The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1901-03-12
Especial to The State.

Hhuolool, "oiCu T. ulS 40 uoC
to be sensational story after the
manner of the Philadelphia North
American. It will give only the
bare facts about the labor contract
abuses, the stockade slavery system
which had aroused the interest an d
the indignation of county, q State
and even q nation.
Those facts are all contained in
the strong presentment Of the ..dmir-
able grand jury. That paper is so
thorough, it's statements are so def
mite and it's wording 80 clear that 80
far as the facts are concerned moth
ingmore can be said.
The presentment tells the whole
story, and no hasty investigation of
al outsider can add anything val
liable or reliable. There are rumors
of all sorts, but rumors are largely
false. o
This morning the special term of
the court of general sessions called
by Judge w. @. Benet to receive the
report of the grand jury began at 10
o'clock. The jury was not ready,
and it was noon before the
PREsENTMEMT WAS READ.
The court room was packed The
main floor was occupied by white peo-
pie, and the little gallery was
crowded with negroes. Interest was
most intense, for not a word of
the paper's contents had been
divulged. The foreman, Mr.. r. A.
Sullivan, handed up the paper, which
was read.
When the reading was completed,
it was time for dinner recess. On re-
convening Judge Benet addressed
the grand jury:
JUDGE BENET SAID.
"Mr. Foreman and Gentlemen of
the Jury: Your presentment affords
me profound satisfaction. You have
done your duty, not only ably and
fearlessly, but fairly. 1 am struck
with the statement that you have re.
Trained from reading the newspapers,
some of which have published sensa-
tional stories, and that you have re-
Trained from seeing or hearing any
comments that would prejudice you
in your investigation. It will sur
prise you, therefore, to know how
much excitement there has been all
over the State and country.
SENSATIONAL NEWSPAPERS
at the north have forgotten that the
investigation was ordered and was
being conducted. They conveyed
the idea that the newspapers had
discovered the scandal through their
own efforts.
"Your word and the work of the
court is not referred to in these arti-
cles. 1t does say that "happlly some
local efforts are being made," but
the reader would infer that these
efforts are due to the newspapers.
Little is found in these accounts be.
yond what was taken from the records
of the court, and that little is false.
These newspapers would rather be
sensational than just.
"In ordering this investigation this
court was only doing it's plain duty,
quietly, unostentatiously, but earn.
estly. 1t is peculiarly the work of
this court, but the court will do it's
duty, and does not propose to be in
terfered with by political busybodies
in or out of congress. When the
charge was made three weeks rgo the
court had no idea of doing more than
showing you grand jurors your duty,
and it had no doubt you would per-
form it. It had no thought nor ex-
pectation that the charge of the court
would be heard beyond the four
walls of this court room.
-.. STATE PRESS COMMENDED.
"Though tho journalistic enterprise
of your local paper, The Daily Mail,
actuated by the purest and most
praiseworthy motives, the charge was