Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-07
ON PERSONAL BONDS
Perry Carson Released Today From
the District Jail.
WRIT OF HABEAs CORPUS PROCURED
Further Hearing to Be Had Friday
Before Judge Cole.
WARDEN LEONARD IN COURT

A number of letters bearing the address,
Col. Perry H. Carson, United States JAIL
were delivered at the prison this morning.
Some of these missives were from personal
friends of the party to whom they were
delivered, while others were from persons
who had always been Identified with fac
tions opposed to the big colored political
leader
When a Star reporter called at the Jail
this morning he found Mr.. Carson seated
at table in the rotunda discussing prison
life with the guards. He had been sur
prised, he said, at a statement in a morn
ing paper which gave the information that
he was going to pay his fine this morning
Il never said / was going to pay my
fine he declared. Il am waiting for my
counsel now. A petition for a habeas cor
pus is being filed and 1 expect to leave here
at l o'clock"
Attorneys Tracy L. Jeffords and Peril
Frisby had the writ prepared, which the
prisoner signed.
The Petition.
1t reads:
Petitioner says he Is unlawfully held
in custody and deprived and restrained Of
his liberty by John r. Leonard, warden OF
the jail in the District of Columbia.
Petitioner says that on the 5th day of
this month he was committed to the Gus
tody Of said Jail warden by virtue of pre-
tended commitment of Samuel R. Church,
justice Of the peace in and for the District
of Columbia
Petitioner says a justice Of the peace
in the District of Columbia has no lawful
right or authority to commit any one to
Jail, and has no lawful right or authority
IN {rI fN,-,
had and has no lawful right or authority
to commit this petitioner to Jail.
THE said Samuel r. Church, justice of
the peace, has in his pretended lawful
commitment of this petitioner to jail ex-
ceeded his authority and power and exer-
cised unusual, unWarranted and unlawful
discretion in the name, place and stead of
judicial discretion.
The paper called commitment upon
which this petitioner was lodged in jail
and is now held there was not regular or
lawful in form, was not duly authenti-
Gated. was never lawfully executed and is
no authority or warrant to the said Jail
warden for holding any one, or for holding
this petitioner.
The execution of said paper called
commitment was irregular, unusual and
unlawful. The petitioner was adjudged In
contempt in his absence, and without be-
ing heard in person or by attorney, and
has been lodged In Jail as for contempt
without having had any hearing or any
opportunity to purge himself of said pre-
tended contempt. %
Petitioner did not and has not COM
mitted any contempt. b. 80
Petitioner prays that "a writ Of habeas
corpus issue out of this honorable court
directed to the said Jail warden, John X.
Leonard, commanding him to have the
tody of the petitioner, Perry Ii. Carson, in
this court at a time certain, and that this
court will then and there discharge this
petitioner from the unlawful custody in
which he Is held.
The Prisoners Friends.
Carson's Incarceration was commented
upon yesterday in several of the local
churches. At the meeting Of the Lyceum at
the Second Baptist Church, Rev. Bishop
Johnson, pastor, the matter was discussed
at length and resolutions were adopted de-
clarirg that the Lyceum Of the Second
Baptist Church views with deep concern
and alarm the condition of government in
the District of Columbia which permits an
upright and honorable citizen to be de-
prived Of his liberty and incarcerated in
jail without due process of law, and that
the sympathy of the Lyceum is extended to
Perry Carson, the fearless leader of our
people. in his fight for the maintenance of
constitutional government and in defense
of the liberties of the people.
Further, that the following committee be
appointed to present these resolutions to
Mr.. Carson: Bishop Johnson, DID,, G. l..
Marshall, j. A. Perdue, J. l.. Phillips, }. II.
G. NeWSom H. J. Davis and j. T. Davis"
There was also a largely attended meet
ing of the Blaine Invincibles held yester-
day afternoon. 1t had been the intention of
Mr.. Carson to attend the meeting, but
locks and iron bars were in his way and
he could only send his friends a verbal
communication. The club decided that
public reception would be rendered him
Thursday, and the club also adopted some
resolutions to the effect that 1.-The Blaine
hll1 in al f.
ing. does hereby indorse the actions of
Perry Fl. Carson, its president, in taking
the part of Hiram Walker, the old colored
man who was abolt to be deprived of his
ashcart by Justice Church some days ago,
and who Is now confined in Jail for con-
tempt of court by said Justice Church
Also, that we encourage the said Carson
IN MS action in going to prison in the de-
Tense of deserving man and OF his race
and that we do also condemn the action of
Justice Church as severe and unjust"
A Memorable Day.
Yesterday will always be memorable
day in the career of Perry Carson. 1t was
the first day he had spent in prison for
forty-six years, and while he disliked being
deprived of his liberty, he said he had only
one complaint to make against the Jail.
And that is. he remarked this morning,
that none of my co1ored brothers are rep
THE bed was too short for me-" he
added, but, then, my room was warm, and
board
What about ghosts?' he was asked.
i looked for ghosts Saturday night" was
his response, but l couldn't find any. l
didn't get to sleep until 2 o'clock in the
morning. and then 1 was awake at 4. When
woke up and turned over against the
wall didn't know where l was. 1 reached
over to see if my wife was there and when
1 saw the bars l came to myself
Carson says If he had to remain in jail
very long he would become good wfiter.
for yesterday he wrote three letters, simply
because he was forced to it.
What about the mealsr' he was asked
THE corn bread down here Is fine. and
the eating would make any man fat Next
summer when other people go to the
springs. I'm coming down here instead, il
Capt. Leonard will take me in
Yesterday Mr.. Carson received a number
of callers, and attended religious services
three times during the day. The Catholic
services were new to him, and he regarded
them as very impressive. Presbyterian SER
vices were also held by white church people,