The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, March 16, 1899, Image 1
L.THE PEOPLE'S JOURNAL
VOL g.---NO. 8. PICKENS S. C., THURSDAY, MARCH 16 89. ONE DOLLAR A YEAR.
THU P9NITENTIARY o
INVISTIGATION. I
SOME STARI'LING IUtCVELATIONS.
-- d
Chairman Cuinninghatm anid Lessee h
Fawler Tell About the 111rinig oft
* c'onvicts,
The joint committee appointed just p
at the close of the General Assembly a
to investigate the manavemient of the
State penitentiary hegan its work at
noon on Wednesday, 8th inst. Three
witnesses were examined the first day. o
Mr. J6hn Taylor, the oxpert employed s<
to examine the books of the poniten
tiary, was the first witoi's, and his f,
testimony was unimp'rtant. He simply
pointed out several insignificant orrors h
of a clerical nature which, he said, did b
not change the real result, so far as he
had been able to determine in the to
two weeks he had been enzaged in ox- 11
amining the account books Only un- s
important errors were discovered by S
bim, and he didn't think there was y
anything wrong with the books.
TIIE CHAIRMAN OF T'IIE hOARD MAKES it
A STATEMENT. $
Mr. T. J. Cunningham, chairman Y
of the board of directors of the poni- d
- tertiary, was the second witness. At d
first it looked as if his testimony would
be unimportant, but it soon made sur- t
prising revelations as to the hire of con- C
victs. After a few introductory ques- w
tions about his connection with the
penitentiary, Mr. Stevenson said : t
"I'll ask you Ps to the rules as to the A
hiring of convicts. How do you hire w
them-'or cash or on credit?" F
"Well, we hired them in various V
ways." ti
"What is your rule for the paymont
of the money for convicts, say for the B
last four years ?" V
"Generally about November we take o
up the contract matter. We first de
cide -as to about the surplus labor we ci
will have to hire and then the price
of that labor and then we instruct the
superintendent to go to work and place &
-it."
"When he places it what arrange- I
ments do you require about the pay
inont for the hire ?"
"We require a contract with sufll- b
clont bond to secure it."
"Do you take notes for the labor ?"
"We have done it."
"What is your rule about notes with
regard to discounts ?"
"Well, I remember a year ago last II
November, in making contracts the
superintendent was instructed If he di
made notes at all to make them that
could be discounte:'- without the insti
tution endorsing them."
"Mr. Cunningbam, have any notes do
been taken for labor in the last few
years which have not been paid ?" ti
"It has been reported from the Caro- w
lina National bank that three notes t
- are part duo by the institution." to
"What notes? Who gave the notes ?" cc
After some further (iestions and an
swers, Mr. Cunningham read the fol- I
lowing statement, which he said were H
the amounts for convict hire still un- tr
paid ,
0. C. Scarborough, due Nov. 14
(balance)........ .......... $ 18.05 g
C. W. Ragsdale, due Dec. 21
and interest.............. 2,000.00
W. W. Russell, due Jan. II and T
and interest................ (00.00
Check, J. B. Watson.......... 2, 600.00 "
Overdraft..................... 3,355.62 df
),a answer to the question, as to the
J. B. Watson check for $2.600 which
the Carolina National bank was now fi
holding the penitentiary responsible, to
Mr. Cunningham said it was given to w
take up the B. B: Ragsdale note. bi
"That B. B. Ragsdale note, you say,
was endorsed by the supirintcndent of w
the penitentiary ?"
"Yes, .sir. It is in the ofice now."
"Well, then, how did the peniten
tiary become liable for the check ?"
"Well, the B. 13, Ragedale note an
peared with the endorsement ofothe
*superintendent- on it and Watson held C
up the cheek." o
"How did you get the note ?" Li
"I took the check to the bank and it
got the note." n:
"And then the cheek was held up ?"
- "Yes ; it was a five days check on the ei
- Anderson bank." p>
-"How sdid that B. B. Rlagsdale note ni
appear on the books of the poniten- (q
tiary ?" a
"It didn't appear at all." ci
"What record, then, did you have r,
with regard to 1B. B3. Ragsda'e ?" -
'We had none at all." ni
* "Did the penitentiary get the muon- t1
ey ?" b
"We presume that these notes camoe d
from the Watson contract." t1
"Just tell us about that." o
- Watson in 1896 for three years. i~e
settled up ait the end of 189(6. On the f
first of January the books showed a is
* settlement in cash ; In 1897 the same h~
way. We presume from the- best in- 11
formation we have that these notes t
were given in settlement." I
"To whom were these notes given ?" r
"To the Carolina National bank." r
"How did the peitentlary happo~n to /
be liable on it ?"
"I suppose by the endorsement of the v
superintendent." r
"Was ho authorized to endorse notes I
to the bank ?"
"As I understood our resolution it I
was that~c he must take notes wIthout 1]
the insttution's endorsement." .y
"Did the directors know in having s
their annual settlement with Mr. Wat-t
son that the penItentiary was endlors- l
ing the notes of anyone to settle up ?"(
- "It. was not a (question at all; the I
*money just appeared. So far as thec
- directors knew they were getting the 1
cash."
"And you didn't know the peniten- I
- tiary was assuming any liabilities in I
- assisting, him to raise that money ?" I
- * "4didn't know of these notes at all
until re~ently." .
"When did you first learn of them ?" 1
"I think it was the day of the eloc
* ion of. a supeorintondent, or the day be-J
fore." :
* Further questioning brought out the
- - fact that the convicts employed by J.
- -LB. .Watson- were for use on a farm
- ,which he at first leased from Col. Neal
-and later on-said he had bought from
- him.
- .-Mr. Stevenson then went on to ques
:tion:
"I see one note here of C. W. Rags
- -note?"
"No, sir. The only way T can figuen
At that note Is through our report.
appears in the report of 1890.
"Lave you a copy of that report ?"
"No, sir. The note of J. W. Rags
alo ie the same as the convict hiro to
[r. Watson in 1896."
"And your understanding was that
ic note was put in the bank and the
loney got for it. Has Col. Neal ox
lained this matter to you; have you
sked him about those notes Y"
"Yes, I have."
"What is his oxplanation ?"
"He has not given any satisfactory
Kplanation. le said they would be
Attled."
"The only information the board has
'om him is that they will be settled."
"This check of J. B. Watson ho said
o had just discovered was unsecured
y bond."
A number of other questions served
show that these notes had appeared
the supurintendent's report as being
ktisfactory. The balance due by 0. C.
oarborough, the witness said had been
ild. In regard to the overdraft of
1.335.62, he said the bank had allowed
to be made when Col. Neal paid the
[0,000 into the State treasury this
,ar. It had since been paid by funds
rived from the sale of certain pro
ae from the State farms.
Tne disposition of the convicts for
to present year was taken up. Mr.
unningham said that 200 convicts
ere hir d out.
In answer to questions he said that
1o majority of the convicts let were in
nderson County. A number of them
ore hired to IHammond, J. B. Watson,
wler and othetrs. These men had
omised that they would pay up if
icir contracts were renewed.
In answer to several questions by Mr.
ay as to the disposition of the fat in
'oducts, the witness said the members
the board of directors were satisflied
'at all these things were sold and due
edit given to the penitentiary.
MIt. FOWLER'S TESTIMONY.
Mr. J. S. Fowler, of the firm of Cooley
Fowler, came into the room as Mr.
anningham was finishing his testi
ony.
Mr. Stevenson called his attention to
to fact that in the last report of the
>ard of directors he was put down as
ill due the State for convict hire
60.51. This he said was erroneous.
3 had paid $500 of the amount.
"Have you a receipt for such pay
ent ?" asked Mr. Steueuson.
"I have," answered Mr. Fowler, and
) pulled from his pocket a draft of the
6te of Lebruary 24, 1897, upon Iiiin
if drawn by Col. Neal, which was
airked paid. It was paid through the
rmers and Merchants' bank of An
"rsun.
Mr. Patton then took up the ques
aning and brought out the facts that
hen the Legislature was in ses
Dn Mr. Fowler had been to Columbia
see about renewing his contract for
nvicts. The board of directors did
it want to let him have them until he
td settled his account for past hire.
c assured them that were the con
act renewed he would see that the
6st claims were paid. Ho was not
try positive about the assurances
von the directors, but said:
"At the time this matter was brought
I was in a great hurry to get off.
he matter was to be left open tempo
rily. Col. Neal went up on the same
.in, and as soon as we got there (A n
,rson) arrangements were to be made
Ipay up this money."
Further questioning developed the
ets that if Col. Neal made satisfac
ry arrangoments, that he (F'owler)
is to lot him have the $500 to help
lance the account.
These arrangement, Mr. Fowler said,
cre not made.
Col. Neal was offered the privilege of
iestioning either Mr. Fowler or Mr.
inninghamn, but declired.
i Ei'TIMONY OF J. IH. WATSON.
Mr. J. Belton Watson, of Anderson
uunty, was a most implortant wvitness,
ving to large and unsettled transac
ons between Col. Neal and himself,
which the penitentiary funds were
Aixed. is statement is as follows:
A fter being sworn, he waIs shown a
>ntr'act and said it was for work on a
lantation he owned, which was for'
erly owned by Col. Neal. Hie ac.
u ired it in 1893. lFor 1896I-'9.7 '98 he
id not work convict labor' under the
mntract. Col. Neal worked it. lie
sold the farm to Col. Neal for *14,000
-ai credit transaction. He didn't re
member whether it was before cor after
'ic contract for convicts was made,
ut thinks it was after. P'apers were pro
ucod showing that the convict con
eact and the tr'ansfer of land wa-, made
n the same day. lie got no convicts
uring '90, '97, '98 for his own use.
Roferring to the penitentary r'eport
>r' 1896, he is credited with paying
2,000 or more foi' convict hire; he said
e know nothing of it. lHe supposed
he wais liable, It was undler the con
ract, but he never used convict hire.
n .Januar'y, 1897, he is ci edited with
aying over' :100 as a balance. He do
ied that ho owed any balance. in
Llpril, 18911, he was credited by the re
ort for $i,,482.75. lie was not p)ositive
rhether he had piaid that on the settle
lent on his contract, which expiredi in
895. Since then ho had not used one
our of convict labor'. In 1890 Mr.
lurris wrote that witness had given
not3 for the hire of convicts foir that
ear. The cotton raisedi on the Ander
on and Piecens far'ms was sold to fac
cries. The balance comning to me to
ay for' the land was turned over' to
301. Neal. Tihe amount was $1,4b;5.85.
t was to he cr ied ited to pa~ymeat for
onivict ilbor. lie got a receipt sig~ned
>y Superintendent Neal. (Mr. Stephen
on r'emnarked that there was no) credit
a the report.) Mr'. Watson said in
otters andi from p~erson~al statements
rom Col. Neal he was told that all ac
ounts had been balanced up and ho
upposed It w as c urrect. Col. Neal ran
ho P'ickens farm. C. WN. l(agsdlale
uper'intended the P'ickons far'm and
3. BI. Ragsdalo the other. lie dlidn't
cnow exactly how many convicts wer'e
worked. As to the check for $200l0t
iven by him, he said his attention was
allcd to it when he read the report
or the past yeari. lie looked over the
~epor't and found his name appearing
is due $2,574. lie mnade inquiry. it
was not in conformity with the agr'oo
neat and1 he asked Mr. Burris about it,
who said1 the account In my name
amounted to $2,800. But some expense
would have to come oif, amounting to
R200. lie aw Mr C unningham, who
showed him a memorandum furnish(
him by the Carolina bank on whic
the lAgsdale notes appeared. His in
presslon and mine was that tho 1. I
tagsdale noto was for convict hiro f(
1898 and that of C. W. Ragsdale fi
1898. Then ho asked me to see if
could arrango matters, stating th
Co). Neal had said ho had about 24
bales of cotton unencumbered. Co
Neal was sick, but he told tme that 1:
had about 175 bales. Considering I
prostration and the fact that he ha
promised to pay $2,700, and knowin
that I would be protected by the laut
I gave Mr. Cunningham a draft, an
also in consideration of the statenet
which bad been handed to me by Ce
Neal in reference to convicts here f
1897...
He said It was painful to havO to to
the reason why he recalled the drif
it wts a ton days' draft.. His first dra
was for $2,600. Mr. Clark, of the baul
didn't approve of this, and another wt
drawn on January 25, 1819). 1 expecte
to got $2,600 from Colonel Neal, as
third payment on the land. In Noven
bor he stated he would be able to pu
it and went on to say something abot
the balance,. Ho said he had arrange
to borrow the balance. One man pr
posed to loan it to him for 7 per eon
payablo semi-annually ; another tit
per cent. annually. le asked me atbi
it and told him if ho lost his job h
would advise him to take the 8 pc
cent. As to why I notifie. te ban
not to pay it was in eons. quenec
papers on the cotton which would pr<
vent me getting it. There was a $2,0
note in the Farmer's and Merchant
Anderbon bank which Mr. lowler ha
ndorsed and which had gone to pr<
tet. Mr. It. M. Burris and Mr. J. (
Hammond were the other enderser
The note was made by Colonel Nea
They notilled Mr. lagsdale not t
move any cotton from the farm. 11
went over to take the cotton to sull ]
and meet the draft, when he was m
tilied that others had a lien on i
Then he told the bank not to pay th
note. He has never ascertained fror
Dolonel N.-al what those Ragsdal
notes were given for.
He had told Col. Neal lie had give
the draft and Col. Neal told him thin
if lie had had the opportunity he woul
have advised witness not to nave don
It. I told Col. Ne 1 that he knew thei
I was not morally responsible for th
hire, and COl. Neal replied that, wai
i.rue. Col. Neal's general tenor wu
that he himself was responsible. 11
said so. lie said Col. Neal told hii
that he had informed the board of th
transfer of his contract, and he wt
shocked when some of them told hi
they knew nothing about it. lie wt
dealing with Col. Neal as an individu;
and did not know that there was an,'
thing contrary to law in the transa
Lion.
In answer to Senator Livingston I
said there was no secret agreemnet
so far as he was concerned. Ile hi
nothing to conceal. He didn't kno
whether the board knew about t:
reconveyance of the faran. lie sai
that he had told the board that i1
Jid not hold himself liable to - the hir
rhis was when Mr. Cunninghat
3howed nim the memoranda durin
the session of the Legislature. H1
,ould not remember whether he ha
made the verbal agreement with Co
Neal about the use of the cotnvicts b(
fore or after he tmade the contraet f
convicts. It was really Col. Neal's ce'
tract and witness was neverL rcquire
to sign a bond as had previously be
thbe caso. lie produced some lettet
and papers bearing on h is testimony t
to the sale of cotton.
TIIIE HOOK-KIt-:IItl UiV.S t lls Al
COUNT 01 PENITENTIARtY A-'-'AllS
Mr. It. E. Burriss, book keeper of thi
penitentiary, was the next witnes
llo has keopt the books during C:
Neal's term. lie saw only the 11. 1
ltlagsdale not,.. Going bac to 18963 th
Watson conmtract was made. The ir:
note which camne to him wvas in Apri
18963, for $1.500 and was given by M
Watson. it was payable in tho fal
That note wtas not paid at maturit'
b~ut was char'ged by the batik t) til
pen1i tentiary accouin t. On Deembiha
I1896, the note and interest after ma
turtty was charged. The amount wtm
tot' $1 5130, lecs the discou Lnt. Thela hit
fotr 189ti atmounted to somnethiing ove
$1,500. Somie time in 1897 Col. Nei
told him of a settlement, lie had ha
with W atson and turnted over $318.8
Col. Neal 5aid tue note ha:s been settle
up) and thao $18 S 7 was to go on conv'
hire for 18911. lie thtinks the note
one of the Itaigsdales was taken upii
this tansactio~n.
In LFehruat'y, 1898, Mr. Clark, cir Cm
J ones, told himi tney hiad a note of
13. itaagsdale. lIe ea'led( Col. Neal's a
tention to it and he saidm it htaid hec
ar'ranged. .ie dlid n't say anythil
about the ciircuanstancles of givIng t,
note. I n iFebruiary , 1 898, was a $2,3
note by Watson to covet' the '97 convl
hiire. In April, 1897, ther'o was a pa
mont, (of $172 by cheek, whicha was r
p~aid. Col. Neal said he would arrian
the mnattoer with the bank, and It w
carried as cash. it, was given lby C
Neal personally, lie sainlg lie wou
have to pay discount ott the note.
knewv nothing about the Neal and Wi
son private contract,. Col. Neal h
never told him anything about it. I
knew nothing about the C. W. Ital
datle ntote until about six weeks as
when he learined~ of it through a let~l
to Col. Neal. Col. Neal deposit
notte ini payment of 1898 convict hi
IIe was undler the 1 ipression it wa:
Watson note. As to the aiccount, of
Q. [laimmond of $992, at (. !anuai
meeting of the board(, he asxed t
chalirman to ask patiies owling to col
(low n and settle. They enmne in 1"ebi
ar'y. Mrii. Uaimmond prioduced a stam
ment, a driaft, and check. The che
was on bank of Anderson of Novemni
27, 1895, tot' $500, given to Col. Neal
suiperintenident. Lic said tat was
advance tot' 1896 convict, hire. At i
end of 1895 ther'e wasa to his croi
$49.24. The cheek had no connecti
with that. That check does not, a
Petar to have been deposltedl In
Colaunbia bank. T1he cheek v
stamp led "panid'' by the Anoderson bali
The pr'(otceds have never been entet
uphonl thei btooks of the penitentiary.
is not aware that, the p)enitentiairy c1
got thet money.
On lFebt'uary 14, I1897, Mr. Hfammt
wias driawn upon1 lby Colonel Neal
$85(i.l7 at, ten days. Tihat, dr'aftv
discountedl at iFartiers' andl Morehar
dI baik of Anderson. It was deposited t(
I the credit of W. A. Neal, superinton
I- dent. The Fowler draft was drawn on
3. the same date. That mado somewhat
er over $1,300 on deposit in the Ando oon
ir bank. It appears on the books of that
I bank that the amount had gone out
,t during March of the samo year. The
0 ofllicials said it was drawn out by a draft
1. from Columbia. The Carolina bank
o says it was for $1,352 12, which was
is given then on Feb. 26, 1897. On that
d dato Neal told him he had deposited
g on W. Q. Hammon-l's aecount, $55( 17,
1, $300 less than the draft, Colonel Neal
d had drawn on him. Also $256 on the
it account of Cooley & lowler, $21 less
. than the draft Mr. lowler accepted.
r The Carolina National bank informed
mno that $812 $And some5O CentS, the sum
11 of the two amounts deposited, were to
. the credit of Colonel Neal, superinten
t dent. H-e also depozted $539.95 to his
, personal act.ount. That, with the do
s posit to the credit of the superinten
d dent, makes Up the amount of the
a Anderson draft. Colonel Neal told
I- hil' to credit the $539.95 to expense ae
y count and the items would be given
L him later. But this Ias never been
d done. Mr. Cunninghamn had sent him
to Auderson to have a settlement with
.M r. lammond and the crc he found out
S the facts.
t The accounts Colo'sel Neal put to his
e own personAl account in the bxank could
r not go to the expense account. 1'x
k pllnse acounto are never, paid to the
superintendent. The statement that
the amounts had gone to the ex pense
0 account was a istwrepresentat:on of
" facts. Mr. Hiammnond after payirlzt ex
penses paid $856.17 and the peniten
tiary did not get $300 of the amount.
The .1. J. FrOtwo3l case was for a
thousand bushels of oats at 50 Cents a
bushel. Mr. Pretwell showed him'a
0 receipt from Colonel Neal in settle
0 msent. 110 ascertained this since J an
SuIary.
lie knows nothing about the V. W.
- iRussell note. There was a Pretweh
U and Itussell note for $025, of which the
Ln penitentiary got $600, the $25 boing for
G discount. . W. W.. Iiusselt Ibad.never
hiiired convicts. 'Soime'timie during '11,
3 Rtussell and Pretwell were urged to
t settle the note. Later he was ill
formed by the bank that the peniten
Liary had been credited with $600.
t Pretwell and Itlussell owe something
U like $235 over and above the note.
6
S TiE TESTl IONY. ()P COL. NEA h.
e - Col. Neal gave his evidence in a clear
n a-id sctraightforward manner as follows:
e The fit't lote of B. H. Itagsdale,
s taken up by Mr. Watson's draft, was
n1 first constildered. lie swore that tihe
.s note was given for conviet, hire in 18-)7,
6I undcr' the contr'act of IMr. Watson.
- Col. Neal wished to start, at the outset,
and s.id he vi as ready to answer any
and all (tiestions.
e In December, 1892, he was elected
11 ,superintendent. .wso years h fore tibat
d ie helI and made large cot-ton cropt
wv 250 to 300 bales-and M'. Watsen was I
c first, cousin of his, living live or six
d miles apart. He hsld the crop of 1890
e and 1891 for bettcr prices. Watson en
1. (Otsed for him to hold the crops to the
n1 amount of $6,000. Ile oveldrew his
g bank account, to about, $1,!,00, and was
e iretty well fixed up to 1891. Luck
d went against, himl. The crop was sold
1. in 'lte fall of 1811 and he was sick. He
- owed the proceeds of the crop to the
r bank anid was prostratu when sold.
- Col. Neal went on to say that, things
d went on so until the fall cf I192 and be
i was elected in Dcember, 18 t, as
6 suITintendent of tie penitenttiatry.
s le took charge on January :1, 18l:l
AfLer the election and before coming
her, he had 701 aeres of land in An
diron, and eig hteent Im ules anlid hotsrses,
corn. fodder, hogs and provisions. lie
C said to Waston he was going to leane,
-anid told hinm he hali ndlor'sedl to thte
-amsounit of $tI,000t, and we have si1 lpped
-up and he mleaint, to proteet, hImas i he
ecous!.i. lie tendered Ihim all thse prop
Serty and left Watson the real estate,
mlies, macinery and all. lie masde
is hinm a deced tos thse recal estate, and( had
-. his wife to relimpq i dower:5. Watsons
,' told hsims lhe (lid noit wntt thse prioper't.y.
e Neaul said that wias all tie coutld dIo.
,There wer'e somse othier' debts. Th'le
~tenisant (Sn the PILce-at k ind o5f for'e
a msan-Mr i' 1 B. I tagsdale, took echarge.
1e Ie ag ree~d to help ~Imn the fi rst two
' year's b~y giving him $')510 out (If hs
hi lir st two years' s--alar'y. It, wett on
j that way for three yeat's ;that be wa-,
-to t'uni the n'.ace, ho to keep aiccoun t of
(I tings. Th'le understanding was that
:if lhe could re'stot'e the planltation t~o
me it, wotuild bs dlone. It wot'ked on
tthis way for. 18113, 189-1 and 189~>. The
foremanitt heeame d~ilisstati. el and1 said
, lhe woulId tquit un tless hie, ( Nea , ) took
L. chiat re, as I (agsd ale ansd Watsons cold
4- niot get alonstg. li aicCd forty dollars of
Mt Isis salary. At the end of thse third
ig year he toldl W\atsn somfethsing would
ie hsave tot bse donse to k-elp titagedale
tIS Watsons was hoarding with hims, ansd bi
et told1 him to iigulr thlings up. Watsmt
y'- told 111im it wolSd Liake *14.0tilt to sqitur<
ot utp whIIat lhe owedi Watsons onl tlhe po
e erty. ie agreed to p~ay $200011 a yea
as tatd interest at 7 lper cent. ThIsis cotn
)l. yertsaitions took place In lFebrutary, I1890
Id Uc made up1 tile statemtett, atnd it, wa
le ag reed upon, lie then ag reed to hsi r
it- thbirty convictb fot' three year's. Col
.1d Necal wvas to assttte conttrol of List
Ie farm, so far as Mvir. I lagsdale was con
is- eteed. I Ie paid WVatson somtethsi ng
o, like $:3,000 the Ii rst year. lie kept or
i oping for better yeas e. InI 1t7 h<t
d( pidt about, $:3.0L0 againts, inIecudings: ini
'C. suranilce. Th' i year hs nt, t eer~
a wioud tip. The expeises will i'io~s
I. consuome w hat, was msa,'e and perhta:
ry as little more'. lie has g-. tnotin tg onl
h~e of the faurm in tihsee ycar ss. It tat ivs
tne to tile I (agsdales' niotee, the I tag'sa .
-- were tmansagers an thes farstm. Ts.
be- 1p1laec' was dleed ed to WAattsion in Il'Ut
ok and Is tuoonk chat'ge of the p)laci .lant
'Or uar~sy 1, i1192. TheIs labor)5 cotracltis atr
as madUOe fort tharee years s achIs. IIle wva
its runnsing the place in 1896,. 197 am
hse I , so as~ t,> keep I lagad ate, lie hias
lit fr-omt twentty to thtirty consvicts tsn I122
on Thela Ansde rson tandl l'sckens lanations
a ens hadl abou~t lttt aicres iad was dleederi
as imt by Isis lathert. andI h se vesr Isa
k. ftull poscsesitn Lt a ft,: his mlothter'
ed deaths, whets hse wa-sntma. lt suerintenid
le ent. Hie lesedl'A Watton Isi, Il'ickens
eri p1lace, anrd Watsi ons d eed isis place ti
nd lie thought itn i 3 there wits abou
for' $17,000 du e on thse Andsul'~'or place, ani
ras the pr'olits over t'intd abosve e x penise
thes convicts ran about twenty to thir
two, and so for 1898. The average m
about the samo. They wero swapp
about on the Anderson and 1Pckt
places.
The pouitentiary has not yet be
Paid for the use of theso convi
for 1II6, 1897 and 1898. For 1898 the
is no note or other evidence of indel
edness. Por 1897 thore was the Iaj
dale note, which remaiied unpaid, a
for 1896 t he Watson note is aht o un pal
The note for 189ti was made bv J.
Watson and discountled by th bian
Th, conti'IrctI weler shown Col. NC
relative to the recoiveyance of Ll
farm.
Col. Neal said the labor and far
contracts we :e mado the samo mor
Ing and were a part, of the san
transaction. lie saidl he was to becon
a sort (if manager to keep Mr. I tag
dale on the farm. The understandit
Was that he was to seu to paying fI
the convict hire. lie wia to pay tLI
convict hire out of the lproceeds of ti
la) ce, if lossi blo.
Wattson had nothing to get out
that, lalor contract except his $:,it
and interest, an nual pay ments on ti
contract for the reconveyance of tL
land to him by Watson. tit did n
know w hether \VtSoi's note for IS
was ever pri Sented. It was settled I
one of the tl.tgsdale notes. The ltg
dale iotWe aru outstanding. I. I
I n-daie, he thought, was wort
Solliet hiill. Wiatson wia solvent. (
W. I1 Vgesdal hi very little propert,
Waton's note, he thought, has al wa)
beenl held. The C. W. I gsdale nol
Was in tihe b ))aink for collection. I1
Coulid nhot recdllcet whether the Wa
son niote for Conviet labor for 1,09i wi
eve' di sco 'untied. The notO may po
Sbly i ave lben discoulite., but ti
note is in the stfe anlid would show f(
itself. Th1is C. W. Itag.dale notO
for convirt labor for IS90. lie did ni
think ,he Watson note was d iscountue
'Tle hooks were referred to and it w;
shown that the Wutson noto was di
cointiLed. It miay possibly be that Li
C. W. l'agsdale note was to Lake up ti
Watson Ioiir. It was for convict hi
lor 1 -.6. lIe paid Watson about $i,0
in Is," and 1I17 uider tle contrat
Watsoni was to get so much a yell
every year*. The ConVict hire wits
be paid out, of the piroceedt of Lbhecro
lie ad mitte'd that, if instoad of pa
ing his debts he iad paid the con vi
hir-e, the State would have been pa!
Tiie money that should have gono
pay ilg convict hire for 18!Hi and IS
Went, to Watson oi his debt, to hi
lie never got at dolarit from the plti
tions in six years.
"Will you ti.el us about this recei
for $1,115.s5 '" asked Mr. Stevenson.
Col. Neal took the r'eeei pt and exit
ined it., and said he did not kno.v wh
it was for. lie said it had his sign
ture und was L'ebruary 22, 1y..
wanted to ask Mr. Watson about
and Mr. Stevenson said thait Wats
Said the money was turned over to C
Neal to paty for cinlvict, hire, and
took r eceipt..
Col. Neal said Watson nover- p
him i money out of the proceeds of t
crops. The receulpt does not say wh
it Is for.
"What other account could you ha
ha as superintendent. You signed
as iuperiitendent ?'
Col. Neal said ho (lid not rememh
matter, and wanted to talk with M
Watson about It.
Mr. Watson then explained that tLi
Crop for 189I6 was taken by him to P'
z .-t and i'tedmont and sold, and Ie at
Neal had i settlement, liiebruarv '
1897, and Neal made him the paiy liel
agreed, and lie gave the check f
$1 ,-0).
Gol. Neal said when the settlemel
was iale tlbu check was given him
I paid out for exICIesus inl d aMou.
Aniderson. Thu money was depositut
for the cotton in Wvatson's name, ai
that was whby Watson gave him iii
cheek LtI hay the faren C epeses. Wu~i
soni, lie said, kne1w that nolt a cnt weC
to hiis accounut as5 super~tinitendet, of LI
penlitenatialry. le glt, no1th in g to yi
any ci lim here. WNats si~i.old the et
ton ti) proteet, himtself in his pIaymer
lie did not untde rstandl why thle recei
wats I ied bly him i t 1 as1supeinitendiler
Ilie was plosiuive ill monliey wasi1 lii
him t by Watson to go to the r'ed it
eonv ict lir ie. lie exainIned Lthe si g
Lures carefully andl compared it i
otlbers, ianid11( aid e nieveir got any mon
to pay hire withb. The s ig nataur oo)k
veiry muitchi like hiis. lie dIill not I
mumbher giving the r'eceipht, buit d
not (Iciy it. The I tagsdales gave thi
notes beause they were the forenu
111n1 ho did not, wish to worry WaLst
hiopinog to get, out of the di thi. T
merely golt, wages, anid are in. no1 wV
responsihle. T1'li board ii nothiing
atlI about the I tajsdales gIving t
-notes. lie bad eotnvicets be fore lie wv
ileC.tedl. The contvlets wer'e then pa
for monithilj. Afttr that the Iblard bi
Lii carriy ill ConiitracitCs hieeause of t,
Crisis of ING. Godua sieiity was
iiid not ri'u irie a hond, and the ba
left, t'ilose maiitters larIgely to him i. TV
-cdit, bus'iness startedi ini 1 , amd L
nux t 3yealr coniv iets were: ni')traetedl
on ilcotton tionils att six cenits. '
boatrd to a large extet left the ciill
tionis andi the conitracts LI) him i. 'I
hoardl kntewi whIio hiad contracts; LI
-k now the numinb-.r of men cointr'acl
Sfor.
"1Did you ever before take ao
from a solvienit, ruan iand ai llw iL to
taken iup by at note'. gm.n by insolv)1
patI ''asked Mlr. Steveunsoni.
inser :ITh e con tract Is the bir
ing pari,. As a rl adwn l
it Liiiie contract. 'Ilhe bond wasr
signied ill becaulse lie nieeed noi b)1
o0 mi.tke his coiiwrac', good. One4 oIf t
Itgnulales is rl:.pontsihiC. Ilie too1k t
niote.s because we weeo1 Il woriig i
Wat'on wa is to g!et thie oroced of t
l 'iekei.s piiaue, andi~ his pay inents oni I
"If thle l~agbldales wer'e nt r'IporI
b1le why take their note' " asked
St~evenisoni.
" iteu-e wve did not wanttt Lto wo
"W'.y have the noltes if thei e
tact, hols and tLae notes ar'e i o t'o
- The first paiymenc:ts were on1 thle phi
and there was uiothiIng left to pay
convict, hire. The Ion iteniti .eiry nec
thec money. It, was vi rt.iil ly ihe p
t tentia ry borro wing iioney ( I it.' Ii
I endorsements. In the i nial oettlei
s he would have LII pay13 11or thbe ciony
-: hIrn. ''hn paym,.nt on th. lnd~ I
"A careful study of the business con
ditions of that whole - section, of the
spirit of the people, of the splendid
progress already made in cotton manu
facturing, of the truly marvelous Iron
and steel-making advantages, as illus
trated in Birmingham-and remember
ing that while Birmingham Is neces
sarily dostinod to be one of the world's
leading motallurgical centres, there
are many other points where iron
and steel can be profitably manufac
tured, thus giving assurance of the
upbuilding of many other Iron cities as
the work of development goes on
remembering all these facts, the
thoughtful student of business condi
tions must see that the South has an
exceedingly bright future.
" The progreis of that section seems
to be well rounded, with i steady up
building in cotton and iron manufac
turing, and now Birmninghani is pro
paring to take a dominant position in
stool-naking. The two great steci
lants now under construction at Bir
minghamo will, I u.idorstand, cost about
*2,:500,000 to $3,000,000. As a factor in
building up that city and in creating
diversity of manufacturing interests,
these steel works will probably be of
moro value than everything that Bir
minghani has up to the present time
accoipllishcd in iron matters. We
found a very marked activity in cotton
inill building and in Alabama learned
of the closing of a contract by the
Merrimac M anufacturi ng Company, of
lAuwell, to build at, luntsvillo one of
the larrest cotton mills in tibe world.
This plant, so I was informed, will
have 200,000 spindles, a bleachory and
print wooks, and will, I believe, bo tie
first Irint works in the South. It will
probably cost over $2 500.000.
I in all parLs of tile South the cotton
mills were reported as prolitable and
co1wled with orders. Tihe splendid
cottll duck ill at Collumn bia, S. C., is
one of the finest mill plants I have
Over seen, and its electrical cquipmnent
is superior to Ohakt of any mill with
w iicl I aim famnil iar in New lngland.
Its gIeneral Inanager stated that It
coul d sell double its pr'esent output,
Lhe demand for its goods coing from
al pIarts of the world. In North Caro
ilm I foutl that one county has twon
ty-two cotton mi ills in operation, with
five iore projcted. In that county
the farilers are said to be so prosper
oil, owiir to tlh local demnand for
dive'rsitiied awricilturai products, as to
ie Iroe from debt, witLi i good suniply
of cash l)to thir credit, 1,heir barns
filled with cOII and their mUat houses
with provisions.
" Added to the general In dustrial
advance everywhere noticeable is the
vel- st-ikjilg progress that is being
mlaide in, tihe development of Southorn
Iorts. At Galveston, Now Orleans,
l'eaacolht, Mlobile, Savannab, Norfolk,
Newport News and other ports, exten
siVe einla rg ieln ts of termninal facii
tie::, involvingui a Lootd many Iillionis of
dollar-, are being made. And at, New
port, News, ir Iluntington's great
shi pyard, em1ploying abiou t 5,000 hands,
has, I learn, about $20.000,000 of work
1I ude'r contract.
"L.O ;k ing over the w hole'situation, as
I have tried to do, and appreciating
soiethiig of what the South has at
ready accomplished, and what its many
advantages aro, I aim thoroughly con
vincud that there aire great o)p)ortun
itics in hiat section for broad and coml
irehensivo development.
" So far as the plans for tihe Amcri
can Cotton Company are concerned, we
have for several years been at work
develo)inag the system of )utting cot
ton into a bat directly at the gin and
then winding it intoi a cylindrical bale
about the size of a llour blarrel. Tiis
is aratically putting cotton through
the first stage of manufacture at the
gin, and * ill do away with a good deal
of the work no0w dono~ atL the mill. in
tlihis compIaict, form, with atll air ex
ciluded , the cotton is noncomnbustible.
tibu-, reducing inosurance one-half, aind
greatly fiacilitLatinmI tihe shaipmient of
cotton biy rail andiu water. Undeor the
old systenm onily aibouat 1,000 polunds of
compre~'I.ssed cottonl cain be1 loadled in a
cari, wileh wih Liour1 round1( bales0 we cain
(load a eiar Lto Its fuill catpacity, whether
thaat be( 50J,u000 or Ii0,000 piounds. [n
ocean transportation~a Our -.round bale has
the samie aidvanutage. Th'lere is a saving
(of (roan li to $1 a halu1, as8 compilared
w% I itI preset miethaods, in which South
0ern farmler-s anid transpor-tation comn
pain is wvill Imargely bliarec, and every
econom~Iy in redulcinag un necessairy ex
iicmiies bIorneI by cotton will i nsiire to
Lt) tile beneili, Lof the wholo1( South."'
T<> Soti'T'a Ct Iin>ILNA'S lDFA o--A
special to till Washington Star from
Winchlestcer, Va., saiys:
"' TJho laid is of LtheI memaiorial aissociai
Lion hero togotherm with the Daughters
of thio Conlfederacy in South Cairolia,
have sucecedod In raising the necessary
amoilunit to erecL a mfonuament to the
Southb Carol inra CJontfederate dead who
lie buir ied inl Stonewall cemetery here.
In the lots of other- States in this come
teriy ther" are no0w moumrents to the
ilead (if the respectivo Staites. 'The
fundo raised for the South Carolina
Imlonumilent wais considerably augment
edi by oa personal subscripition froam
IChaarles II. I Louss oIf New York.
'Pihe mo(fl nut is to be unveiled
0u NJlemaorail Dauy, Juno (ith, and the
commiaittenu In Winchester and the re
mresenitatives of the vairious Con
fedeorat'. orgaun'zautions in South Care
linia ar-e co-operating aind promise to
makol{ it, a greait occasion.
"' Theru is to be an orator who was
him'uself a Can federaito soldlior, and
oIso an1 Orator who Is to be a rep)resen
Lative son of a Confederate soldier.
Theli commi~iittCeO have decidedl on the
.junior- orator, and have invited C'l.
John C. Capers, now one (If the United
Status aittorneys inu Washington. Mr.
SCaper-s has been prominont for several
yeaurs in South Carolina, aund Ia the son
of Gen. (n~on bishop) Ellison Capers of
thait State."
--The greatest light is lirst for braid,.
next for butter on the bread, aind then
for sugar on the butter.
-LFrance has more porsons over 60
yeaurs of age than any other country;
Ireland comes next.
"A good ideal wvas thle guarantee you
gave mei (li Alligator iiiiiment. I tried
the0 himment anld it's our -family friend
nmow and alway's wvill be for it relieves painu
90 (imelkly-, \ 0 1180 it for horses aind an
iinals also.2' One of thousandis of testi
monaital.
ty- him to pay for the convict hire, still
as due. He got no benefit by paying on
ed the land, as the money on the convict
us hire is due Watson by him. He rel
torated that Watson was to get noth
en ing but his annual piaymont of $2,000
ts and interest. Watson was to got no
re prolit and had nothing further to (10
)t- with the contract. There was a i rans
f(r of look ing after the place aftor the
id first three years. The only differenco
d. was in the Imanagoment. IH wits to
li. look after Ragsdalo instead of Watson.
k. lie was to take care of the notes when
al they mat.Ired. Ile did not know
to whether VWatson gave a bond or not in
1I93, 1I8, i,185. No bond was rcquired
InI of a inan considered responsible. He
n- did not rCeinmber saying anything to
ie Watson a' oi t uing thbe Itagsdalo note
ie inl plie of he Watson note. itolativO
s- to the i''owler draft, and receipt he said
ig ho got, the itoney and charged it op to
)i hinisolf for traveling expenses, etc.
le lie got tit $,_)00 of the draft, and with
10 other coll etUions lie charged up, and
whatever oalalice duno by hil he would
af pay the penitentiary. lie kept a niuom
10 orandIuii of traveling expenies, and
c generally had ia settiemni at, at the end
e of the year. Last yar le had no set
>, tliniet and it, was Atill iendinI3. This
ni inCIlude 1 thlie settlenients for P117 and
y )(t. One y t lie a id 'he penitten
s- tiary solliethillg like $100 over-drawn.
. -I saidi Ihe wol Id clirgo hi isel f on
b his iimerand i Iln wit h such ioney.
The hookkeeper had notihing to do with
this Itecollit. The settltelents appear
* with Alr. liiirris- as any OtIer seutile
e ient whienc had. At the end of each
e yeatr he ti Ws ove, IIly balance ; soic
t,. tiines the peniteuitiary would owe h imc
ks andi boieti mis lie owed the pleniten
S. tiary. '.l'here- was no aliowaico for
c expenses ; whal.ever they were they
>- were paid,
is At the endl of 1 S5 he did not think
it there wa; a -ietti-lieIt. lie did not
.. think the ['owle:' collctioni was in his
e last sttlenient,. Th e booksshow wlien
s- thbe ettlotnent were CV iad. lie
Ie had no account, for the Imoney, and
Ie knew that li.3 did not reall the last,
-e settleinent as to this 0x 1)pus0 aIccouint.
o It, wa, aboeut I6. The l'owlr paper
.wats inl 1815. Ile wvould not(Avel( nluale
, settlenlilt inl 1 .9 anl left a reciet
to ollt for l . lie drew Inoney for
p. traveling expenees. T h book- will
y. show how inuch ice drew for traveling
et ex penses for last ye-ar. lie kept nio
d. separate aceouillit ir hook., hut, de
tLo posited it to his personial acCnt.
7 The coliitIei tomk at recess on til
n. toiiorrow moninM11g. I t is to be noted
a that the Watnoni iecounts for liS9 and
1I97 appear as iaid on Jbe reports.
pt, Tlicy have 1en paid Iby cash realixed
from the Iegs-dale otes di isceu nted,
n- with the endorhement of Col. Neal as
at Supelrintenideit. Tie bank hoh.i. the
I- endorsed notes zagiainist the pelltelti
le ary. The 19 account in still opei on
it, tle books.
Al. TIE SOUTH IS NOW BOOMING.
he
RISOUR1CES OF1 OUR SECTION.
,id
hle Whit( at Northeri Man Saiw ii the
at Colurse o an Ini Etenided Trip--lle
)oets Not Bellieve That Any (ther
VO Sectioln iheliIi World its so Malny
it 1'eahii-reating Adivantages.
r illtilmre Sinl.
r. M r. .1olin P. Seales, tihe well-known
New York linancier, was in haltiuore
le for awhilo yeste-iday, On his way back
I- to New York after at live weeks' hn ip
lid th roi1 h the Sou thern States. On tle
2, trilp Nir. Sale cs w as aceiCm paIn ied b3
it his sonl and Mr. lIichard Ii. icdmiollds,
)r of ihltilori, cditol of tiit Mallnu factir
ors' lieCord.
it Mr. Searles is devoting his attentioln
,l to the developimn', of cottio-handling
i 1inethOdS, aund to ihl er Sou Lh ern ill ten -
(d ests. MIore than Ii fty Sut th irn cities
d wereO visited and abiot 7,000I iniles
ic traveled by the jparty. Starting fromn
t- New York on ai privatte car, they wvent
it, tio Cliicagio, thence to St. Louis1 , I) c.
Ic veir, Colorado Spin gs, tierogh ii kl(1a
vy hoinia and the Ildianl TeCrritolry to
ai, Texas, I 4ouisiana, NIIssissi ppi, Tennes
t,. su1 acid to i tt~ I ~loc k , Ark . i-'romi
pt this plinlt the-parity visited A ilaamai,
it,. Geiirgia anti t.he Carolinias, Inlaking
Id 1stop1 iat Illntsville, Monutgoeinery, Au
a- Norlfoilk andi Newipirt News. I e-pre~
eayi wherever they stoppied, andli a nonuiber
3d of receptionstt and dilnnelr plartieCs were
-e- given in thir honor.
Cs "C Thie Sou thi," said Mr'. Searlecs. in an
ir ilnturview it ih a re porter of Thec Suon,
ni, "hias fill LCen years been~l pa-ssing tihroutgh
nI, anc ex; orilln ntal p riod, in wihichl the
cy mlOttle0 of tihe peoplio an d the ilnheroen t
ty strenth of its posliition have beii uni
lit, drcgoinig ai test.. I hoth have stood L~be
ie ordeail aunid deCrnonilstraited to Lhe buii~
tis neiss~ wolid theC5(1 oundlnIess of the wvhole
id Southerni si tiiationi. Thelc Southb is a
id counetry of such relinarkab llo niatuirai
:ce aidvanitages that it. woeuldl seeil 1.0 olfr
-e- the broadiiest oppuortunrities for exten
hie sive oerationls in tbe develoinenit, iif
rd its minieral andi tiinher weailthc and the
hie extenisionl of its railrolad facilities.
lie " Wheln the very reiink able corn -
he the Sloutlh iln ceial, Iion tiinbter anid
ee- cotton, withouit euounting allt of the less
lie stlriking rie(ources of phlosphiates, rnar-i~
ey bile, granlites, N\ ., is tiakeni initti n1o
cii counlt,, I Cenn readil believe, as Mir.
[i eimiuneds ha-i often s-a id to meii, that,
Ito there is no othcer coiintr'y in the world
lbe whIih anii iult~icateo its wvealthi. Ot)hcer
'at coulnries haive some0 oIf thiese ad vani
tages ; -lulm haveiC nioi andi coal, somce
d- have timb~ler, wnne( hiave mlarbles anod
nig graniite-, hot, I believie it is fir to say
iot tiiat, noi oIthier regioni I' lice worldi has
nid thcemc all concienitratedl in such weatlth
tie cretinog magn i tude ias the Southb.
hei favorable ii liate and11 ai producti'.e
Ir-. soil, bothc of which the SoutL. enjoys,
lie there ought unot to be any lImit, to Lice
lie pol-ibl ;eproitable dcveloipment of that
,Counltry. If i~iglanid couldI cr'eato itk
*e eormIous 1 ii indutrial in ter'ests, based
cre. anduc spendiing, as she doe-', about
'ry 6-;,000,000i a year for' foodstulfs ;if
New Eniglanrd, with but few natural
ei iaidvanitages, could, by Lthe great energy
uK (If it..a people and the force (If circtumi
11:1 statnees, bhilid up1 its marvelous i ndus
hce tiaul prospeiity, based un ~ impo~r ted
ed icoal, imp lortedl Iron and imilpoted Cote
li ito(n, wYhat mayhi we niot, expect (If tht
wII Soth Linow that it has fairly onteret
:it upon01 the broad devepmecnt (If it?
ict, mineral wealth arecl its cottont and lumn