The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-03-13
N, S. C., WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 1901.

He has two stockades, one Of which is
under the supervision Of James Cook
and which was formerly managed by
Willis McGee. the other is under
tho charge OF Levi Thomas. At these
farms the conviots and free" labor
ers have been worked together under
q guard WHIT carried gun. they have
been locked up at night and some
OF them whipped. There was no evi-
dence of any of them having been
stockaded. Some Of them had been
accused of trivial offences and were
put under contract to work out debts
James Evins. Baviis Artor Alonzo
Lark, Frank Bowlan, John Bell, Rob-
ert Brown. Foster Butler, Dan Hill,
Willis Harper. Joe Whitfield, Jim
Rice, John Gillian, Turner walker,
Andrew Dobbs, Dock Froeley, and
Drayton Wheeler are some of the ne
grOes who have been confined in Mr.,
Fowler's stockndes. Willis McGee.
James Cook, Levi Thomcs, George
Thomas and Mike Robbins should
have presentment made against thom
by the grand jury for whining differ
ent ones Of these negroes. Willis Nc
Gee was especially cruel. It was tes-
titled that he had given the negro,
Bnylis Artor. 1CO lashes on one occa-
sion and that ho whipped Robert
Brown most severely and cruelty and
on one occasion shot five times at Dray-
ton Wheeler, one Of tho bnllets passing
through Wheeler's hat. The testi-
mOny goes to show that George Thom-
as shot at Dock Freeley and that he
was also ready ut tho whippings. An
drew Dobbs was found to be suffering
from rheumatism which lie says was
brought OH by being compelled to
stand almost waist deep in mud and
water in cold weather ditching. He
was arrested by A. NJ. Bailey, who
has been acting as q sort of constable
for j. 5. Fowler, but was never tried
j.. A: Rice is q negro of rather weak
mind who was captured somewhere
in Georgia by Elias McGee and
charged. with having escaped from j..
Upon. being brought here it was
found that he was not tho man he
was suspected of being, but neverthe-
less after being kept for several days
in the stockade he entered into one
of these labor contracts and has been
in the stockadosfor several months,
though unwillingly there. A number
of free" iaborers have left Mr..
Fowlcr's farm since these invnstiga-
tlO0S were 1lrSC Depun, but some un-
willing ones were still in the stockatlo
when We visited them.
Wo found no evidence to connect
Mr.. Fowler i'll any way with the
whipping Of these laborcrs, but he
was party to these contracts which
provided for the illegal Imprisonment
and working under guard Of tho labor
ers and is responsible Tor those pro-
Visions being enforced and TINT pre-
sentiment should bu made against him
therefor.
Wo submit herewith tho memoranda
of testimony which we have taken
which will show to tllo court and So
licitor more fully the fncts which we
have reported and will enabla them
to get tho names Of the witnesses to
prove such facts. It is proper that
wo should add that much Of the abuse
has already been corrected as n result
Of this investigation and that some OF
the parties have been to us with the as
suranco that they would immediately
correct the evils existing OH their
farms to which we hnve called atten-
tion.