The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-08
SLAVERY FOUND IN
SOUTH CAROLINA
Startling Presentment Of
Grand Jury.
STRANGE CONDITIONS.
Negroes Convicted of No Crime are
Confined.
PROMINENT MEN IMPLICATED,
Charges Of False Imprisonment Brought
Asairst The Most Prominent and In
fluentia! Men in Anderson
Couuty-No Need of Out
side Interference,
Says the Judge.
By Associated I'rcss-l

COLUMBIA, s. c., March THE
grand jury OF Anderson county to-day
made its report 20 Judge w {. Benet,
and declared that q practical ensiave-
lncnt OF negroes had been conducted III
tat county.
The prcsentmcnt WAS prepared by d
s,s.ciai committee which visited the con-
yict stockat. camps in Anderson county
and found consigned therein negroes
Suiitless OF any felony, but undergoing
;, term of scrvitudc under voluntary con-
tracts which they had signed in practical
ignorance.
The charge or false imprisonment was
made against }. 5. Fowler, Z. B- Allen
and W. g. Hammond. three of the larS-
est planters and most influential men
in Anderson county. The grand jury de-
ciarcd that these men who employ con-
sicts from the State, were also keeping
confined in their stockades negroes who
for some petty cause had peen sent
there for breach of contract. although
convicted before no officer OF the law
MILL BE STOPPED.
The prcsentment OF the grand jury
conducted in no other county III the
State. 1t has been known in Anderson
county for long time shat such =
system, WAS being carried on, and tie
people OF that county are glad that it
has been done away with.
So prosecutions have vet been made.
but the solicitor. j. T. Boggs, will hand
cut indictments for the June term of
court The negroes are under the impress
sion that ali labor contracts are orac-
1icall1- nulliied. Judge Eenet stated en-
I,haticaliy that all illegal contracts would
be declared void. but there are Just con-
tracts which the court Will enforce.
Nevertheless there is d general state of
decentralization just at the time when
crops are being planted.
Judge Benetts charge 10 the grand jury
after 1t had rendered its finding contained
i severe denunciation of certain ncws-
papers which had sent special corre-
spohdents To South Carolina and claimed
10 have made an exposure. lie stated
that the people of Anderson county are
responsible for nprootinS this practice.
NO NEED Otr INTERFERENCE
He stated that there Is 10 need of in
reference by Federal courts: we are
able to deal With this matter without
outside help, he said.
The testimony of negroes is valid evi-
politics, no party or race issue at stake
1t is the righting of a gIievous wrong
and the court protests against the liea
of outside interference. The evil will be
stamped out, for public sentiment at home
is against il. He declared that the Le.S;s-
lature has already taken steps to do 50
and VIII abolish the system OF hiring con-
Sicts to private parties and there can
then be no opportunity to coat:nc freed
men.
PITIFCL DETAILS.
Judge Eenet declared that the present.
nent brought pitiful details 1t told Of
Illegal arrests and imprisonment. of cruel
whir pings. Of prolonged Imprisonment.
without even the farce of a trial, Of kid
l.apping negroes from other counties. and
even from Georgia: of fear to give testi-
nony; refusal to testify. and most pitiful
of all of poor negroes processing to be
satised and contented-
In concluding he said that Anderson
county would thank the grand jury for
having relieved her Of this shameful
burden and saved her good name from
the stigma that a few OF her misguided
citizens placed upon it
MANY. NAMED.
The grand jury in its presentment
charges J. S. Fowler with being the first
to inaugurate this system. but eXonerateS
him from cruelty. His overseers, parti-
culaily Willis McGee, are presented for
whipping negroes.
Elias McGee, who hires no convicts
from the State, is alleged to have regu-
lar stockade where he keeps free
labor w. Q. Hammond. James Martin.
William Bailey and J. IL Day are pre-
sented for completely in false imprison-
mcnt.
j. Il. Miller and his overseer, ]. A.
Emmerson. are presented, the latter for
whipping negroes.
J. b Watson and P. &. Allen, who
employ penitentiary convicts. are exon
Grated from the false Imprisonment
scharGes.
Magistrate J. j. GiImer is charged with
failing to turn in money belonging to the
county and is also presented for serving
the warrants upon which negroes were
wrongfully arrested
There are but twenty persons in all who
are charged with this practice and the
grand jury recommends that they be in
dicted. Mos, of the labor contracts in
The county are declared legal and just.