The news & observer., 1901-03-09
TIE GRAND JURY'S RE POR;
Cruel System Which Has Obtained in
Anderson County.
THE LEGISLATURE WILL STAMP 1T OUT
AFsw Citizens Of Anderson Are Responsible
For This Blot Upon the County Which
Judge Benet Declares viii
Now be Wpsd Out
Now be Wiped Out.
tBy the Associated prcss. !


Columbia, S. c.. March THE grand
jury of Anderson county today made its
report to Judge w. G. Benet aud declared
that practical enslavemcnt of negroes
had been conducted in that county. The
presentment was prepared by a special
committee which visited the convict stock
ade camps in Anderson county and found
consigned therein negroes guiltless OF
any felony, but undergoing a term of
servitude under voluntary contracts
which they had signed in partial ignor-
ance.
The charge of false Imprisonment was
made against J. B. Fowler, p b. Allen
and w. @. Hammond, three of the largest
planters and most influential men in
Anderson county. The grand jury de-
clared that these men, who employ con
victs from the State. were also keeping
confined in their stockades negroes who
for some petty cause had been sent there
for breach of contract, although convict
cd before no officer of the law
The presentment of the grand jury will
put an end to that practice, and it is con-
Quoted in no other county in the State.
a long time that such a system was be-
ing carried on, and the people of that
county are glad that it has. been done
away with. No prosecutions have yet
been made, but the Solicitor, ]. E. Boggs,
will hand out indictments for the June
term of court
The negroes in the county are under
the impression that all labor contracts
4
by the action of the court, and Judge
Benet stated emphatically that all ille-
gal contracts would be declared void, but
there are Just contracts which the court
will enforce. Nevertheless there is a
general state of decentralization just at
tthe time when crops are being planted.
Judge Benets charge to the grand jury
after it had rendered its finding contain
ed severe denunciation of certain news
papers which had sent special correspon
dents to South Carolina and claimed to
have made an exposure. He stated that
the people of Anderson county are re-
sponsble for uprooting this practice He
complimented the grand jury for not hav-
ing read the newspapers while making its
Investigations He stated that thereafter
Investigations He stated that there was
ter without outside help. The testimony
of negroes is valid evidence in the State
courts. There is no politics. no party or
race issue at stake. 1t is the righting OF
grievous wrong and the court protests
against the idea of outside interference.
The evil will be stamped out, for public
sentiment at home is against it.
He declared that the Legislature has
already taken steps to do so and VIII
abolish the system of hiring eonvicts 70
private parties. and there can then De
no opportunity to confine free men. Judge
Benet declared that the presentmen'
brought pitiful details. 1t told OF allegeo
arrests and imprisonment, of cruel Whlp-
ping, of prolonged imprisonment without
even the farce of trial. of kidnapping
negroes from other counties and even
from Georgia: of fear to give testimony
refusal to testify and most pitiful OF all,
- oor negroes protesting to be satlsneo
an confinement.
In concluding he said that Anderson