Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-07-06
FAIR PLAY AMONG FARMERS.

The Way the New Law Against En-
ttcin& Farm Hands WOrks-An In
teTesfing Case In TrousdaIo
COznty.
Hartsville Sentinel.
A case under the law against entic-
ing farm hands away from the farm on
which they are regularly employed was
brought befove Squire Lawrence on
Tuesday, and as the question is one
which generally interests most Of our
readers, We give synopsis of the case
The action was brought by Mr. j. W.
Rankin against Or. Jones, both living
on the Middle Fork of Goose Greek.
Dir. Rankin has two negroes on his
farm who are cropping With HIM. He
is to furnish land, teams and tools,
and they are to feed themselves. And
whatever they make is to be equally
divided between Mr.. Rankin and them.
AS they did not bring sufficient sup
plies for the year with them, it was
agreed that when the crops did not re-
quire work they could work
out for others so as to
obtain money to buy more meat
and bread, aud in this way they had
worked for several Of the neighbOrs.
Some two weeks ago DR.. Jones, who
Was anxious to have. his wheat cut,
asked Mr.. Rankin what would be the
chance of obtaining his hands to cut
for him, and Mr. Rankin informed him
they were free men, but if their crops
were in a condition TO pillow and they
hired out to anybody and neglected
their crops there would be fuss On
Tuesday. the 22d ult., there was aheavy
ram, and the ground being too wet to
work IN the tobacco, the negroes went
to cut Mr.. Mungle's wheat, Mr. Rankin
making no objection. While at work
there, DIR. Jones came to them and Of
fered them 50 each to cut wheat for
him next day, which they agreed to do.
Mr.. Rankin notified the men that the
ground was in order to pillow and that
they were to 60 to work on it Thursday
morning, instead Of doing which they
went to work for DR.. Jones and cut
wheat for him till dinner time. Mr..
Rankin rode over TO Jones and asked
him to dismiss the hands, which he de-
clined to do. There were offers on both
sides to send the other a hand. DR..
Jones said he would send Mr.. Rankin
a hand to work in the crops till the
men were through cutting. Mr.. Ran
kin offered to send hand If DR.. Jones
would turn the hands off. Neither ac-
cepted the others proposition. When.
the hands came back Mr.. Rankin dis
charged them, but finally cons nted to
their staying on his place, and brought
suit for the damage done the crops IN
which these men should have been at |
work. Testimony of farmers as TO |
what hands were worth in harvest !
time and the probable damage a crop |
Of tobacco would sustain from neglect |
at the particular time Of this hiring |
was taken, and Messrs. Smith & Burn
ley, counsel for the plaintiff, argued |
that they had made a case out under |
the new law Mr.. John S. McMurray, |
who defended, coutended that the ne
groes, being equal partners in the crop, |
we're free agents to hire where they
chose while they considered their crop !
was too wet to work, and that their in
-erest being equal with Mr.. Rankin
their opinion as to the condition of the
ground for blowing was as likely 70 be
correct as his. Squire Lawrence de-
eided for the plaintiff, and assessed the
damage at S.. An appeal to the Cir
nit Court was taken by DR.. Jones,