The age-herald., 1898-04-08
POLITICS.
Did Negroes Boss and Guard White Prisoners During the Administration of A. 0. Lane?

 Some days ago some gentlemen came out in the newspapers and stated that no white prisoners were worked under negro guards during MT. Lanes administration as mayor. This simply meant, of course, that these gentlemen never saw negroes bossing and guarding white prisoners Negative state ments are of no value or weight as against positive statements of men who actually saw.
 That such condition of affairs did ex- ist, and to our shame, we refer to the fol- lowing a1sdavits of some good citizens of our county:
 State of Alabama, Jefferson County Personally appeared before me, Wm. M. Walker, a notary public, in and for said county and state E. A. Penn, G. T. Cow gill, Ben Schmaker, John L. Davis, J. O. Began, J. W. Lang, John Yarber, s. Hall, who, upon oath, say that and each of them while residing in Birmingham, saw, during the administration of MT. Lane, mayor of the city of Birmingham, white men pris- oners working under negro bosses and guards
 sworn to and subscribed before me, this 9th day of April, 1S9S
 VIM. M. WALKER. Notary Public.
 B. A. PENN,
 c. T. COWGILL,
 BEN SCHMACKER,
 JOHN l.. DAVIS,
 J. o. REGAIN, J. ". LANG, his
 JOHN YARBER,
 mark
 S. HALL.
 @
 State of Alabama, Jefferson County Personally appeared before me, Wm. M. Walker, a notary public in and for said county and state, J. o. Began, who, upon oath, says that under one of the admins trations of MT. A. O. Lane, as mayor of Birmingham, Ala, he secured the release of man who had been convicted of the charge in the mayors court of Brmng- ham, Ala. This man was one J. T. Dutton, and he had him released by paying his fine. When he paid the fine he was given an or der for his release by the turnkey of the city jail. He carried this order to guard who was in charge of the prisoners on Eighth avenue. He found Dutton, who was white man, together with other white prisoners, in charge of negro guard, and there was no white man near the prisoners acting as guard. He delivered the order which had been given him by the turnkey to this negro guard, and he released the prisoner, MT. Dutton. MT Dutton was im- prisoned upon a charge of intoxication. sworn to and subscribed before me this 9th day of April 1898. VIM. M. WALKER, Notary Public J. O. REGAIN. State of Alabama, Jefferson County Personally appeared before me, Wm. M. Walker a notary public in and for said county and state, E. A. Penn, who, upon oath, says that during one of the adminis- trations of MT. A. O. Lane, as mayor of Birmingham, he saw negro boss or guard of prisoners shoot at two fleeing white men prisoners. This occurred on Seventh avenue, hafrx ivfn nto in the city of Birmingham. Ala. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 9th day of April, 1898. VIM. M WALKER, Notary Public. B. A. PENN. i4 State of Alabama, Jefferson County Personally appeared before me, Wm. M. Walker, a notary public in and for said county and state, J. w. Lang, who, upon oath, says: In the year 1888, while MT. A. O. Lane was mayor of the city of Birmingham, 1 he worked for five days as city prisoner under a negro guard. There were several white prisoners under this negro guard at the time he worked under him. The guard was with them constantly, and he carried pistol. He worked under this guard, who was negro, in the alley, between Fifth and Sixth avenues, near Twenty-third street. He was imprisoned on a charge Of intoxication.
 Sworn and subscribed before me this 9th day of April, 1898.
 VIM. M. WALKER, Notary Public. J. w. LANG. These afidavits the originals of which are | in the hands of the undersigned, need little l comment Good white citizens have made l them, seeking only from sense of duty | to do their fellow citizens good service. Then, negroes did boss and guard white 1 prisoners during MT. Lanes administration. l Was he responsible for this? MT. Lane, 1t 1 is said, run the city government when he | was mayor. He was bound to knew of a | thing that was so distasteful and abhor- l rent to the white people. Fellow citizens, read learn, mark and in- { wardly digest the things in these aff1- | davits, and then do your duty. | All of which is respectfully submitted. TRUE BLUE DEMOCRATS. This April 6, 1898.