Legree is a cruel man who Tom is sold to after Eva's death. When Tom shows kindness to the other slaves, Legree swears that he will break Tom. He constantly beats Tom in the short time he appears in the novel. After Tom agrees with Cassy to help her escape, she tells rumors that ghosts are haunting the attic. After hearing fake moans from the attic that were Cassy's idea, Legree beings to believe there are ghosts in the attic. When Cassy and Emmeline hide up in the attic, Legree questions Tom of where they went. When Tom replies that he knows but he won't tell Legree, the slave owner beats Tom until he is mortally wounded. After Tom's death and George Shelby's arrival, Legree says that he can do anything he wants without punishment because his word can be believed more than slaves' words. Stowe uses Legree's character to show how cruel slave owners could be to support the Abolition Movement.