest Magistrate in McCormick County, if the defendant in a civil case resides in the portion taken to form McCormick County, or if the offense was charged in a criminal case was committed in the territory so take to form McCormick County.

§ 15. Townships.

There shall be the following townships in McCormick County: Bordeaux, whose boundaries shall remain and be as they now are; Mt. Carmel, which shall include and consist of those parts of Calhoun Mills, Magnolia and Cedar Springs townships taken from Abbeville County into McCormick County; Indian Hill, whose boundaries shall remain and be as they are now; Greenwood Township, which shall include and be composed of those parts of Bradley, Twoy, Yeldell, Callison and Kirksey townships of Greenwood County taken into McCormick County; Washington, which shall include that part of Washington Township taken from Edgefield County into McCormick County; Plum Branch, whose boundaries shall remain and be as they are now; Edgefield, to include and consist of those parts of Moss, Collins, Hibler and Talbert townships taken from Edgefield County into McCormick County.

§ 16. Salaries.

The Sheriff shall receive an annual salary of $1,000.00, payable monthly, and the fees now allowed by law; the Clerk of Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions shall receive an annual salary of $500.00, payable monthly, and all the fees now allowed by law; the County Supervisor shall receive an annual salary of $1,200.00, payable monthly; the County Commissioners shall each receive an annual salary of $100.00, payable quarterly; the Superintendent of Education shall receive an annual salary of $800.00, payable monthly, and the fees allowed by law; the Probate Judge shall receive an annual salary of $300.00, payable monthly, and all the fees allowed by law; the County Treasurer shall receive an annual salary of $900.00, payable monthly, $300.00 of which shall be paid by McCormick County and $600.00 of which shall be paid by the State Treasurer according to law, and also fees now allowed by law; the Auditor shall receive an annual salary of $750.00, payable monthly, $250.00 of which shall be paid by the county of McCormick and $500.00 of which shall be paid by the State Treasurer according to law, and also all fees allowed by law; each member of the Board of Supervisors of Registration shall receive an annual salary of $75.00, payable quarterly, to be paid by the State. The Sheriff shall be allowed thirty cents per day for dieting each prisoner.

§ 17. Recording of Documents.

That until the election and qualification of the Clerk of Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions of McCormick County and the opening of his office ready for business, all papers, documents, commissions and records now required or permitted by law to be recorded shall be recorded as heretofore in either Edgefield, Abbeville or Greenwood counties with the same and like effect as when the territory take to form McCormick County was a part of said counties: Provided, That the recording shall be in the old county in which it would have been done had McCormick County not been formed; after his election and qualification of said Clerk, and the opening of his office for business, all papers, documents, commissions and records required or allowed by law to be recorded, shall be filed with said Clerk and by him duly recorded.

§ 18. Apportionment of School Taxes – Payment of Teachers – May Borrow Money for Schools.

That the Treasurers of Edgefield, Abbeville and Greenwood counties, respectively, together with the Treasurer of McCormick County, when one has been appointed and duly qualified, shall proceed to ascertain and determine the amount of money collected as taxes by said Treasurers of Edgefield, Abbeville and Greenwood counties in their respective counties for and on account of the free public schools located in the territory taken to form McCormick County; when the same has been so ascertained and determined, each of the Treasurers shall forthwith pay over to the Treasurer of McCormick County for the use of the free public schools of McCormick County the amount so ascertained, less the amounts paid out for an on account of said schools before the formation of the county of McCormick or that may be paid out pursuant to the following proviso: Provide, That the school authorities of Edgefield, Abbeville and Greenwood counties, respectively, shall draw the regular school warrants on the Treasurer of their respective counties in payment of the salaries of the teachers in the free public schools of McCormick County just as was done before the formation of said county, and the respective Treasurers of Edgefield, Abbeville and Greenwood counties, respectively, shall pay the same just as each respectively did before the formation of said county and while the territory taken to form the same was a part of his respective county; the drawing of said warrants by the said school authorities and the payment of the same by the said Treasurer shall cease when the said Treasurers turn over to the Treasurer of McCormick County the funds belonging to the free public schools located in McCormick County as herein provided: Provided, That the Superintendent of Education of McCormick County is hereby authorized, empowered and directed to borrow, if the same becomes necessary, sufficient funds to run the various schools in McCormick County the usual length of the time that the same have heretofore been run, and to secure the same he is authorized and empowered to pledge the taxes for the year 1916 of the several school districts for which, under the provisions of this section, he may borrow funds to carry the same for their respective usual terms.

§ 19. Township Boards of Equalization.

The township board of equalization of the townships and parts of the townships of Edgefield, Abbeville and Greenwood counties now embraced within the limits of McCormick County and herein formed into townships, shall serve as the township boards of equalization of said county for the remainder of the term for which they were originally appointed, and fill by appointment any vacancy on the said board occasioned by any reason whatsoever. The Governor shall also appoint new township boards where it may be necessary by reason of the formation of the new townships herein. The organization, procedure and duties of said boards shall be the same as the organization, procedure and duties of similar boards in Edgefield County.

§ 20. Transcript of Records.

That any person interested shall have authority to apply to the Clerk of Court, Sheriff, or Probate Judge of the counties of Edgefield, Abbeville or Greenwood for certified copies of any judgement roll, will, record, execution, decree or other paper on file in the office of the respective officers of said counties and said officers shall furnish the same promptly on demand, and when so obtained and filed or recorded in the proper office in McCormick County, said judgment roll, will, record, execution, decree or other paper shall have the same force and effect in McCormick County that each had in Edgefield, Abbeville or Greenwood counties, and said officers shall receive the fees therefor now allowed by law. Any record not so transferred, but remaining in the office of the respective officers in Edgefield, Abbeville or Greenwood counties shall continue in force and effect, and each shall have the same force and effect in McCormick County as if transferred and made a record in the proper office in said county. The Sheriffs of Edgefield, Abbeville and Greenwood counties upon application made by the plaintiff, or his attorney, in any judgment of record in said counties, shall deliver to the Sheriff of McCormick County any and all executions and papers in his office in which the Sheriff of McCormick County shall receipt to the proper Sheriff of said counties, the said execution and papers when duly entered upon the Sheriff’s books in McCormick County shall thereafter have the same force and effect as they previously had in the counties of Edgefield, Abbeville and Greenwood before they were transferred, and the Sheriff shall receive therefor the fees allowed by law.

§ 21. Liabilities Assumed – Attorney’s Fee – May Borrow Money for Payment of Fee.

That the County of McCormick is hereby made liable for, and the same is hereby made a debt of McCormick County, all necessary expenses and liabilities, including attorney’s fee and actual expenses incurred in the promotion of the formation of said county, which said expenses and liabilities hereby made an obligation and debt of McCormick County, except the attorney’s fee and expenses, shall be submitted to and filed with the commissioners named in Section 2, which said commissioners shall audit the same, and when so audited the same shall be paid by said commissioners out of the funds authorized by this section to be borrowed by it: Provided, That the amount of attorney’s fee herein made a debt and liability of McCormick County shall be and the same is hereby fixed at the sum of $5,000.00, and to meet and pay said attorney’s fee hereby made a liability of McCormick County, and also to refund the expenses incurred by the petitioners in the formation of the county and to provide the money with which to pay the same, the commissioners named and created in Section 2 are hereby authorized, empowered and directed to borrow, in the name of McCormick County, a sum sufficient to pay the same, and the said commissioners are hereby authorized and empowered to secure the same by duly pledging so much taxes of McCormick County for the year 1916 as may be necessary.

§ 22. Laws in Force – Conflict of Laws.

That all laws now of force in either Edgefield, Abbeville or Greenwood counties are hereby made of force in McCormick County, when not inconsistent with the provisions hereof: Provided, That in case there be any conflict between any of the laws now in force in Edgefield, Abbeville or Greenwood counties which by this section are made of force in McCormick County, then and in the event the law now in force in the territory taken from Abbeville, and the law now in force in the territory taken from Edgefield County, and the law now in force in the territory taken from Greenwood County, to form McCormick County, shall be the law of force, until otherwise provided, in the territory so taken respectively from each of said counties.

§ 23. Funds to Be Paid to Treasurer by Edgefield County – Act Not to Affect Certain Questions – Act Not of Force Under Certain Condition.

The Clerk of Court of Edgefield County of the Treasurer of the same, whichever in whose hands and custody or otherwise the funds originally deposited with said Clerk by the petitioners seeking to form McCormick County as required by law may now be, is hereby empowered and directed to forthwith pay the same to J.E. Bradley, Treasurer of the petitioners, or his order: Provided, That the passage of this Act shall not be construed as affecting any question pending before the Supreme Court in the case of Robinson, et.al. v. McCown, Chairman, et. al.; nor shall this Act be of force unless the decision of the Supreme Court shall be favorable to said new county.

§ 24. When Act Effective.

This Act shall not go into effect until after the decision of the Supreme Court on the appeal now pending from the State Board of Canvassers on the question of forming McCormick County, and not then unless said decision shall be in favor of said county.

§ 25. Inconsistent Acts Repealed.

All Acts and parts of Acts inconsistent with the provisions hereof, are hereby repealed.

Approved Feb. 19, 1916.

Apparently, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of McCormick County since it exists.