The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-23
FREE MEN HELD
IN BONDAGE.
A Remarkable Charge Against a
Georgia Man.
HE Is ACCUSED OF PEONAGt.
IL is Alleged That He Had Men, Wo
men and Children Bound to
Him For Debt and Treated
Them Cruelty.
HE Is ACCUSED OF PE0NAGE.

ATLANTA, GA. April 22.-The Consti-
tuition publishes the following story:
William Eberhart. or Oglethorpe coun-
ty, is probably the first man In the Unit
ed States to be indicted on the charge OF
peonage He is certainly the first man
who has ever been arrsted on the charge
in Georgia. and II all the charges IN the
indictment can be proven on him. the fUll
penalty provided by the law would be
mild punishment for the crime
Peonage is a very unusual crime ana
section $3.50 of the revised statutes or the
United States provides for the punish
ment Of the crime as follows:
Every man who holds, arrests or
causes TO be held or arrested in any
manner or aids in the arrest or return
OF any person 10 a condition OF peonage
shall be punished by a fine OF not less
than $1,000 or more than 5000 or by I'M
prisonment not less than one year OF more
than five years. or both.
The indictment Of Eberhart is one OF the
most sensational papers ever filed IN the
United States court Eberhart remarked
to a party in Atlanta that n all the IN
dictment stated was true that ne would
kill himself II appears from the lndic'-
ment that Eberhart would lend negroes
money and have them bind their children
and themselves out 10 him for term
OF years TO work the loan out. IL Is
charged he had men, women ana emil
dren bound out to him, and nc IS dc-
cused Of being cruel in the extreme 10
them The indictment states that ne Deat
them I'm the most barbarous fashion and
in ono instance he compelled a father to
hold his son on the ground In nude
state while he. Eberhardt. beat him with
sticks until he made the blood flow.
FIVE CHILDREN BOUND TO HIM
The first count in the indictment declares
that 4 negro by the name OF Nose sims
was compelled TO bind his I'VE chilufeh
ont To Eberhart until they should become
of aye. and one Of them was an infant
two wears Of age. IS accused OF peat
ing these children and treating them
cruelty. ,,,.,,,...
,rhe second count states that PHILIPS
Johnson. a negro woman, bound hersei
out to Eberhart and while under seryi-
tudc to him he employed party by the
name Of Tom Erwin 10 beat her'
The third and most terrible count In the
indictment states that Charley Galloway
and his wife bound themselves 10 Eoer-
hart and that while they were working
for him he forcibly took the woman TO his
house. and with pistol at her head as
saulted her and beat her.
Charley Galloway was made 10 hold his
own son fat on the ground. says the in
dictment. while E5erhart beat him with
sticks until he cut the blood from his
back.
The fourth count states that Monroe
Nicely borrowed $65 from Galloway and
bound his son out for a term Of five years
TO pay the amount. Ii further states that
the money was several times rendered
Eberhart. but that he would not accept
It. preferring 10 keep the boy In state
Of peonage
REVOLVING DETAILS.
The indictment is quite lengthy and
goes into the most revolving details. II
appears that Ebcrhart was enabled 70 get
these people bound out TO him by the as
sistance Of his brother-in-law, who is a
Justice OF the peace. He would have
them arrested on some trumpet up
charge it is alleged. and force them TO
bind their children and themselves TO
him.
Eberhart is a wealthy planter of Ogle-
thorpe county and he had no trouble
whatever in giving the 5000 bond under
which he was placed. He swOre that he
was worth over and above $4,000.
His case will be set for trial at the
October term Of the Federal court and
when IL comes TO trial IL Will be one Of
the most sensational and interesting cases
ever tried i'm the county. Eberhart is
well connected and 1t j. quite likely that
when the case comes TO trial he will have
a formidable array Of witnesses. lie has
employed counsel and says he Will prove
himself innocent OF the terrible charges
against him. He declares that the
charges are utterly untrue.