The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-09-15
GhORGri SLAyD HoLDnB.
He Catches Tramps and Makes Them Work
His YARN


RUTLEDGE, GA. September 1.-THE
grand jury OF Morgan county Is now in-
vestigating a case which promises TO boz
come one Of the most Sensational ever
known I'm Georgia.
The fun extent OF the shocking prac-
tices charged against Henry r. Kicker
son, farmer a Rutledge. cannot yet be
told, but II half are true as seems cor-
tain, the eyes of n civilized State will
be opened wide I'm wonder and horror.
Rickerson IS accused Of nothing less
than the enslavng Of tramps. making
them, by force and punishment. 20 work
upon his farm. maintaining "a small COM
vict camp, I'm which existed horrors flr
greater than any yet reported from those
that exist under the guise OF the law.
RIckerson has FOR some time. 10 ls
shown. made n practice Of dccoying
tramps, white and black and half-w.tcd
persons. % his house. arrestIng them and
putting them TO work on bis farm They
were locked up M night and forced 10
work ON Sundays, as we'll as ON other
days He claimed 10 have some authority
from the government for $50 doing and
IN every instance he ifs said to- have Sue
ceeded with his victims
A tramp negro, Alb Johns, was thus
arrested by him and has been doing hard
work for him several months Some
weeks ago white tramp. Tom Johnson.
was also arrested by RickersOu and put
10 work In the fields on his farm. with the
negro. Alb Johns. TO stand as guard over
him. Both were so inundated by their
oppressor that they willingly did any
thing az his command They were in me
bonds Of slavery and he was their task
master. and a hard one TOO.
The white man was the victim ~ a
nameless disease. He was forced 10 work
I'm any sort OF weather. Sundays and an
other days When he did anything
which displeased his master the negro
was made 10 ply the lash ON his bare
back. Some days ago the white man
then q putrid. loaths0me mass OF living
humanity. scarcely able 10 walk. was
taken ill. but was still forced TO work.
ON Tuesday he died. Rickcrson sent 10
W. =. d VI. l.. Wallace for "a coffin. This
aroused the neighb0rs Mayor Newt
Watkins sent for Coroner Dexter. sus-
pecting foul play. Coroner Dexter went
mp 10 Rutledge 10 hold an inquest on
account Of decomposition having set in.
the body could not be examined by the
jury. and no verdict was made The
coroner came 10 Madison and reported
the case 10 the grand jury.
Rickerson was brought 10 this place
under arrest. but the warrant was dis
missed. pending the action Of the grand
jury. Alb Johns. the negro is now being
held for the murder. and since his release
Rickcrson has disappeared.
Rickersons mode of forcing tr3mps 90
work for him was this. Tlo employed
two negroes stationed at tho Georgia
railroad coaling station 90 induce them
10 come out 40 his house. When there
ne would either coax persuade or force
them 10 work for him. promising them
SD much pay ami at The end OF the
month refuse to pay them and threaten
their lives Of they kicked.
He also claimed, as above stated, some
imaginary power vested hy State or
national government and his victims. he
ing ignorant black or white mon. UNI
known and frioudlcss in this section OF
the country. were easily inundated into
suhm sion.
The story ~ his onenecs as related 10y
reliable parties from his ueirhb0rhood.
make n weird and horrible romance.
Rickcrs0n. ono-armcd and grim-vis7sed.
has for some time borne am unsavorv re-
putation in his u.ighborh0oi. For some
time past rumor has been busy concern
ing happenings on his place. but the TRUE
state OF affairs was not dreamed of until
disclosures followed the suspicious death
OF the white man. Tom Johnson.