The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1888-02-01
For the Adyertiserl
n TRUE STORY OF 1866.
How Tom Was Tried without
n Court.

When Ice surrendered In April 1865,
ana tho foundations of tho Southern
C~onfederacy were giving way all over the
south, many things occurred in tho pri-
vatc lives OF individuals, which can new
or be forgotten, There were occurren-
ces of which the historian will tako no
E~oticchccausc they were entirely pcrso-
nal or the parties were tooobscure or the
events too tragic to receive credsnco if
transferred to the printed page. The
following story is strictly authentic amt
can DO verified in all respects AZ tho
most of tho actots arc still alive, and
can vouch for oTcry essential feature of
Off although it is now Il quartrr of a
century since the facts.occnrrcd.
n gentleman who thon lived in the
lower part of this state had owned n
young negro man whosonamo was Tom.
When Llncoln's Emancipation Procla-
nation WAC ISSUED ]oicourso Tom rcceiv.
cd his freedom along with all Ike rests
of his African Brethren and wa was
turncdlooso upon the world TO seck his
fortune in any direction his taste
or his inclination might prompt. Be-
ing extremely indOlcnt in his DISPOSE
ton he determined to enjoy at least for
timcthc luxury of absolute idlcncss,
1t was not long however before the en-
ployer of all idle people found some
thing for his idln hands to do. A gen
tlcman kept bachelors hall about a milo
rom whore Toms former mastcr lived
and as is frequently the case with bach
nlOfS hn WnQ often Dhsnnt from, hn,n,
He always however tool tho prccaution
to lock up his house, and soc that every
thing was sccurc before leaving home.
This gont!cman's name was Fender
grass and is still living in tho lower
part OF this state 80 far as tho writer
knows. During one Orthoso occasions
when Mr. Pcudcrgrass WAS abscn, from
home Tom conceived the idea Of max
ing a raid upon his house and apDropri-
atinS such articles aS no might iini 10
his W use. lie accordingly went ono
night ana burglariscd tho house and
brought away n finc double barrel shot
gun, several articles of clothing and
such other things rs suited his fancy.
When Mr. Pcndcrgra"S returned and
discovered his losses no applied to II
nciShbor fOrthe loan Of largo fierce
dog m his possession that had been
trained to follow the track of
and rogucs. This powerful canine soon
took tho track OF portion and followed
it to tho cabin occupied by his mother,
who was thGn discharginy the OH &C Of
cook for Toms former mnStcr. Mr.. y
iindirgt tho door shut and fastened de-
mandcd admission which after some de-
lay WAS opened and there stood Tom
trembling ant confused with his guilt,
~undcn.ably fastened upon him. He was
ordered to produce the stolen goods
which he promptly did without making
any attompt at "conccalmcnt or denial.
MIR brought him and the tolen
articles to the house OF Toms former
master, and explained tho whole tran
Siction to him II asked him what he
should do. The reply was the case is in
your OWL hands, Toms CORNER master
is no longcr responsible for linn, and
you must dispose Of tho matter in the
way you think best. Won thon, said MIR
Il, | will take Tom cut 10 tho woods an q
zoe him. At that tilnn, tho summer Of
1863, the country vas in a state Of prac-
ticai anarchy. Tho Confederate author
tiles had been ovcrthrown and the Fed
cral Government had not had time to or
ganizc military authority over the coum-
try. There were no courts martial or
civiltriOunalS where offenders could Ue
tried aud everything was in confusion.
Every n folt that no could do whatcv-
cr was right in the sight of his own ewes.
t'n1nr Ihnln ri r.n p,ut,,,na \Ir ID ,,,,,;
dercd that rs tho pri.onor's guilt was pm
tent and he was the injured party That he
was entitled to exercise all the functions
OF judge and jury, TO tako tho case in his
own hands and settle it to- suit himself.
Meantime Toms mother, who was in
tho Kitchen in the backyard, heard what
had happened and of the important
scenes that woro taking place at til
ron door Of the former master house,
came round to hear what was going on.
BY this time the entire white family was
gathered on the front piazza and all deep
~ Interested IN what seemed to be tho
prclIm inarics ofTom's~ execution. Toms
mother whose name was Grace, was II
short stout coal black African woman OF
quiet domrcanOr, and tho mother Off
children without cvGr having had n reg
ular husband. When She heard what
Mr. T. proposed TO do with her SON., the
crime he had committed and all the cir.
cnmstances Of the case, she seemed for a
few moments entirely overcome with
grief, and stood looking mt Mr. y, and
then Mt hcr guilty son., while tears chas-
cd each other down hor dusHy chcoks.
Atlongth recovering herself sho turned
to Tom and began to upbraid him for his
conduct not in the violent language of
vitnpcration and abuse, but in wor ds OF
tenderness and maternal love that seem
ed to flow from q heart bursting with an
guish. She renindedhl owonen she
had admonishcd him and warned him
against lying and stealing and hat he
had disregarded all her counsols and
had brought this hoavy sorrow on him
self and her. "Now, said she, you have
broken into that mans house, stolen his
property and by SO doing have put your
life I'm lns hands. He can now kill YOU