The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-07
CAR0LIN'S SCANDAL.
Continued from First Page.)

Commenting on the terms of the con-
tract which was read to the jury, Judge
Benet said:
''Mr. Foreman and Gentlemen: If this
were "a statute providing for the capture
and return of runaway slaves or escaped
felons It would not be difficult to uLder-
stand, but this is one of the terms and
conditions in so-cal.e contract and
agreement to labor on farms in Anders n
county. BY such terms and condit .ons
it Is manifest that poor ignorant negroes
are subjected to a state that is worse
than slavery. l doubt If there ever was
such a contract framed. or devised, or
conceived before in any civilized or Chris
tian community. 1t is absurd to cali it
a contract; it has no binding force. No
court would attempt to enforce it. 1t is
contra bonos mores, against the pubic
good, and utterly null and void. No free
man In this commonwealth nor any other
free country can be permitted, even If he
desires to do so, to batter away his b.
erty and make himself a mere chat l.;
and that is what tn S contract att m, IS
to do, for the last stipulation in its rea IS:
The said landlord shall have the right to
transfer his interest In this contract to
any other party and l agree to continue
NOih III Sel-u dSSlSIltG Sdlllc as lpl lilG
original party of the first part"
$50 you see, gentlemen, this stipu'ation
attempts to provide for the sale and
transfer of the poor laborer. The practical
result of this so-called contract when car
ried into effect is to reduce the lab )rer
to a position worse than slavery and to
subjtc ct him to treatment wo thly only o.
Siberian prison. 1t is current report d
that not only are men confined in stock
AIDES in tbs county under such contracts,
but that even women and little babies are
also imprisoned there. l call it impr SON.
ment, gentlemen, and without doubt it Is
false imprisonment, and whatsoever as
landlord holds in confinement laborers
under such contract as this is
guilty of the offense of false imprisonment
and should be summarily and severely
punished
"Mr. Foreman and Gentlemen AS white
men living in a state where so large
portion of our population is composed of
negroes, ii is our duty as representing the
law hiding element of our population to
see that justice is done to that inferior
race. There is no doubt that the negro
race is inferior to ours in intelligence, in
civilization, in moral character. There is
no doubt that we have deprived them
practically of political power, and it is
best for them that it is So but we are
all the more bound to treat them kindly
fairly and justly. They are in fact, our
wards, and we as their guardians must
see to it that they are not made the vic
inns of deceit and fraud, imposition and
oppression. The fact that the negro is
ignorant, poor and dependent on the white
man is no reason why he should be made
the helpless victim of the white mans
greed, deceit and tyranny. We must not
n no cif 70 ho fa
hard-hearted white mans opportunity.
The white mans burden is a heavy one,
and the white man of the Southern states
has a larger portion of it to bear than
any other while man. We must endeavor
to show ourselves worthy of our RESPONSE
bidty, and as grand jurors and officers of
the court we must see to it that in Ander-
son county the negro has justice done
him. You will therefore spare no pains
to make a thorough investigation of the
stockade scandal. You will bring this
shameful practice to the light of day:
such disgraceful conduct cannot stand
daylight
THE air is filed with reports and ru-
mors of the most startling character. One
hears that there is a stockade in your
county without single convict in it, yet
filled with men held there under these So
called contracts for labor, men who are
guarded like convicts worked like con-
victs, punished like convicts, and
sometimes shot as il they
were felons escaping from prison
and the custody of the law. Represent
ing the law-abiding, God-fearing people
of Anderson county, you will ascertain
the names of these so-called landlords
who have brought disgrace to your coun-
ty and put it to a burning shame. You
will, in person or by committee, visit all
the stockades in your county, and you will
report to the court the names of all who
are therein confined, the offenses for
which they are in prison and the term of
their imprisonment and the names of
those who are confined under contract or
for any other cause.
You have the power to send for persons
and papers and to compel the attendance
of witnesses and to examine them, and
l trust to you and all law-abiding citi-
people of your county to unite in an effort
TO rout out this painful practice and TO
remove this blot from the good name OF
Anderson county"
There is absorbing interest In the ex-
pected revelations tomorrow. 1t is re-
ported that the grand jury found where
over 500 contracts had been executed be-
fore one magistrate. 1t is understood
they found 1t difficult TO obtain evidence
from the negroes, many OF tnefn preI6rtlng
not to talk; others declared they were
perfectly satisfied with their condition;
YET others that they feared to say any
thing because of the consequences that
would follow.
A Sensational Report Expected.
Beyond the positive assertion that there
would be no embarrassing" grand ju-
rors. Judge and solicitor viii say nothing
tonight. The report OF the committee will
contain findings on which indictments for
false Imprisonment will be based, but
whether the trials will proceed or be post
poned 10 the regular jury term lies with
the Judge. Opinion is divided as to what
course viii be taken. A tip given the ed
itor of the local paper is to the effect
that the report Will be 30 sensational as
to require immediate action.
A negro crippled from wearing shackles
has begun civil action against "Quince"
Hammond for 5000 damages for false inn
prisonment He has been held many
months in his stockade. a thrifty negro
farmer renting a farm from an Anderson
Journalist became indebted to J. S. Fowler
for supplies. He, with his wife and nine
children were arrested and carried TO
FowIers stockade where they signed
contract, and are now at work. Their
nlaO