The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-02
HELD IN JAIL FOR NO CRIME.
An EDUCITED MIN IMPRISONED FOR
NON-Ps YMENT or POLL TAx.

n,It him to Pay Tax Upon his Existence.
NORTHAMPTON Mass. May DIR. John
Brown Smith ms been confined thirty days In
the county Jail in Northampton. although he
has committed no crime. and has never been
before any Justice or other police official Yet
he must stay in Jail until poll tax Of two dol
lars. due the town Of Belchertown. is satisfied.
MAJOR Longley has been Sheriff Of Hampshire
County for twenty-four years and has had
Charge OF tho Jail for eighteen yet he says that
ho has had but one similar case in all that time.
BY the Massachusetts law. every resident OF
town. whether alien or not. ia liable to the poll
tax OF 81. Whore other property is taxed this
itom is customarily charged. hut whore resi-
dent hns no other taxable properly. according
10 Sheriff Longleys experience 1t has not been
customary 10 demand payment with any reor.
This is a very strange case" said the Sheriff
this morning. | believe Dr. Smith is sincere
in what he is doing. He will not pay that tax
because he has conscientious scruples about 1t.
Now. no has been shut up for a month. and
there are no present Indications that he will
over get out. 1t isn't like serving a term that is
fixed and definite time. He can't get out OF
Jail until the tax is satisfied"
Is he doing this for notoriety p
No. he isn't that kind Of man. He says
the law is wrong and unjust. and IL il Is ncces-
sary for him to be- q martyr to 1t before the
people find 1t out and repeal It. he greatly re-
grets the necessity. but will submit to it,"
DR.. Smith was found in tho cell occupied 80
long by Bob" Scott. the notorious Northamp-
ton bank burglar. 1t is a light and airy place.
and from ii Il view OF the lawn and street is OBJ
tanned. The walls are decorated with cheap
illustrations. aud a writing desk in one corner.
strewn with manuscript. is indication enough
ofthe way Dr. Smith passes his time.
And ia m nffuir of conseuuence anouy oh for
THE Sun to send away up here p he said In
SURPRISE; but should expect 1t OF THE SUN
sooner than any newspaper in the world be-
cause I'm the victim Of an unjust law. and am
imprisoned for no crime but simply because
will not do what cannot consclentiously do"
DR.. Smith has none Of the indications OF tho
fanatic and ultra liberal. His hair is not long
but cut short, and is dark brown. His beard
is yellow and silky. and his complexion clear
and white almost as a child's. He a medium
sized man. dressed neatly. especially about the
throat and bosom. and wears a pair Of prettily
worked slippers He speaks in a low but
rather nervous tone. and when he laughs.
which he frequently did during the conversa-
tion-for Major Longley has a wide reputation
as joker and story teller. and DR.. Smith evil
IDENTITY has keen appreciation OF humor-he
shows two rows II even. white teeth. and his
dark blue eyes become hidden in merry
wrinkles.
II newspaper publication will lead to any
agitation on the matter. l am willing that my
story should be known. 1t doesn't amount TO
much now. except that l am deprived of my
liberty because won't pay poll tax"
And why won't you pay It, Doctor"
For several reasons One is that am not
an American citizen. although served three
years in the army in Minnesota regiment.
don't believe thatI should be taxed when have
no voice In the Government. but this is a minor
reason. A greater one is that poll tax can't be
enforced; therefore 1t is useless and worse 10
levy Il. Take my own case. II | should re-
main here all mS life the tax could not be en-
forced. II Ia tax on mans head-poll-and
not on the property he owns or produces. To
tax "A man because he exists, / cannot believe in
this enlightened age Is either right or neces-
man shall be ocked up and mado to
be selling the labor ot a man who had commit
sed no crime / hold. also. somewhat to the
Of force. aud the poll tax is in my idea. entirely
inconsistent with thts view. Yet Quakers. be-
cause OF their conscientious scruplesi are not
required 10 bear arms Why should |. equally
conscientious be required 70 pay the tax 2"
DO you expect to stay here .longw p
That remains 10 be seen replied the Doc
tor. with smile. " 1t is probable that the next
Assembly will have its attention called to the
fact that a man has been confined In the North
ampton Jail II year because he did not believe in
g pon tax, and that and and the agitation that will
10lpW Will induce tnat BODY 10 repeal the law
] hope so. / want to get out OF this as soon as
possible / tried hard TO keep away from here (;
but when IL came 10 the, simple alternative Of
either paving the tax or being locked up, | told
the tax collector WAS ready to GO"
o." Dc, you think that a few months OF prison
life will alter YOUR resolution"
No. indeed. l am even more determined
now than when came here: and besides. IL
would be ridiculous for me to pay it now"
regain your liberty without violating your
scruples?"
lean get out Of here by adopting several
methods. / might take the poor debtors oath I:
that would release me; but | won't do that for
took the oath and second. might as well pay
the tax, for by taking the oath / acknowledge
II went to Jail 10 save az. Then. II some one
else paid my tax could get out. Several Of my
friends have begged me to let them pay il. but
pave urged them II they wished 10 do me
Kindness. not 10 do so. Ny wife has almost
tnsisted upon paving IT, and was obliged to
tell her that she would DO SO al the risk Of Of
tending me. There Is still another way The
town can at a town meeting vote 70 abate my
without having violated any Of my scruples.
There is still another course. / might pay the
tax under protest and sue. did pay 1t under
protest asst year. but what earthly good would
Dr. smith has been held to be a man OF good
repute In BelchertOwn. He came to that village
some three years ago Tor the purpose OF de;
shoTthand. He was born about forty. years ago
In London, Ontario, and went to Minnesota
khen tnht state was Territory. After serving
three years In the army he began the practice
ot medicine. until his attention was called TO
phonography. He. in common with all other
stenOgrnDhers. learned that it was easier to
write than % read the characters. ana after
much thought he devised system which he
claims will obviAte that difficulty. He retired
from practice. removed 10 BelchertOwn. board
ing with his wie'5 family. and gave his whole
time 10 this work. The result was two books
rccently published in Amherst. Mass. both OF
which have passed into second editions and no
has iattering letters from some Of the most ac-
conplsncd stenograDhers In the country.
He WAS not called upon 70 pay any tax during
the first year Of his res idence, but received
tax bill last year. This he paid under protest.
Lust fall he received a similar bill. and at once
wrote the collector his reasons for refusing to
pay IT, To this communication he received no
answer. but on Jan. 5 he got BY mail noti-
tratlon that he would be proceeded against by
law II the tax was not paid within fourteen days.
IhereuDon he again sent a letter stating con-
clsely his reasons for nom payment, In this
he said that the right to tax a person. that Is
personality ought TO be a reciprocal one. The
btate gave nothing in return therefor. and even
went so lar as to say that every child born who
Is expected 70 produce something ought TO
have the ablllty b. produce guaranteed him.
and that his right 10 the use OF the soil ought To
De- MS Tree as his right To air and sunlight IL is
believed that 10 the expression OF these views
fhssra IN