The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-02-26
Convict Pens and Labor Con-
tracts in SOuh Carolina.
WORSE THAN BEFORE CIVIL WAR
Condition Revealed by Shooting Judge
Aroused BY Case Of a Negro Killed
While TTng 10 Escape.

many respects worse than that which ex-
listed before the war of the rebellion.
prevails in the northern part OF south
Carolina.
Under contracts for labor and convict
labor laws negroes are held at tho mercy
Of white masters In prison pens ana prac-
tictlly sold as IN olden days
This condition bids fsir TO develop a
national scandal. Judge W. g. Benet of
the state Circuit court. has called the
practices TO the attention of special
grand jury. He will open court at An
derson March TO hear the jury's report
and 10 try offenders
Solicitor J. r.. Boggs has taken the
matter up with vigor, and declares he
already has evidence that VIII make II
extremely unpleasant FOR guilty persons,
and will reveal sensational facts.
EMPLOYERS MAY SHOOT NEGROES.
Criminals of the state under the law
may he "farmed out" and are kept in
stockades. watched by guards and worked
at the Will OF the men in whose charge
they have been placed
The employer and the guards are dep
utized marshals, and under the law
they are authorized TO punish the con-
Nicts, or even 10 shoot them.
The ease which brought To light the
slavery conditions was that against j. S.
Newell for killing VIII Hull negro.
Newell had shot, il was declared. Hull
while the latter was attempting to es-
cape from Newelrs stocksde. Investiga-
ton developed the fact that while Newell
leased state convicts. no record OF the
conviction OF Hull could be found.
Judge Benet made an investigation and
made this statement To the grand jury:
1T seems that Hun was charged by
Newell with the violation of n labor con
tract; that Newell swore out a warrant
for his arrest before Magistrate James
j. Gilmer; that the magistrate issued the
warrant and placed il i'm the hands Of
Newell deputy, and that Newell went
TO the home OF Hull and arrested him.
1T appears that they Gid not take him
to jail. and, so far as the testimony
shows that was the end of the process
of the law. Instead of his being taken
10 jail, by some strange procedure he
was taken 10 Newell's stockade, where
IL seems Newell had some Is convicts at
work.
so. gentlemen, here was a poor negro
taken from HIS wife and children under
a pretext of arrest. The machinery OF
the law. wss used To seize him, take him
from his home and put him in a convict
stockade. and work him like a convict
without process OF law.
SIGN AWAY THEIR LIBERTY.
"The testimony showed that he was
treated like convict. made to labor like
a convict. and indeed, the manner of his
death would seem 70 Indicate that he
was shot as a felon might be in endesvor-
ing 20 escape the sentence OF the law"
he In al
came out. These contracts are made out
in regular form. and I'm them the laborer
agrees to do general farm work under
his employer or his agent for a stated
number of years.
II Is further stated that the laborer Is
"st all times 10 be subject 10 the orders
and commands OF his employer" who
shall have the right 10 use such force
as nc or his agent shall deem necessary
TO require me TO remain on his farm"
and shall have the right TO lock me
up for safe keeping. and if / should leave
his farm or run away he shall have the
right TO offer a reward for my capture"
the negro subsequently working OUT
the amount of this reward.
More startling still Is the declaration
that the employer shall have the right
10 dispose Of his rights under this con-
tract 10 another thus virtually giving
MIN all the power he WOuld exercise were
the negro actually his slave.
SUFFERING IN THE SToCKADEs.
The stockade is usually a long structure
OF rough hewn pine log. IL Is Inadequate
Nv boa rded I'm and H. covered with shingles
which keep out neither wind nor rain
Through the length OF the place runs an
sHoyway, up and down which promenades
a heavily armed guard The furnishings
of the stockade are OF the most primitive
kind. There is no fireplace or other
method Of Keeping the inmates warm
The unfortunate negroes huddle to-
gether on the floor, each covered by a
thin blanket They never think OF remov-
ing their clothing. The accommodations
OF the stocksde are not 10 be compared
for comfort with the quarter which
during slavery days every master FRO
vided FOR bis human chattels a. a matter
Of course
Convict stockades dot hundreds Of farms
in Anderson and other counties lust
how many of them number among their
inmates negroes who are held In bondage
without due process OF law or upon con
tracts. mo- one may venture 10 saw The
state autiSYitieS and tho people Of South
Carolina at large, however. arc aroused.
and inquiry into the matter Is bcing
pushed