The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-03-13
Report Of Special Committee
Recital Of Wrongs and Abuses-Names of Citizens Imp
cated-Remarks on the Subject of False Imprisonment

In the case of Warren Sloan, he seemed to
have been arrested by ]. r. Miller and anoth
near Central, in Plckens county. There IL
testimony that no warrant was exhibited, II
any existed, but he was
HANDCUFFED land TAKDN TO MILLERs
SToCKADE
and kept there until this In vestlgation began.
Since our first visit 10 this stockade be was
| turned loose and allowed TO go home. In our
Judgment, the said J. r. Miller and J. A.
Emerson should be presented by the grand
/ Jury for the offenses above mentioned, and
we 80 recommend.
I ELIAS M'GEE's PLAN.
In many respects the most remarkable case
coDIng under our notice is that of Elias Nc.
Gee, who has never employed State convicts.
| but who built stockade and prepared TO
treat his laborers as convicts. His contracts
provide that the laborers shall be worke ed un-
der guard and locked up at night and there
was abundant evidence to show that he had
locked up in the stockade, worked under
guard and whipped his laborers.
Among those who suffered q part or all OF
these abuses were Wesley Norman, Handy
Earle, Vance Smith. George Tilley, John
CIinkscaIes, Clarence GaiIliard, Evins Wood,
Louis Alexander. Morris Jordan.
Some of these negroes had been arrested
and signed contracts after being put under
arrest. John Clinkscales was accused by
Elias McGee Of stealing corn, was brought to
Anderson handcuffed and after he had signed
a contract, but without any trial, was turned
over 10 w. q. Hammond, who carried him TO
The Iatter's stockade. We think the grand
Jury should make presentment against Elias
McGpe, and we so recon- mmend.
W.Q. Hammond runs large farm In this
county and employs q considerable number
both OF State con victs and free" laborers.
His contracts provide that the free" laborers
shall be work ed under guard and locked up
at night, and they suffer this illegal imprison.
ment and more for the evidence shows that
a number OF these unfortunates have been
worked under guard and gun, have been y
LOCKED UP AT NIGHT AND ON SUNDAYS AND
HAVE BEEN sHACKLED AND WHIPPED.
Among those who suffered these things at
the bands of Mr.. Hammond and bis over
seers, VIM. Bailey, james Martin and
Day. are the following: lsham Aoercrom ole,
Pink Rogers, James Clinton, John HeWey.
scales. Several OF these were In jail at the
time of our examination. They had been in
dicted last fall for gambling, had been taken
out of Jail on bond by Mr.. Hammond and
vestigation began. when be surrendered them
back 10 the sheriff.
The negro, Tom Parks, whose case was call.
ed to the attentio of the grand jury by the
presiding judge. was released almost I'M
mediately thereafter. He was
TAKEN FORClBLf AND WITHOUT TRIAL
under one OF the labor contracts above refer.
red TO and confined in the si0ckade, worked
with the convicts and suffered the other
abuses above mentioned until this investtga-
ton was begun. We learn that perhaps
score of other laborers held under similar
contracts have left this farm during the past
few weeks. One OF them, Pink Rogers, states
that he was given whipping OF 90 lashes by
VIM. Bailey at the stockade.
We think that the facts disclosed demand q
that w. Q. Hammond, James Martin, VIM;
by the grand jury for the violation OF law
above mentioned and we 30 recommend.
J. s. Fowler, who first used the contract
con victs. worked under guard, locked up. etc.
employs Il considerable number OF conVlGls
and also OF the so-caled "free' laborers He
has two st tockades one nf which is under the
formerly managed by Willis McGee. The
other il under the charge of Levi Thomas
AT these farms the conviots and free" laoor,
ers have been worked together under guaro
who carries gun they have been
LOCKED UP AT NIGHT AND SOME OF THEN
WHIPPED.
There was no evidence of any of them having
| been shackled. Some Of them had been &C.
cused of trivial ofTenses and were put unuel
con tract TO work out debts or TO repay money
| advanced for them. James Evans, baSIis
Arier, Alopzo Lark. Frank Bowlan. John
! Bell, Robert Brown. Foster Butler, Dan Hill,
Willis Harper. Joe Whitfield. Jim Rice; John
Gillian, Turner walker, Andrew Dooos,
| Dock Freeley and Drayton Wheeler are some
Of the negroes who have been conhned IN MI
| Fowier's atockade.
Willis McGee, James Cook. Levi Thomas.
| George Thomas and Mike Robbins should
| have presentments made against them by the
grand jury for whipping different ones ol
| these negroes.
| WILLIS MCGEE WAS ESPECIALLY CRUEL.
| H. was testified that he had given the negro
Baylis Arter 100 lashes on one occasion and
that he whipped Robert Brown most Severely
and cruelty aud on ohe occasion shot hVe
| passing Il b Wheelers hat. The testi-
mony gop. how that George Thomas shot
! at Dock = ley and that he was also ready
| at thew ,pings.
| Andrew Dobbs was found to be suffering
! from rheumatism which he says was brought
| on by being compelled to stand almost waist
deep in mud and water in cold weather ditch.
ing. He WAS arrested by A. M. Bailey, who
has been acting as sort Of constable Tor j. >
| Fowler. but was never tried
| j. A. Rice Is a negro OF rather weak nina
| who was captured somewhere in Georgia and
charged with having escaped from j. :. Fow-
! ler's stOckade In this county. Upon being
brought here 1T was found that he WAS not
| the man he was suspected of being hut never
theless after being kept for several days in
| the siOckade he entered into one of the labor
contracts and has been in the siockade Tor
several months. though unwillngly there.
A number of free" labOrers have left Mr.