The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-02-20
SLAVERY IN ANDERSON.
Negroes Deprived Of their Liberty
Pcnned in a SiOckade-Beaten by
Task MasterS-Judge Benet's FigOr.
Gus PrOtes.-AcfiOn Of the Court.
Special 10 The State.

Special TO The State
| Anderson, Fer 15-Iudge Benet has order
ell 81 special tern 81 e. art for March Ilh. whc n
the grand jury viii report The result OF lis
Investigation into the labor contract system
of his country. 1t rs generally believed that
ton which will involve some OF the most
prominent people in the county.
On Wednesday morning ut the opening
of court the grand jury handed In the last
bills of indictment npon which they had
found true bills. The solicitor annOu need
that he had no other bills for the grand Jury
at This term.
Judge BeneL then said:
MIR. Foreman and Gentlemen Of the Grand
Jury: You are now At liberty to devote
your time and attention TO the other business
that properly comes before you as grand
jurors. You Will endeavOr before hling your
final presentmentat this term 10 look into
| the condition of the jail and the poor house
and as far rs you eau you will examine the
public offices and the conduct OF public Of
ticials. 1t will he Impossible no doubt 10
overtaKe all Of that work satisfactorily al this
term and it Will be advisable 10 appoint
special committee, or Il committee, TO attend
To these matters. but AT the summer term you
will be aLle TO make a fuller report as 10 these
i'm portant matters. But wish 10 bring To- your
attention again The stock ade scandal 10 which
referred IN my opening charge on Monday
morning. At that time 70 far the court is
concerned It, was a matter OF runor and
report and The Daily Mail editorial without
names OF any parties implicated. Since then
the case OF the Stale v. Newell. charged with
murder has been tried and during the progress
Of the trial of that case 1t was developed from
the testimony or witnesses on the stand that
the deceased, Will Hull, had been Killed
while In Newells slockade. TO the astonish-
neni of the court II was shown that he was
not III ere IN a convict, but was there under O
seems that he was charged by Newell with
violation OF labor contract; that Newell
swore out n warrant tor his arrest before
Magistrate James j. Gilmer that The magis.
trate issued the warrant, placed IL IN the
hands OF Newell as deputy, and that Newell
thus deputiZed and accompanied by sherlff's
constable. Dillingham;, went TO The home OF
Will Hull and arrested him. IL appears that
they aid not take him TO Jail, and 80 far rs
tue testimony shows that was the end of the
process OF the law. Instead OF being taken 10
jail, as he ought to nave been, under the war
ran OF arrest, by some strange procedure he
WAS taken TO Newelis stOckade, where II
seems that Newell had IS convicls at work
on bis farm. So, gen ntlemep, here was poor
negro taken from mis- wife and children under
a pretext OF arrest lhe machinery of the
law was used 10 seize him, take him from his
home and put him IN a convict's stockade
and work him like con vict without process
OF law. He was under no sentence of the
court, he had not been tried. The testimony
showed that he was guarded like convict,
made to labor like convict. And indeed
the manner OF his death would seem to indi-
cate that IL was In n effort to leave this con-
vict camp that he was shot as felou might
ne shot in endeavorng 10 esca pc the senten ce
OF the law. Gentlemen, this isa serious mat.
ter, and charge you that IL Is your duty TO
make Il thorough investigation OF this case.
You will bring before you the magistrate that
Issued the warrant and the constables that
executed IL. You have the power TO send for
persons and papers ana you will onIy be
doing your duty In king thorough inves-
tigation and reporting upon this treatment of
Will Hull.
hhoId in my hand a printed form Of cou
county OF Anderson, contract aud agreement
for labor on farm" Let me read 1t 10 you.
This contract and agreement for labor on
farm, made ana entered into this day between
landlord, party OF the first part. and
laborer, party or the second part, witnessetn
THAT !, -, labor, OF the second part, -
do hereby bind over and hire myself to -
to do and perform general farm work under
the supervision Of said Or his agents, for
the period Of months. commencing -
and ending -, and rs pay Tor the said SER
vices l am 10 receive the sum ofS--per
wages less or any advances made TO me
from time to time, and lost time at - per
day, is TO be paid by me al the expiration OF
above time. l Hgree at all times TO be subject
to the orders '.ud commands of said - or
his agents. perform all work required OF me.
- or his agent. shall have The right 10 use
such 1orce as lie or his agents may deem
necessary TO require me 10 remain Oh his
farm aud perform good and satisfactory ter.
vices. He shall have the right 10 lock me up
for safe keeping .wOrk me under the rules and
regulations Of his farm, and If should leave
his farm or run away he shall have the right
Tn offer and pay reward OF not exceeding
S.5 for my capture and return, together with
The expenses of same, which amount 80 ad-
vanced, together with any other Indebtedness
l may owe at the expiration OF above
time, agree to work out under all rules and
regu ations Of this contract at same wages az
above, commencing and ending
"rhe said - shall have the right to trans.
fer his interest In this contract To any other
party and agree 10 continue work for said
assignee same MS for the original party OF tue
tirst part
81, -, landlord, party of the first part.
hereby agree with and hire the said = for
the above time. and pay wages as above bet
forth and otherwise fulfill my part Of above
agreement.
"Witness our hands and seals this, the
-day-, lS9-.
---(Seal)