The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1920-08-12

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and the two negroes to Cheraw. The
negroes, he swore, were handcutfed
together the entire journey.
The affidavit of W. D. Mayfield re-
cited the allegations contained against
the two negroes for selling property
under lien, the requisition of Cover
nor Cooper for the return of Jones
and Stroman from Arson county, n.
c., and the rejection Of it by Cover
nor Beckett, of North Carolina. Sub
sequent to the hearing by Governor
Beckett on the requisition, he affirm
ed, he was Informed by Frak Bes-
singer, who lives on the Zorn property
in Anson county, y that the two ne
groes were dissatisfied and desired to
return to South Carolina, provided
they were given sufficient protection
when being brought to this state.
The affidavit stated that Mr.. May
field, James Breeder and Henry b.
Sandifer, all citizens Of Bamberg
county, went to Arson county in Mr..
Mayfield's automobile and the two
negroes cheerfully accompanied them,
even after they had been informed
that Mr.. Breeder had warrant for
their arrest, which would be served
after they reached the South Carolina
line. When they got the negroes, ac-
cording to the testimony, they were
accompanied by Mr.. Tice and Frank
Bessinger, Jones, affirmed the afflda-
Wit, himself went over to Stroman S
house and got him. When his car
got stuck in a bog in the road, he tes-
titled the negroes willingly and cheer
fully helped to pull it out of the hole.
The affidavit likewise denies that
the members of the party represent
ed themselves as federal officers,
used revolvers and handcuffed the
negroes.
Atlantis Position.
The affiant took the position that
he did not believe the prosecution was
brought by the negroes but was Elm
stigated by the hatred of one, NJ. K.
Zorn, owner of the property in North
Carolina, where the negroes went, has
for this deponent, which has grown
out of the disputes between Mr.. Zorn
and deponent, because Of the fact that
Mr.. Zorn on various occasions and
through various agents, has caused
many of deponent's laborers to leave
MS plantation and other plantations
around Denmark and go to North
Carolina and work on his own place. -
The afidavits of Mr.. Breeder and
Mr.. Sandifer were merely papers sub
stantiating the material allegations in
the affidavit of Mr.. Mayfeld.
Frank B. Bessiner, who formerly
lived in Bamberg county, but is now
in Anson county, n. c., said that he
knew Jones and Stroman and knew
that they had left the Mayfeld plan
tation with criminal charges hanging
over them, and gone to North Caro-
lima to work on the Zorn farm, their
railway fare being paid from Den
mark by NJ K. Zorn. The negroes
were dissatisfied with conditions in
North Carolina and expressed the DE-
sire to return to Bamberg county if
they had some one to accompany
them. This information, Mr.. Bes-
sing ger testified, was transmitted by
him to Mr.. Mayfeld, and the latter
and his party came after the negroes.
The circumstances surrounding the
incidents which took place when
Jones and Stroman were taken from
their homes by the Mayfeld party as
contained in the afidavits of MIR. May
field, Mr.. Breeden and Mr.. Sandifer,
substantially/were reiterated by Mr..
Bessinger.
No Violence Used.
J. F. Tice, in his affidavit, told OF
being approached by the Mayfeld
party with the request to accompany
it to the homes of the two negroes,
which he did; but when informed that
Mr.. Mayfeld had warrants for the two
negroes, he Informed them that he
could not assist in taking Jones and
Stroman forcefully into South Caro-
lima. He said that the negroes went
without protest and seemed to be
overjoyed at returning home. He
swore that he did not go either to the
house of Jones or Stroman; that Mr..
Mayfeld and Mr.. Breeder went to
Jones's house and they and Jones to
Stroman's house. The remainder of
his testimony was substantial reit-
GRAFTON Of the other affidavits, except