The age-herald., 1901-03-21
Governor Sanford Rights the
 Wrong Done Them.
DENIED CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
Tell Story of Their Arrest, incarcera' tion and Mock conviction-Make Charges Against Prison Man.
 ment-Thank Age-Herald.

Seventeen hapless fellows, branded convicts by the fee-seekng officials of Butler County, and deprived of the rights guaranteed to them under the con etitution, and for having so far trans Rressed the law of that community as to stand charged with the "crime" of ''riding trains" were released from Pratt mines prison at noon yesterday, on par don granted by Governor Sanford.
 The men, without exception tell start ling tales of their arrest, incarceration and mock trials or convictions, and are profuse in their thanks to the Governor, the Age-Herald, B. B. Smith of Mont gomery and others who interested them selves in their behalf.
 Dr. J. Elmer Adams of Cleveland, O., who was sent up at the same time, on the same charge was released last Sun day his fine having been paid by friends who were appraised of his unfortunate condition.
 The circumstances surrounding the in- carceration of these men is blot on the fair name of Alabama, if their state ments, which are born out by the official investigations are true
 Never Saw a Judge.
 Some of the men were never taken be- fore a judge, but were informed by the sheriff, in their prison cells, that they had been adjudged guilty of the charges against them and sentenced to hard la bor for the county for terms ranging from ten to thirty days which were fur ther augmented by from sixty to eighty days for costs, the latter going into the pockets of the men charged with the execution of the law and the administra- ton of justice, in the shape of fees.
 Not only are they bitter against the Butler County officials, but also against the prison management, charging that during their incarceration in the mines, they were ill-fed, and some of them, that they were compelled to work when phy- sically unable.
 They also claim that the clothing they wore when they reached the mines was destroyed and replaced with the cheapest sort of garments when they were re- leased.
 Most of the men are members of some trade union, and carry union cards. They come from various states, several of them being seamen, and one musician from the battleship Alabama, who were arrest ed at Greenvile while passing through.
 R. J. Foy's Statement.
 R. J. Foy, boier-maker of Indianap- oils, who formerly lived in Birmingham, was one of the men, and was sentenced for ten days. with an additional seventy eight days for cost He was arrested on February 19 hy Deputy Sheriff Storey, who has since been discharged, and says that he was kept in jail two weeks with out any pretense of hearing. He and the other men signed a petition demand ing a trial, and on the following day he says the solicitor came to the jail and wanted the men to answer the charge. They demanded that they be taken before judge, and several days later the sher- If came to the jail and had the sentence of each man written on a slip of paper. The appeal was signed by W. G. Merri- gan, a machinist of Seneca Falls. N. r., and others.
 Three of the men made a strong pro- test, and when confronted with the charge, demanded trial, Storey, the deputy sheriff, so they state, told them that two of the witnesses were away. but that one of the witnesses, a man named Stevens, could be gotten and the trial was set for o'clock in the after noon. When their cases were again taken up they were told that the two absent witnesses would have to be brought back and would take considerable time; that they would have to stay in jail unless they could furnish bond in the sum of $50. The suggestion was thrown out that they plead guilty and go up with the rest, the fact being impressed upon them that they might possibly remain in jail for several months.
 Come To the City.
 As soon as the men were released they came to the city, and, accompanied by friends, called at the Age-Herald office to express their thanks for the publicity given the cases which resulted in their release.
 They complained bitterly of the food that was given them at the mines, and stated that it was insufficient and i'll prepared. They were required to go into the mines at o'clock and were each given a tin pan containing some grits, two small pieces of fat meat and four pieces of corn bread. which, with a small cup of coffee, constituted their breakfast and dinner They were required to load fifteen cars of coal every day and to bore a four-foot hole for blast. While walk ing through and working in the mines they were compelled to assume stoop- ing position. A weeks supply of tobacco consisted of thin plug of tobacco. half of which they were compelled to give for shave.
 James Mcclure, one of the unfortunate fellows. claims that he was ordered to
 
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