The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-08
CARRIER STOPPED
BY ARMED MASKS
The Negro Warned to Leave
The Mail Service
UNDER PENALTY OF DEATH
The Pos-Ofic, Department Aroused by This
Occurrences in Tennessee Service Sus-
pended on the Negro Carriers
Rn,ta
CRv the Associated Press.l

By the Associated Press.)
Washington, May THE Post-office
Department was notified officially today
that John c. Allgood, acolored rural de-
livery letter carrier, while making his
regular trip near Gallatin, Tenn, was
stopped by men armed and masked, and
that he and his colored substitute carrier
were warned not to continue in the ser
vice under penalty of death. Postmaster
General Payne has suspended service on
the route pending investigation and II
the reports of the affair are confirmed
summary action will follow
The incident may become a second In
dianapolis case. The news of the affair
reached the Postmaster General today IN
the following telegram from Postmaster
Fl. Swaney, of Gallatin:
"CCarrier Rural Route No. /, while
making trip today held up by masked
men. Ordered not to make another trip.
Advise"
The next dispatch came from w. f.
Conger, the special agent in charge of
the rural free delivery service with head
quarters at Nashville. Tenn, as follows;
Rural Carried No. /, colored, Gallatin,
Tenn, interview with me tonight advises
that he was stopped on route today by
armed masked men and his life threatened
if he continued in service. Anreat also
applies TO colored substitute carrier.
Warned not to divulge cause of his re-
moval but TO assign other reasons No
time allowed him TO wait upon appoint
ment Of successor. BefleUng It hazard
Gus he will not serve route tomorrow un,.
less assurances are given him that no
violence will be committed. Please ad-
wise me what instructions will be issued
N the premises. An immedatei answer
will be greatly appreciated"
The rural carrier route was put in eff
feet March first last. There We're five
applicants under the Civil Service rules
for appointment as rural carrier. The
three men passing the highest on the list
were all colored. UnderS the Civil Ser
vice rules, the Postmaster General says
there is no option with the department
except to appoint the person who stands
highest on the list; therefore Allen F
Dilard, colored, was appointed. He re
signed about three weeks ago, and on the
Goth of last month the Civil Service Board
certified the second man in the list, John
c. Allgood colored.
Postmaster General Payne today tole-
graphed Mr. Conger as follows;
Investigate fully case of John G. All
good, rural free delivery carrier. who was
stopped by armed men yesterday and h s
life threatened if he continued in the ser
vice, and report. In the meantime ser
vice on route No. ! will be suspended un-
IL your report upon the facts in the case
s received
Postmaster General Payne later sa d
if the facts were as reported only TWO
courses OF action would be open, namely
to abolish the route and leave the people
thereon without the route service or to
send soldiers to the scene to protect the
carrier in the performance of his duty
Mr. Payne said the former course was
the more probable.
He called attention to the CIVIL Service
status of the carriers and said that the
appointecs weer secured through the Civil
Service Commission. their selection theer-
fore, not being optional with hm
1t is said at the department. that the
penalties provided by the offences arc
covered in sections 3,S69 and 1896 of the
revised statutes. The former reads as
follows:
Every person who wilfully and malic-
ously assaults any letter carrier who is
in uniform while engaged on his route in
the discharge of his duties las letter
carrier, shall for every such offensc be
punished by fine of not less than $1OC
and not more than $1,000 or by impris-
onment TO rnot less than one year and not
more than three years"
The other section provides that ''any
person who shall knowingly and wilfully
obstruct or retard the passage of mail
carrier shall for every such offense be
punishable by fine of not more than
$780,
1t is pointed out. that the difference be-
tween these penalties hinges on the wear
ing of the uniform, and also that the word
assault" within the meaning of the law
contemplates just such an offense as that