The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-03-13
The Anderson Slavery.
GRAND JURY MAKES PRE-
SENTMENT---REPORT
FACTS UNEARTHED
BY INVESTIGA-
TION.
Direct Charges Against Promi-
nent Men Who Have In
prisoned and Mistreated
Negroes.

Negroes.
Anderson, S. c., March Fol
lowing is the text of the special com
nitsee's report which was submitted
by the grand jury to the court today !:
The special committee appointed
by the grand jury to investigate the
matters to which your attention was
directed by his honor, Judge Benet,
at the February term Of court respect
fully report
That We have made as close an ex.
smination as our limited time would
permit
IN the case of Magistrate J ] Gil
mer we find that for some time past
be has been 10 the habit of issuing
warrants and causing arrests and fre.
eueptly committing accused persons
TO Jail without ever entering the case
upon the docket This is especially
true where the cases have been com
promised after the arrests were made
We Gnd that from Sept Is, 1899 20
Jan IL, 1901, be made payment to
the county treasurer Of number Of
6nes and items of costs collected by
him, bat that during that time he
collected through the sheriff's Office
alone the following items of cost
which properly belonged to the
eouaty and failed TO pay them over
to the county treasurer as required
by Law
Total, s34 30
The following items of cost were
also collected by Magistrate Gilmer
on the date mentioned and not turn
ed over to the county treasurer SIS
provided by law
Total, SIS 80
We dud that Feb. 10. 1901, after
,his investigation was begun, the
said J J Gilner paid to the county
treasurer the sum of $53 90 to cover
these amounts While We have no.
been permitted, for the lack of time,
TO make full investigation Of all the
irregularities of this Office, we are
convinced be hsa been guilty of the
grossess irregularities, and ve would
suggest shat complete investigation
of his books and sccounts should be
had and thai he should be presented
for nisappropriation Of the funds 80
collected by hio
Regarding the arrest Of the negro,
Will Hull, which you were directed
by the court to investigate, We find
that warrant was issued by ttagis
srate Gilmer for the arrest of this
negro upon aa affidavit of a T
Newell charging bin for q violation
of labor contract, and that W s.
Newell, brother Of the prosecutor,
vas deputfzed by the Magistrate to
serve said warrant; that the consta
Bile so deputiz4d requested the dep
atty sheriff, } A Dillingham;. to go
along with hin and assist in making
the said arrest and representing that
said Hull would probably create
trouble when arrested aud that the
assistance of the deputy sheriff would
be needed
The arrest was made on Friday
night and the negro was brought to
Anderson on the same nigh: The
deputy sheriff suggested that the
prisoner be taken to jail. but the
negro said that he would prefer to
90 or with w S Newell, aud that
Ar Newell informed the deputy that
The magistrate had ins,ructed him
that he should carly the prisoner on
home with him
Subsequently the magistrate was
5nformed by the prosecutor that the
ease had been compromised and that
the negro had agreed to stay with
him and work out his contract The
resl Of the facts were bought on' in
open court We ex6uerate the dep
uty sheriff from all blame in the mat
ter
The principa work Of this commit
tee has been the investigation of the
stockades Of the county and the