The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-18
NEGRO FILES GRAVE CHARGE Sues BOndSmen of Justice
 and a Constable. ALLEGES MALFEASANCE John Woods Declares He Was
 Falsely Imprisoned. Says Justice Taylor and Constable Required Him to Go to Sprague Junction and
 Work on Farm.


 City Court a suit for N.000 damages against the bondsmen of former Consta- ble w. T. Fields and Justice W. A. Taylor of West End for false imprison- n.ent. The negro alleges that early in lest year he was handcuff ed, carried to the Union Station, put on board train ard put off at station in the lower part of the county, where he was in- dLced to sign some sort of paper and kept there at hard labor seven months. The negro declares that this treatment was unlawful and unwarranted.
 The answer of the peace officers to the suit is that Woods pleaded guilty to the chaI ge of stealing watch and that he was fined $10, and that at his earnest solicitation, Constable Fields carried him down the country to the farm of Walter Brothers. who advanced him the money to pay his fine and costs. The contract which was read to him and which he signed, they say. was fully ex- plaired
 The allegations of the negro in his suit for damages are sensational He says. in his complaint, that he was car rie1 by Constable Fields to the depot in handcuffs and put aboard a train; that when he reached Sprague Junction he was required to sign a paper, by the terms of which he bound himself to work for the firm of Walter Brothers on the terms stipulated in the contract. Part of the contract was that Woods should allow Himself to be locked up and should fare as the other prisoners at the farm of Walter Brothers. He alleges that he was whipped twice during his stay in the country He says he was kept there from the middle of May. 1901. until the middle of December. at which time, he says lie was released and given S. He says he was given small amount of clothing during his seven months of work. His treatment, he says, while there was the same as that accorded the coivicts hired by Walter Brothers from the State. He alleges that the costs in the case was more than $50.
 For what he terms false Imprisonment the negro through his attorneys. Is ask ing the full amount of the bonds of Jus tice Taylor and Constable Fields. The Fidelity and Deposit Company of Mary land is on the bond of Justice Taylor and J. A. Reeves and R. D. Lee of west End are Fields's bondsmen
 Constable Fields has moved from West End and was not seen that his state ment might he obtained. He was, while constable. special policeman at the Peo- ple's Cotton Factory, but on leaving his position with the mill he moved to North Montgomery. lie has resigned as con stable of West End Beat and James liar well has succeeded him.
 Justice Taylor was seen by renresen- tative of The Advertiser. He said the negro's statement was entirely false He had been carried to Sprague Junction. said Justice Taylor at his own request. and he had gladly embraced an oppor- tunity of having somebody pay his fine and the costs in the case
 II had nothing whatever to do with Woods being carried to the country and put to work" said Justice Taylor. Il neither issued directions nor gave any order to Constable Fields to take him there. His going to the country was matter entirely between him and the constable.
 Woods was tried in my court on the charge of larceny" continued Justice Taylor He pleaded guilty to taking a watch and I fined him $10 and costs The costs, as I remember. amounted to about 8 Woods bore a bad reputation and no once came forward to help him out of his trouble. After the trial he asked If there was anybody who would pay his fine and let him work out the money. Constable Fields told him he knew of firm that would pay it and allow him to work out the money, but that trip on the train would have to be taken to get there. The negro told him that he did not mind that and said he would pay the Constable's fare back and forth If he would take him there. l heard the negro beg Fields to take him there. Fields told him that a stringent contract would have to be signed before the money would be paid and Woods said that he was will ing to sign the contract after Fields ex- plained it to him. Fields carried him down to the farm and told me that he had agreed to and signed the contract. Fields brought to me the amount of costs that was due the court for the trial of the case. The total cost was $9 and not $30 as claimed by the negro"
 Justice Taylor says Woods has borne bad reputation. Since his return from Sprague Junction Justice Taylor says the negro has been arrested twice on war rants from Justice Cantelyou's court, charging grand larceny. In one Of the cases he was convicted and in the other A compromise was effected
 Woods has employed a we'll known law yer to press the charge against the peace officers. The case is set for trial at the August term of the City Court.
 Genaral Ronal Retired