The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-06-28

hoeNN NutlttN dllu liAlNlt ulntliltI, JOuH
Cantrell, (who is just out Of Jail, and
isnow working check by jelc with the
aforesaid deputy MMshalD for the ar
rest OF three peaceable and industri-
GUS colored men, whom they found at
work in the harvest field of some good
eiti2ens.of Garter county, and arrested
them. When said arrests were made
the prisoners demanded the Fight to
50 before the commissioner OF their
own county, at Elizahethton, a dis
lance OF only four miles, and stated Ms
their reason for this, that ii necessary,
they could give bond there, and did |
not want to be taken away from their
county and among strangers. This
reasonable request was pcremptorily
refused with the remark Of the officer,
that"l take all my prisoners before my
own commissioner at Bristol" and i'm
mediately marched them ON foot to
Bristol, distance of twenty odd miles,
but before leaving, the men for whom
the negro's were working, told them
in the presence OF the officers, if they
had to execute bond at Bristol, to send
them word and they would 60 on their
bond, and requested the officer to
grant the prisoners that favor, and one
to which they were entitled as
matter Of right and justice. This
right was most shdmefully denied
them by Joseph A. Caldwell U. S.
deputy Marshall. "
After the prisoner had been adj
judged guilty of having done some
milling for CmrttelI, late Monday even
ing, asked Mr. Caldwell in the name
OF justice and right to give me time to
get the prisoners friends word, Tint
they might execute the necessary
bond. This favor he haughtily refus-
cd, and said he would leave on the first
| train for Knoxville Jail with them. |
then insisted that he take them to
Blountyille Jail, and that would take
them out on good bond in less than
twenty-four hours. As8one of the
prisoners was an old man, and in bad
health, / thought he might do that
much for humanity, but he would not,
and took them to Knoxville that
night. The Marshall was informed
that the prisoners could give the noe
essary bond if allowed time to get word
ITO their friends (by good men of their
own party, but to no purpose). 1t is
a well known fact that this deputy
Marshall has been alIcsting prisoners
all over the various counties of upper
East Tennessee and as have been in
formed IN Virginia also, and taking
them from among their friends, before
what they term their commissioner
thus dcpriying them o. the power to
give bond. | was not aware, Mr. Ed.
itor, that the t.. s. commissioners be.
l0ngcd to ono main or set OF men, The
above are the facts rs they occurred il
these cases, nnd ! feel it my duty to
dcnouncc il us Il grand outrage pefpc.
trated upon our citizens in the namt
Of justice. p8
To recapitulatc, tho prisoners hat
= the right To go before n commissioner
Of their own county, among the pco
! pic who knew ticm and where the,
have made defense t0lthc charge At
: Ter they were takcn from their count,
and adjudgcd gully, and the Marshal
having been notified .oi tho ability o
The prisoners to give bord, he should
:, have given them timc Anythin:
short of this | consider the worst 0
$ official oppression Further, il MI
Caldwell did not want to guard tn,
: prisoners, he Should have put them il
Jail at Blountvillc for ut least one day
The gentlemen'S excuse was that i
was too expensive to guard the prison
y ers. ",aaH f4a t'
' But submit to fair minded p.lh
lie which is the most expensive, 70
the Marshall and guard to take tire
prisoners to Knoxville, a distance 0
, 100 miles at an expense Of TO cents
:, mile each, both going and returning
or to have guarded these prisoners ON
: day. Again, would it not have beer
less expense to have taken these pns
' oners before the commissioner at Eli2
- abethton, a distance of miles iron
" where arrctteiltlan to Bristol, 4 dis
lance OF over 20 miles. 'h"'''"
j assert that TIE marshall action il
these cases Is contrary to the lette
:, and spirG4os Alse. law, and is the yer
: worst type {; oiicial oppression, an
, both hcand The party who uphold
him in dealing 80 recklessly with tn
! liberties Of oul citizens ought to b
y held accountable to the public 70
their actions. ~,
"a -Messrs Editors | could Say mucI
~. more in regard to the manner, in whic
4 the revenue nuisance is. carried on i
!, 1.-The way OF paid informers, and pei
10 hjpred witnesses, so much and to sue
/ AN extend that Judge Key, has NOR
y than once passed heavy structures NJ