The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-03-19
PEoNAGE CHARGED.
4abeas Corpus Proceedings to Save
Matte Williams From
y55r n 5S Trial.

case of Matte Villains, the negro
siWoman who was arrested here on
March 8, on the charge of being a
fugitive, from justice from South Car
olina and whose employer hired at
torneys to defend her in order that
he might keep his cook and at the
same time see that 1she got justice,
when Frank Carter, the woman's
: counsel, appeared before Judge Pit
chard in the United States circuit
court yesterday afternoon and secur-
ed writ Of habeas corpus to prevent
Sheriff M. M. Buford of Newberry
county, South Carolina, from taking
sshis client from Asheville under the
requisition which he had obtained
from the governor Of North Carolina.
Peonage Charged.
!, The charge was made by Mr.. Car
ter. that the claim that the woman
had embezzled the funds of negro
mission society in Newberry> county
was fraud. OIL justice, was untrue,
and that the real motive in taking
her to South Carolina was to return
her to peonage and make her do in
voluntary labor for A. G. Workman,
farmer Of Laurens county.
) On application and affidavit Judge
Pritchard issued a writ of habeas cor
pus and the woman was brought be-
fore him by Deputy United States
Marshall McElroy, Sheriff Buford of
Newberry county being represented
by Judge j. Fl. Merrimon, who moved
to dismiss the writ after he had
shown a regular requisition issued by
Governor Green at the request of Gov.
.Ansel of South Carolina. Judge Mer-
rimon argued that the requisition be-
ing regular, Judge Pritchard could
not try the guilt or innocence of the
woman but this was a matter of the
Etrial court in South Carolina to pass
on and any remedy available here
stated that he did not sue out the
writ to determine the matter of guilt
\ but to show to the court that the pro-
ssecution of the woman was not bona
Sfide but was inspired by the plan to
Fget the woman to South Carolina in
Order that by some prctcxt she could
sbe put in the servitude of man
5who was backing the effort to take
Sher from Asheville.-
Isl Would Like to Hold His Cook.
81 And then Judge Merrimon made
'the statment that if there was any
peonage concerned in the case it was
here in Ashevillc where, he said, the
.womam was being held in peonage as
! a cook. The judge regarded this as
did Mr.. Carter as joke,
gsincc the latter humorously suggested
gthat if cooks could be kept in peonage
he would like to know in order that
he might get prior lien on good
one. He said that the woman was
employed as cboll by Earnest Shu-
ford, Esq, who wished her to get
justice aside from his desire to re-
ytaim good cook. Judge Merrimon
made a reply which seemed to indi-
Seate that he did not make the state
sment humorously in all senses.
q Judge Pritchard stated that he was
Suffering with headache which al
5most incapacitated him from even
hearing the case and wished to hear
8it more fully on Monday. He said
THAT Judge Merrimon had made a
gprima facia case for dismissing the
writ but he wished to consider the al
sIggation Of peonage fully, as made by
MIR. Carter, and refer to the authori-
lies quoted which he could not do
Just, then on account of physical suf-
fering. He remarked, on the subject
of peonage, that in case it was dem
s0sstrated that the real purpose Of the
rsquisitinn proceeding was to place
ssttlls woman in peonage he would dis
charge her.
Hearing Set. for Monday. -.
was then stated that both attor-
sis8s were counsel in case set in the
state court for Monday, and after va
sHalls; suggestions were made, Sheriff
lfford stated to the court that his Of
RjSiaI duties required him at home
he was anxious to have the case
it was agreed that the
should be heard further next
|katurday and both sides were given
parmission to get up evidence, either
hbaffidavit or by witness.
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