Lancaster enterprise. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1891-1905, 1901-03-09


without even the farce of a trial,
of kidnapping negroes from other
counties, aid even from Georgia,
of fear to give testimony, refusal
to testify, and, most pitiful of all,
of poor negroes protesting to be
ing satisfied and contented."
His honor warned the jurors
that they must not divu]ge any
of the testimony, which he turued
over to the clerk of court and
ordered him not to make it pub
lie. The presentment he turned
over to the solicitor for his hel p
and guidance in the cases.
He then referred to the jury's
remarks as to the convict leasing
system, and said he was glad the
jurors concurred with him. The
Legislature had already taken
steps to stop this system.
"There is no likelihood that
this stockade slavery, with it's
shackles, whippings and armed
guards will never be seen again
in this or any other county"
In closing, Judge Benet said !:
81 thank you gentlemen, most
sincerely for the excellent work
you have done. South Caro-
lima thanks you. Anderson coun-
ty especially will thank you for
having relieved her from this
shameful burden and freed her
misguided citizens placed on it.
Your county has cause to be
proud of her grand jury. You
certainly have amply justified
the confidence | reposed in you
when 1 ordered you to make
this Investigation"
At the conclusion of his hon
or's remarks the jury was dis
missed, and the court proceeded
with other business. The crowd
filed out of the court room and
the men gathered in groups on
the streets to discuss the affair.
1t is undeniable that the reve-
lations of the last few weeks
have created q serious situation
in Anderson county. 1t is also
true that there are two sides to
the question which the situation
presents. AS shown so clearly
by the presentment, there has
been injustice and cruelty prac-
ticed upon ignorant, if not inno-
cent, negroes The practical
enslavement, the cruel whip
ping, the illegal imprisonment
of negroes does not meet with
undeserved defence from any
quarter. Those who excuse the
contractors do so by saying that
the system has been carried too
far. They present the other
side, which is that some negroes
as laborers cannot be controlled
except by a show of force and
power ; that some negroes were
taken from Jail under promise
to work according to the now
famous contract; that they wero
in many cases we'll treated and
contented-better off than they
would have been under other
circumstances.
Today l heard as good as
there are anywhere, express
this view. They depreciate
abuses and agree that cruelty
and illegality must be stopped
but they say that the men whe
started the system intended nc
harm, and would have done
none. They point out that
"Jud" Fowler, "Press" Allen
and COUNT" Hammond, the
three largest farmers.co concerned
are all good citizens, reliable
business men, lacking in cruelty
or inhumane instincts.
Knowing this fact, one can
realize the bravery, the devotion
to duty which prompted a jury
of Is men to make such a pre-.
sentiment as was handed in.
1t is a courageous paper, and
the grand jury is deserving of all
honor for it.
The effect of the paper will be
to abolish the system. There can
be no doubt about it. 1t has been
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