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The Abbeville Press and Banner. | BY HUGH WILSON. ABBEVILLE, S. C., WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13,1901. ESTABLISHED 1844 1 DIDN'T KNOW ITS NAME. Thought It Whs the Southeastern T?riH Association. The Charleston Kxpotdtlon with h great big name Is well known, but our people generally are not acquainted with Its full baptismal name. One day last week we saw halt dozen men talking about the Indian Show, and we asked If any one of them knew its real name. Nobodyknew. Another s<iuad of men were asked to name the show. None could do It. At the Literary Club last Friday night, the same question was asked. Mr. Fraser Lyon, Committeeman for the show was the only man that hart memorized the name. .So out of twenty-eight whom we had met, oniy ine local agent. iu getting up tbe show, could rvch II the full name. One man made more than one attempt to call It, hut tailed, when he said, "it must be the Southern Tarlii' Association " We let it go at that. Siuce Congress ^ refused to mak? an appropriation lor the show, it is possible that the exhibition will I be curtailed, and It might be well to curtail I tbe name to a like extent. Up to tbe present time the people of Wash ington and the West Indian* have uot taken J much stock in It We notice that our sister ?owu of Green-1 wood is enthusiastic for Charleston. lu the j count out the good old city by the sea, will find that she has friends at Abbeville, too. > Because the Press and Banner Is not taklug a B'fttl IIIIIUUUl <>l Min n IV lin-U IH'V Uirn.mnsr Charleston. This newspaperdoesn't own Ah-i beville, and It doesn't go around to auk peo- j pie's opinion, and then eootf and print, them | H8 our own. We try to state (scls accord it< 2 | to the lights before us, and the oplnio'-s which we utter are our own. Abbeville 1* getting up a show, and rather tbau see the | Char eston show fall we will ship our surplus { thing", which we may have left over, to All out the tli'or space in ?ome of Charleston's j magnificent p-ilaces. We shall call a meeting. of the Abbeville, International, JSomh Ameri-' can and Philippine Island Agricultural, Mechanical and Industrial Exhibition to seel what heip can be had. We shall not wait for ; a Congressional appropriation. Hut will act at once. Abbeville can at least send some Conledt rate relics. We can luruish a storv about the delegates who came from Charles-' ton to speak at the first Secession meeting. I and then we can tell bow Jell Davis held hss last Cabinet meeting In Abbeville. We have i a great quantity of palms here now. They are tbe fad these days, but as Churles'on has the Isle of Palms, our trees would not count. We Inherited lrorn our grand mothers sotno embroideries, and we might get up a lew ! specimens. We shall help Charleston. ANDERSON'S BR A Discharge Their Dut^ Slavery Will STATE COURTS ABLE AND WRONGDOERS-NO OtH BENET EXPLAINS DIFFER ILLEGAL CONTRACTS. Stockades, Whipping Masters, Longer Required to Conti County?Guilty Parties to Staff Correspondence of the State. | Anderson, March 7.?This Ik not to be a ' sensational story after the manner of thel nkli?^al?vklo Wap??. Amurli>un tt will f*iVP i ruiiauoipuio VI W" MtMVI .VKMi - only the bare facts about the Ixborcontract abuses. the stockade *alvery system which had aroused the Interest, and ttie indication of a county, a Stale and even a nation. Those facts are all contained iu the strong presentment of the admirable grand jury. That paper is so thorough, lt? statements are ' so definite and its wording so clear that so far as the facts are concerned nothtng more can be said. The presentment tells the whole story, and no hasty Investigation of an outsider can add / anything valuable or reliable. There are rumor6 of all sorts, bul rumors are largely false. This morning the special term of the court of general sessions called by Judge \V. C Benet to receive the report of the grand jury began at 10 o'clock. The Jury was not ready, and it was noon before the PRESENTMENT WAS RKAD. The court room was packed. The main floor was occupied by white people, and the little gallery was crowded with negroes. In terest was most Intor not a word of the paper's Contents had been divulged. The foreman, Mr. R. A. Sullivau, hunded up the paper, which was read. when the reading was completed, It was time for dinner recess. On reconvening, Judge Benet addressed the grand jury : JtDGE BENET SAID. "Mr. Foreman and Gentlemen of the Jury : Your presentment attords me prolouud satis faction. You have done your duty, cot only ably and leariesply, bul fairly: 1 am struck with the statement thai you have refrained from reading the newspapers, some of which have published sensational stories, and that rolruinm! frnm wwMint/ or hpRrilif? any comments that would prejudice you in your Investigation. It win surprise you, therefore, to know bow much excitement there has been all over the .state and the country. SENSATIONAL NEWSPAPERS at tbe nortb bave forgotten tbat the investigation wan ordered and was being conducted. They conveyed the idea tbat the newspapers had discovered the scandal through their own efforts. "Your work and the work of tho court is not referred to in these articles. It. does saythat "happily some local efforts are being made," but tbe reader would Inter that these efforts are due to the newspapers. Little is lound In these accounts beyond what was taken frotn tbe records of the court, aud that little is false. These newspapers would rather be sensational than just "In ordering this Investigation this court was only doing its plain duly, quietly, unostentatiously, but earnestly. It Ik peculiarly tbe work of this court, but the court will do Its duty, and does not propose to be Interfered with by political busy bodies in or out of congress. When tbe charge was made three weeks ago the court bad no idea of doing more than showing you graud jurors your duty, and It bad no doubt you would perform It. It bad no tbougbt nor expectation that the charge of the court would be heard beyond the lour walls of this court room. STATE I'KESS COMMENDED. V "Through the Journalistic enterprise oi your local papbr, Tne Dally Mail, actuated by the purest and most praiseworthy motives, the charge was published. It was done not alter the manner of what is called, in newspaper slang, 'yellow journalism.' but simply that the good people of Anderson county might see that the Iniquitous system would be thoroughly looked Into and put aa end to; lor the encouragement of the lawabiding and a terror to evil doers; that it might be seen and Known of all people ol this county, white and biack, that the strong arm ol the law would be stretched out u protect the humblest negro against oppres slon and wrong. "Other Dewt-papers throughout the Stale acted In the same way, not as sensation mongers, but as good citizens and champion* of a righteous cause. There were no tlamlnt headlines, no startling scareheads. But tht publication was accompanied with stront words of condemnation of the inhuman treat ment of the negro, and with equally strom words of commendatiou of the charge of tb? court. "It was to be expected that newspapers ir other States would take notice of a matter o so much public interest?nor had we anj desire to hide this ugly thing from the eyei of our sister States. Newspapers were on I} doing their duty in giving it the utmos publicity and In condemning it in scathing terms. "It gives me pleasure to say that, with fev exceptions, the great journals ltf all parts o the country did their duty in this regard but some newspapers, anu duihuij ODe, w?*c far beyond tbe proper limits of JonrnallstW criticism. 1 refer especially to The N'ortt American, a Philadelphia newspaper. "It seems that that paper sent a staff report er to this county, and while we have nc desire to discourage the sending of specia correspondents from Philadelphia to Ander son county for the purpose of finding out th< c I I A ^ mm n >r J I WE SELL SHOES F We carry the Larg Abbeville- We have 1 and sell them at $3.0C We have been in tion from $1.25 up. i ? ? ?^ ^ ANTT A TT* ri T7 b'K&& Ui? It will pay you to < buying elsewhere. lVE grand jury! _ i, and "Free" Negro be Abolished. i WILLING TO DEAL WITH "SIDE AID NEEDED-JUDGE ENCE BETWEEN LEGAL AND Guards, Guns and Dogs No :ol "Free" Labor in Anderson) be Brought Into Court. exact truth, let them tell the truth; let them I treat a serious subject like this with all fairness and candor. "FACTS WHEX DISTORTED are more mischievous thau falsehoods. 1 do not say that the special correspondent of The North American deliberately wrote what was not true, but I do say that his account was greatly exaggerated, far too highly colored, essentially misleading and grossly unjust. NOT A It ACE ISSUE. "It is foolish to talk of the necessity of interfering by congress nnd the federal courts. They ignore the fact that, the court and the grand jury have Drought the matter iuto public attention and were busy investi* gating it. We are able to deal with this matter without ariyslde help. We do uot wish to wash our dirty llneu In the federal laundry. There Is uo politics in this matter, no party issue, not even a race Issue, not even Indirectly. It is purely and simply the righting of a grievous wrong. We protest against ttie very idea ot outside interference. It Is untrue, as this paper states, that the testimony of negroes is not believed lu our courts." The judge here cited several cases before him recently, In which THE EVIDENCE OK NEGROES had heeD accepted by Juries in preference to i that of white men. Judge Benet also mentioned thai this matter had been called to the attention of the governor, who had forwarded ! to the solicitor a letter received by him. The Judge said that Ue had not heard of the matter until the trial o! the Newell case, nnd was astonished beyond measure by the disclosure therein. Turning to the audience, he said that he wanted to advise the negroes not to believe rumors which were going about as to the In validity of all labor contracts. He said the court will enforce all lawtul contracts, and that negroes should not make the mistake of believiug the investigation meant that all contracts were void. Taking up the presentment. Judge Benet read the names mentioned arid said mat kome of them ai least had been prosecuted for false imprisonment, while others were liable In damages civilly as well as for criminal prosecution. The solicitor, lie said, will do his duty, and it will be left to the petit jurors to do theirs. Good work had already ueen done, and the evil is almost stamped out ; public sentiment Is practically solid against the system, In which only a few men have participated. Judge Benet declared that, the presentment brought pitiful details. "It told of Illegal arrests aud imprisonment, of cruel whipping, ot urolouged imprisonmebt without even the ] fareeufa trial, of kidnapping negroes from other counties, and even Irom Cieoigia, ol lear to give testimony, refusal to testify, aucl most ptLilul of all, ol poor negroes professing to being satisfied and contented." HN honor warned the Jurors lhat tney must not divulge any of tbe testimony, which be turned over to the clerk of court and ordered him uoi to make It public. The presentment he turned over to the solicitor lor his help and guidance in preparing the ca?es. He then referred to the Jury's remarks as to the convict leasing system, and said he Was glad the jurors concurred with him. The legislature bad already taken steps to stop this system. "There is no likelihood that this stockade slavery, with its shackles, whippings and armed guards will ever ae seen again In this or any other county." In closing, Judge Henet said: "I thank you, gentlemen, most sincerely for the excellent work you have uone. South Carolina thanks you. Anderson county es'pecially will thank you lor having relieved j- her of this shameful burden and freed her , good name from the stigma that a few of her ; misguided cltlzeus placed on it. Yourcounty has cause to t>e proud of her grand jury. You ceriainly have amply justified the con> tidence I reposed in you when [ ordered you . to make this Investigation." , At the conclusion of nis Honors remarks , the jury was dismissed, and the court pro; reeded vvitti other business. The crowd tiled oui of the court rc.om and the men gathered 1 In groups on the streets to discuss the aflalr. [ SKUIOCK SITUATION. It Is undeniable that the revelations of the i la?t few weeks have created a serious situa I tton in Anderson county. It. is also true that r there are I wo sides to the question which the 4 situation presents. As shown so clearly by the r presentment, there lias been Injustice and t cruelty practioed upon ignorant. If not m? nocent, negroes. The practical enslavement, the cruel whipping, the illegal Imprisonment r of neuroes does not meet with undeserved def fence from any quarter. J THOSK WHO KXCt'SK : the contractors do so by saying that the ' *ystem has been carried too far. They present the other side, whteh Is that some negro es as laborers cannot be controlled except by I .. nf onH nr\n<uK . thut urmin ' U MIUW v ? " ' ' were taken from Jail under promise to work " I according to the now famoun contract; tbat * J they were In many canes well treated and i Che [n Up] ROM 10 TO 25 PE] SHOES FROM IV est Stock of Shoes th ;he best $3.50 Shoe in Abbeville for six mon1 ibout ten pairs have i I. We have just recei come in and get our p: Y< I contented?better off thau they woald have | beeu uuder other circumstances. ( Today I heard good men, as good ns ttiere i are anywhere, express this view. They del predate abuseR and agree that cruelty and ! illegality must be stopped, but they say that I i he men who started the system Intended no harm, and would have done none. They ! point out that "Jud" Fowler. "Press" Allen j and "Quint" Hammond, the three largest farmers concerned, are all good citizens, reliable business men, lacking In cruelty or | inhumane Instincts. j You could search Anderson county over i and not find another three men more InI tiu"ntial tnaD Fowler, Hammond and Allen. Knowing this fact, one can realize the braveiy, the devotion to duty which prompted a Jury of 18 men 10 make such a presentment a? was handed In. A COt" KACiKOUS I'A PER. It is a courageous paper, and the grand.jury is deset ving of all honor for it. It Is ouly lair to state that Hie presentment was written by Capt. H. H. Watklnsof the law tlrm ol lion barn & Walk Ids. The facts were gathered by a committee of Jurors consisting or Foreman It. A. Sullivan, J. B. liever^tt (formerly representative.) J. S. McFmII, J. T. Mllford and E. B. Hull. Foreman Sulllvau is k sub stantlal fanner of the "Fork section." and ol the 18 there are 14 farmers, men who know the conditions with which they were dealing, The effect of the paper will be to abolish the system. There can be no doubt about that. It hat been abandoned already by some of the farmers who practiced it. and it will go out of existence altogether very soon. Solicitor Boggs has the papers and the evidence, and w hat he will do no one knows, lor .lule Boggs Is essentially conservative. He will say nothing except thai the matter will not be brought up again iu court until the June term. There has been another?in unintentional ?ettect of the agitation. The negroes have conceived that because Judge Benel declared these stockade coutracls llleg-tl, all labor contracts are v6td. The result has been a more or less general demoralization. of negro labor in thlsconnty. Many negroes have left larms where they were bound to work under legal and Just contracts. Anyone who understands the negro's character will readily see how he would get this Illogical impression. Judge Benet tried to make the distinction plain today in his charge, but the trouble Is not easy to correct. In a short while, however, the excitement will subside and the negroes can be brought back to their legimttle work. But at present the negioesare badly demoralized, and for this reason many regret that the matter has been given such wide publicity. I have said that a casual observer could not add to the grand Jury's thorough report, but a case in point was accidentally brought to my attention today. an instance. A relative with whom I dined apologized fcr the absence of her butler. She said that he?a young negro?bad been carried oil' a short while ago to work on one ol the stockade farms. His father had signed a contract binding himself and several sous to servitude on the plautatlon of a certain farmer named In the presentment, and not long ago this boy and his brothers were taken lroiu iheir town jobs and carried to the farm, where they are now at work. Naturally, the lady thinks the system Is quite abominable. This Is only an instance. While the system has never been known, as Judge Benet says, to the courts officially until recently. It has been known to the citizens of Anderson for a long time, and the vast majority of them, even those Irlendly to the men concerned, are glad that it Is now abolished. For it must be abolished since the force of law and public opinion are against it. How It ever originated is a mystery. A prominent lawyer said today that some time ago tie told one of the labor contractors that his contracts were not worth a cent; that no court would uphold them. Vet the contracts were con tlnued. Tonight the town is quite deserted. Tbe large crowd here today has dl^pers^d and the matter is virtually ended. No one doubts that the proven Illegality and manliest Injustice of the slock ado syatem will be sufllelent to cause its abandonment. And no one Is sorry. Jas. A. Royt, Jr. lladilons New Sprint; Arrlvaln. iiaddon's attractive store is full of bargains. ltcinnams In white goods. Remnants in while dimities. Remnants in white India lawns. Item nan is lu checked muslin. Remnants in figured lawn and muslins. Remnants in light and colored percales. Remnants in calico. We ara otlerring bargains in all t.he above goods. shoes ! shoes! ! Ladies, Misses, and childrens shoes to suit uverjuuuy. Ladles and Misses slippers lor tlie Spring trade just arrived. Home tmrgains In shoes at. Haddons Jor ">0, IKJ, and 7'iutH a pair. MrrrjinnhcrH Celebration. AiikiimIh, (in., April 2?*27, 11)01. On account of the above occasion. Southern Railway announces reduced rates Irom Asbe ville, Charlotte and intermediate points in North Carolina, Tennille and Savannah and Intermediate points in Georgia, and from al points In South Carolina, to Autusta, Ga. I and return, of one. tlrst-class lure for the rouui trip for individuals (single tickets,) and fVfi military \,orn patties and brass bands in un? lorm, twenty (20) or more on one ticket, stil lower rates. Tickets will be sold April 2<Hh to 2i!th luclu sive aud for trains scheduled to arrive at Au ! L'li-tH prior to noun of April 27th, good t( i return until April 20th. lUOl. Kor detailed In ! Inrmation as to schedules, rates, etc., write o call on auy agent of the Southern Railway oi I connections. W. H. Ta.vloe, Asst. lien, l'uss. Agent, Atlanta, Ga. Iti.s better to take tile worst of i deal than to suffer the consequence: of a quarrel. When you sell au article by weigh remember that other people have neales V" ?'>/ . i A j/Aa i- > , --:V'-v ?*' J..* t - / ,. " .' '* .v apes per Soi H CENT. CHEAPER IORE HOUSES THAI an any merchant in l the United States, WILL DO ;hs and have sold thous jroven unsatisfactory oi ved about $3,000 wort JL A\-/V/k-? hyVAX/A V 3urs for business, Report of Spec Recital of Wrongs and Abuse cated?Remarks on the Sub; stair Correspondence oft be State. Audersou, S. C.. March 7.?Follow!Dg Is the text of the special commttee's report which was submitted by the grand Jury to the court today : The special committee appointed by the graud Jury to investigate th*? matters to I which your attention was directed by bis | honor, Judge Benet, at the Kebruery term of '!court respectfully report. | That we have made ax close an examlntlon I as our limited time would permit. ! In the cane of Magistrate J. J. Gilmer we And that for some time past he has been in the habit of issuing warrants and causing ar ; rests and frequently committing accused persons to Jail without, ever entering the case, upon lils docket. This Is especially true where the cases have been compromised after the arrests were made. We find that from (Sept. lf?, 1809, to Jan. 12, liKil. be made payj ment to the county treasurer of a number of i flues and Items of costs collected by him, but > that during that time be collected throueb , the sheriffs office alone the following Items ot cost which properly belonged to the county and lailed to pay tbem over to the county treasurer as required by law. {.Here are itemized items amontlng to =58 SO.] We find that Feb. 1!). 1801, after this investigation was beguu, the said J, J, Gilmer paid the county treasurer the sum of SSJ20 to cover these amounts. While we have not been permitted, (or the lack of time, to make a full investigation of all the irregularities of this office, we are convinced he bus been guilty of the grossest irregulalties, and we would suggest that a complete investigation of his books and accou'uts should be hud and that he 6l;ould be presented for misappropriation of the funds so collected by him. THE FATE OF WILL IIULL Reardlng the arrest of the negro Will Hull, which you were directed by the court to in veatlgate, we find that a warrent was Issued by Magistrate Gilmer for the arrest ot this negro an aflidavjtof A. T- Newell, charglnr him for a violation of lanor contract, and that W. S. Newell, a brot her of the proscutor was deputized by the Magistrate to serve said warrant: that t tie constable so deputized requested the deputy Rberltl. J. A. Dlilngham, to go alon? with bim and assist. In making the said arrest aDd representing that said Hull would probably create trouble when arrested and the assistance of the deputy sheriff would be needed. The arrest was made on Friday night and the uecro was brouirbt to Anderson on the same night. The deputy sheriff suggested that the prisoner be taken to jail, but the negro said that he would perfer to go on with W. fS. Newell .ma that Mr. Newell informed the deputy that the magistrate had instructed him that he should carry the prisoner on home with him. Subsequently the magistrate was Informed by the prosecutor that the case had been compromised and that the negro had agreed to stay with him and work out his contract. The rest of the facts were brought out in open court. We exonerate the deputy sheriff from ail blame in tbo matter, The principal work of tbiR committee has been the investigation of the stockades of the county and the abuses of laborers under tyrannous contracts that has grown out of the iarmlng out of convicts and the working of free laborers with them. W? have taken the testimony ol more than 50 JperBons? that of THE I.ANDJ.OKDS, THKilt OVEKSEEKS AND GUARDS, together with a large number of laborers and a few other citizens. In these investigations we have been treated with every courtesy and generally we have found no disposition to obstruct our work upon the part of those whose farms and stockades we visited. A moRtcaretuI Inquiry failed to reveal that any general abuse of the laboring class exists in this county, so that our work soon narrowed down to those places where stockades existed and free laborers wereemployed. We viMted the farms of J. Helton Watson A. T. Newell, P. H. Allen, J. li. Miller, Ellas Mcliee, W. Q. Wammondand J. 8. Fowler. THESE EXONERATED We were unable to flDd any abuseR at the farm of J. B. Watson. He has a stockade and and works free labosers also, but we tound no evidence that free la borers were put in the the stockades and worked In line with the convicts, or subjected to and illegal restraint or abuse. The same Ihing was true at the farm of P. H. Alien. >ve loimu iu?l ue iihu iukcu iww contracts in which the laborers agreed to work under guard and be locked up at night hut his own evidence and that of all the laborers so far as we could ascertain, was that these provisions had never been enforced. A. T. Newell works State eouvicts4and has stockade, but he has worked no free laborers aioug with the convicts recently, when he has takeu t wo contracts of that sort. One of 11 hese was the case of the unfortunate negro ! Will Hull, who was killed by W. S. Newell a , j few weeks ago and whose case Is referred to above. "KKKE 1.A Molt !" [ .1.11. Miller formerly worked convicts, but , they were taken awav by the State, and he I now employs only "tree" labor, II indeed we I may use the word free to describe those laborers who have signed his contracts and snb-j j jected themselves to the conditions existing! [ on his laiin. lie has a stockade which was | I originally built for his State convicts and his j pi contracts provide that t he "free"' laborers will j work under guard and will allow themselves ! . j locked up at night. Our first Investlcations at this place wern I j met by a statement from the negroes that j . they were satisfied with their treatment, but r 11! Kilt MAN.N'KIt J N III ("ATM) CO Kite ION iand subsequently we made further investigations whlcn couvinced us that .1. K. Allller.j 1 and tils overseer, .1. A. Kmerson, had been .. iitv /.r ti-iiW.iiiiwr nccroes- looklnn them uo I j at nlirht, working them under guard and puti ilnti shacklea upon iln-m. Among in^e mij fnrtunaten were John Harrinon Will Wrlglit, Warren Sloan and Line Joiips. We lound we vera I of Mr. Miller's contractu left blank a? <. to the time of Pervlce and amount to be paid, though the contractu were duly signed and ' witnessed. - ' V-.i-Vi-. - w-,. ; j t Sh n+Vi P.g LL Vll WO ' than any othe <r any merchant: You can buy t] ever looked at for t or woman's Shoe fo A.S WE ands of Shoes. We ] ? the thousands we ha h of Spring Shoes in 1 c. w :ial Committee. :s?Names of Citizens Impliject of False Imprisonment. In the case of Warren Sloan, he seemed t< have been arrested by J. R. Miller and anotb er man, whose name we could not ascertain near Central, In Plck?ns county. There li testimony that no warrant was exhibited, 1 aDy existed, but he was HANDCUFFED i AND TAKDN TO MIM.EK! STOCKADE and keDt there until this Investigation beean Since our first visit to ibis stockade be wai turned loose and allowed to eo borne. In oui Judgment, tbe said J. R. Miller and J. A hmerson should be presented by the Kraut Jury lor tbe offenses above mentioned, and we so recommend. ELIAS M'GEE'S PLAN. In many respects tbe most remarkable cast coming under our notice Is that of Ellas McGee, wbo bas never employed State convicts out wbo built a stockade and prepared tc treat bis laborers as convicts. His contracts provide tbat tbe laborers shall be worked un der guard and locked up at nlgbt and tberc was abandant evidence to show tbat be bad locked up la tbe stockade, worked under guard and whipped bis laborers. Among those who suffered a part or all ol these abuses were Wesley Norman, Handy Earle, Yance Smitb. George Tllley, John (Jllnk6caies, ClarenceGailllard, Evlns Wood, Louis Alexander, Morris Jordan. Some of these negroes bad been arrested and signed contracts after being put undei arrest. John Cllnkscales was accused by Ellas McGee of stealing corn, was brought tc Anderson handcuffed and after be bad signed a contract, but without auy trial, was turned over to W. Hammond, wbo carried him tc tbe latter's stockade. We think the grand jury should make presentment against EUue McG^e, and we so recommend. W. Q,. Hammond runB a large farm In tbU county and employs a considerable numbei both of State convicts and "free" laborers His contracts provide tbat the "free" laborers sball be worked under guard and locked up at ulgbt, and tbey suffer this illegal Imprisonment and more, lor the evidence shows thai a number of these unfortunates have been worked under guard and gun, have been LOCKED UP AT NIGHT AND ON SUNDAYS ANE HAVE BEEN SHACKLED AND WHIPPED. Among those who suffered these things al iha liahHh nf Mr. Hnmmnnrl and bis over Beers, Wm. Bailey, James Mariln and Day, are the following : Isbam Abercrombie, Pink Iiogers, JameH CIlntoD, John Hewey, Torn Parks, Charley Johnson and John Clink' scales. Several of these were In jail at the time of ourexamination. They had been indieted last lull for gambllne, had been taken out of jail on bond by Mr. Hammond and kept at his farm without trial until the Investigation began, when be surrendered them back to the sheriff. The negro, Tom Parks, whose case was call ed to the attention of the grand jury by the presiding judge, was released almost immediately thereafter. He was TAKEN FORCIBLY AND WITHOUT TRIAL under one of the labor contracts above referred to and confined in the stockade, worked with the convicts and suffered the olbei abuses above mentioned UDtil this Invewtlga lion was begun. We learn that perhaps a score of other laborers held under slmilai contracts have left this farm during the pasl few weeks. One of them, Pink Rogers, stalef that be was given a whipping of 50 lashes bj Wm. Bailey at the stockade. We think that the (acts disclosed demand that W. (i. Hammond, James Martin, Wm Bailey and Day should be presentee by the grand jury for the violation of law ubove mentioned and we so recommend. J. H. Fowler, who first used the contrac providing loi free laborers to be treated as rainvli-ia umrkefi nndereuard. locked UD. etc. employs tt considerable number of convlcU and also of tbe so-called '-free" laborers. H< lms two stockades, one of wbicb Is uuder th< supervision of James Cook and whicb wai formerly managed by Willis McGee. Th< otber Is under the charge of Levi Thomas At these farms tbe con vlcts and "tree" labor ers have been worked together under a guarc who carries a gun they have been LOCKED L'P AT XlttHT AND SOME OK TI[fc> WHIPPED. There was no evidence of any of them havlnj been shackled. Some of them had been ac cased of trivial offenses and were put undei contraot to work out debts or to repay monej advanced for them. James Evans, Baylli Arter. Alonzo Lark. Frank Bowlau, Johc Bell, Robert Brown. Foster Butler. Dan Hill Willis Harper, Joe Whitfield, Jim Klce, Jobr Gilliam, Turner 'walker, Andrew Dobbs Dock Freeley and Drayton Wheeler are som< of the negroes who have been confined in Mr I'nwIwr'K atnolf H(1P Willis McGee, James Cook. Levi Thomas George Thomas and Mike Bobbins sboulc have presentments made against them by tbe grand jury for whipping different ones o these negroes. WILMS MC'OEK WAS ESPECIALLY CKl'EL. It. was testified that he had given the negrc Baylls Arter 100 lashes on one occasion ant ihut. hp whipped Robert Brown most severely and cruelly 'ituil on otie occasion shot flv( limes at I)n- n Wlieeler, one of the bulleti passiiiK ti ti Wheeler's hat. The testimony sjoef how that George Thomas slioi at Dock " .ey and that he was also readj at theu ?plngs. Andrew Liobbs was found to be suflerlnt from rheumatism which he says was broughi on by being compelled to stand almost waisi deep in mud and water In cold weather ditch ing. He was arrested by A. M. Hal ley, wh( has been acting as a sort of constable for J. S Fowler, but was never tried. J. A. Illce is a negro of rather weak mine who was raptured somewhere in Georgia anc charged wlt.li having escaped from J. S. Kow jer's stockade In this county. Upon belm brought here it was found that he Was no! the man lie was suspected of being but never theless after being kept for several days ir tlie stockade he entered into one of Ihe laboi eontraciH and baa been In the mockaue foi severul monthN, though unwillingly there A number of "Iree'' laborers have left Mr ' - - .1- - ' oe Si 1 iroima ;r house in abbe 1 in abbeville. * tie best Shoe for $1.25 he same money- We s r $1 that you ever look lave guaranteed every ve sold, and we replace the latest styles. KPN Fowler's farm since these Investigations were | first begun but some unwilling ones were I still in tne stockades when we visited them. ! We found | i NO EVIDENCE TO CONNECT MR. FOWLER IN ANY WAY WITH THE WHIPPINGS OF THESE LABORERS, but he was a party to these contracts which provided for the illegal Imprisonment and working under guard of the laborers and is responsible for these provisions being enforced and that presentment should be made against him therefor. D We submit herewith the memoranda of testimony wblch we have taken wblcb will show to the court and solicitor more fully the ' facts which we have reported and will enable ( them to get the names of the witnesses to prove such facts. It Is proper that we should add that much of the abuse has already been 3 corrected as a result of this Investigation and that some of the parlies have been to us with the assurance that tbey would immediately correct tbe evils existing on their farms to j wblch we have called attention. r Owing to tbe widespread Influence and effect tbat follows any public discussion ot [ tbe question of farm labor in this State and I the result tbat may follow a presentment such as we propose It is proper tbat we should In closing this report enter Into a brief discussion of the Influences that have brought about tbe evils reported and make ? suggestions as to the remedies thereior. WE HAVE HEAKD RUMORS | that this investigation baa already created . a widespread Interest and that the conditions . have been discussed wltb some feeling but | I we have as far as possible avoided reading anything published or said In this respect In order thai we might, pursue our investlgap Hons without any Influence or bias from any quarter. The question of farm labor In this i State Is a very difficult one and the present laws regulating the same are Insufficient. The negroes whom we found confined in 1 the stockade were composed largely oi a class > of . SHIFTLESS DEBTORS I who are subject to Indictment for petty ofI fense, and who could not be successfully ? worked under ordinary contracts. They are I men who have no property, and men who i evade their debts unless compelled to pay them. Against them the process ot a civil ' court is worthless ; that of the criminal court ' under exlstlug laws is inadequate. Something should be done by the legislature to grade the punsbment of this clans according to the offence. But the worst trouble has not ' been In the defect of the provisions ot the law so much as its enforcement. It has come i to be a settled policy iu this county that indictment for violation of contract and for disposing of property under lien should be compromised, and not tried. We are convinced that this la > WRONG IX PRINCIPLE AND DANGEROUS IN PRACTICE. ' Whatever injustice may be done an in' dividual by disposing of property on which ' he has lien, or by the violation of a contract byoneol his employees, and whatever force might be given to the effect of penal statutes to Induce payment of debts or fulfillment of contracts that never has beeu the true Intent and purpose of the penal statutes. They are enrated to prevent public wrong, and when a prosecution has once been instituted ' an/1 tho nnujor nt fhft criminal court Invoked. * the question of private recompense should j disappear, and the public Interest alone should be considered. While this may result In occasional hardships, ft is tne only "safe policy. Abuses will otherwise grow up until the criminal courts are degraded into j I machines for private gain, and olten lor ex- j ' tortion and oppression. In our judgment it should be a crime to compromise any case | i after indictment found with a view of i private gain. t Nor nan we condemn too severely that I i other fruitful source?in fact, the origin of j ' the abuses herein reported?the leasing out of con vlcts to work on private farms. Evils I already detailed are too eloquent to uecessi. tate a discussion to prove this. Such a I system should not be tolerated after lis re* r suits have been exposed as In thfs county. We have beard it intimated- that our in* t vestigatlons ?ud exposures would disturb ) the labor conditions to such an extent as toj . create trouble In this State. We do uot i believe that it is true, but if it were we would | 5 not hesitate to declare the evils we find and; t to demand that they should be abolished., * The duty of this body Is plaiu : " WE MUST STOP THE VIOLATIONS OK LAW j ' that uow exist, and if otners begin on the: 1 part of the laborers themselves, then we will j unite WllD inn luw-auiuiug khiwum iii iutr county in punishing and terminating these! 1 evils. The result of our Investigations show that the system of working laborers under guard ? and confining them in. stockades does not ' exist in this county further than we have r reported. Probably not as many as twenty [ men, either as principal or agent, either di rectly or indirectly, have beeu engaged in 1 this abuse. On the other hand, the laborers and lienors who have violated the law will ' double that number many times. We therefore reiterate that the influence of 3 this grand Jury, and we do not hesitate to I say of the court also, will not be extended to 1 enable any man to avoid a just con tract, and ! | that we have found that ! MOST OK THE LAKOK CONTRACTS OK THK j r COUNTY ARE LF.fiAL AXI) JUST. If violations of just contracts begin as a result of the Investigations we have made, we suggest that warrants be Hworn out aud' J prompt punishment given. We have not.; 1 undertaken to assume the responsibility of ' prosecutiug the laborers who have violated 3 their contracts, because the position aud in' fluerice of the landlord makes them fully " able to do ibat without assistance liotn us. 1 Tills special report lias been brought about ' because of the oppression and abuse of men j who were too poor, too friendless, too ig- j norant and often too degraded to act for 1 thernselves, but who are uuverless entitled to , L the full protection of the law, and who be-: ' causa of their weakness have a peculiar claim 1 ' to our protectlou. All oi which is respectfully submitted. ! T*""" ; The way of the world is to praise | l dead saints aud peivecute and living! ones. 1 The two creat movers of the human r mind are the desire of good and the fear1 evil. m l m i A fi? A l if i r a jNt ' I || wi 1VILLE. WE BUY at our store that you ell you the best man's 'P>rl at. _ Shoe to give satisfacd them with new ones DALL. 1 ARRESTS TO BE MADE. Judge Benet Gives Pernon* Charged Willi Violation of Law an Opportunity to Give Boud?Pr off res* In the Work or Removing a Stain Pmm lha RopapiIii <if AnilprnAii rM Comity. Aa tbe result of the Anderson Grand Jury's report Judge Beriet has ordered the arrests of the men Indicated for abuse of negro labor and the requirement* of bond from all of - .-fl them. They are charged with assault ol a *Pa high and aggravated nature and false lmprls- ia on men t. Magistrate Gilmer Is also Included In tbe order which Is as follows; ' jjH The State of South Carolina?Anderson county?In the Court of General Sessions. In the matter of tbe rule to sbow cause at this term ol court whereas the grand Jury has made presentment against said J. J. Gilmer, which presentment is on tile In tbis court, it is ordered : That so much of said presentment as relates to tbe said J. J. Gilmer be copied by tbe clerk and served upon said J. J. Gilmer and that tbe same be made a part of tbe rule heretofore Issued against said J. r. Gilmer and that said J. J. Gilmer be and be s required to make rt> turn to said rule on the first day of the extra term. , That copy of this order be forthwith served upon said J. J. Gilmer. W. C. Benet, Presiding Judge. March 8th, 1901. On bearing tbe presentment of the grand jury it is ordered: That so much therefore as relates to the ' >S2 charges against J. R. Miller and J. A. Emerson be and tbe same Is referred to Magistrate S. H. Stone with instructions to issue this warrant charging said J. R. Miller and J. A. Emerson with assault and battery and lalse Imprisonment and require them and tbe witnesses lor tbe State to enter Into bond for tbelr appearance at the next term of this court. That so much thereof as relates to the charge against Ellas McGee be and the same Is hereby to Magistrate J. R. Morgan with Instruction1) to issue bis warrant charging said Ellas McGee with assault and battery of a high and aggravated natnreand false imprisonment and require blm and tbe witnesses for the State to enter Into bond for their appearance at the next terra of tbis court. /Air*} That so much of said presentment as relates to tbe charges against W. Q. Hammond, William Bailey and James Martin be and the same is hereby referred to Magistrate A. M. Guyton with Instructions to issue bis warrant for the said W. Q. Hammond, William Bailey ;;i andJames Martin charging tbem with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature ; . and false Imprisonment and require tbem and each of tbem, and to enter into bond for l?| their appearance at the next term of tills court. . That so much of said presentmentas relates to the charges against William McGee, James Cook, Levi Thomas, George Thomas. Mike Robins, and J. S. Fowler be and the same is referred to Magistrates. N. Browne with instructions to Issue bis warrant charging said Willis McGee, James Cook, Levi Thomas, GeorgeThomas, Mike Robins and J. S. Fowler charging tbem and each of tbem witb assault and battery of a bigh and aggravated nature and false imprisonment and require tbem, as well as tbe witnesses against tbem for the , State, to enter Into bond for tuelr appearance at the next term of this court. tefa The copies of tbis order and ot said presentment be served upon each of said magistrates In the next ten days. W. C. Benet, Presiding Judge. S? March 8th, 1!X)1. '*/ ? a CHEAPER MILEAGE HOOKS. .Seabonr?l Air Muc .Makes a Noteworthy lied notion of Price. The Seaboard Air Line being ever alive to the people's I nterests as well as Us own baa. effective February 2o, red'iced its 1,000-mile tickets in Florida, from to $25; all one thousand mile tickets of the Seaboard Air Line railway Issue are now good over the ijt enti-e system (with the exception of the family mileage tickets sold in the state of Norm i;aro iua.; wun-u i'mn?ra < ngium, North Carolina. South Curolina, Georgia, Florida and Alabama, and reaches the capital* of all the above .States. By agreement, one thousand mile ticketsot Seaboard issue are eood in addition to 11m own 11 u?*h over the Richmond, Fredericksbur* and Potomac railroad from Hlchraond to Qunntlco, and the Pennsylvania railroad from Quantico to Washington, tne Columbia, Newberry and Laurens railroad, and the Baltimore Steam Packet company's line Irorn Norfolk to Jl.iltimore. 'J'he Seatioard Air Line railway is the short line from South Carolina to all points north. ?- ? ??1?J O uorwlrtfl rhot Im NOUUI HUU WCTt niiu nan a n?> *iVv ? second to none In the South, and its trains are run on quirk and convenient schedules. , l'or Information write Geo. McP. Batte.T. 1'. A., Columbia, s. C. It. K. f.. Bunch, Cen. Pass. Agent, Portsmouth, Va. MAIL CLOSES. | Mulls Cum in ? hihI <>oius; Kicry Hour in tlie Day. , ,, i, K Ml nours uiai me nmiin nu ?i nuuo.u.v post otlice: 9.0.5ft. m. going North oil the.Southern. sj 10.50 a. ni. going South on the Southern. 10.5H a. ni. jjolnii to Hodges. 11.40 a. in. goin:; South on the S. A. L. 11.40 a. ni. Ruing North on the S. A. L. 1.10 p. ni. going North on the Southern. 1.10 p. ni. ?olua to Hodges. 52.55 p. ni. going South S. A. L. 3.55 p. m. going North S. A. L. 5.10 p. in. trolng South Southern. s.tx) p. iii. going North and South S. A. L. Jlobt. S. Link, Postmaster Early encounter with difliculty ami adverse circumstances are the the necessary and indispensable condition of success. If we can lind that (Jod has ever disappointed any soul which depended upon hiui then our fath may well be shaken.