The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-05-13
ANOTHER Niger TROUBLE.
Tenaesseeans Threaten Life Of
Rural Mail Carrier.

that John G. Allgood, colored rural
free delivery 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 service under penalty
of death. Postmaster General Payne
has suspended service on the route
pending investigation, and if the re-
ports of the affair are confirmed sum-
mary action will follow. The incident
may become a second Indianaola case.
The news of the affair reached the
Postmaster General today in the fol-
lowing telegram from Postmaster H.
Swaney, of Gallatin:
Carrier Rural Route l, while max
ing trip today, held up by masked
men. Ordered not to make another
trip. Advise. f"
The next dispatch came from ". F.
Conger, the special agent in charge
of the rural delivery service, with
headquarters at Nashville, Tenn, as
follows:
"Rural carrier, No. ], colored, Gal
latin, Tenn, in interview with me to-
night advises that he was stopped on
route today by armed masked men and
his life threatened if he continued in
service. Threat also applied to colored
divulge cause Of his removal, but to
assign other resons. No time allowed
him to wait upon appointment of sue
cessor. Believing it hazardous, be
will not serve route tomorrow unless
assurances are given him that no
violence will be committed. Please
advise me what instructions Will be
issued in the premises. An immediate
answer will be greatly appreciated"
This rural carrier route was put in
effect March l last. There were five
applicants under the civil service
rules for appointment as rural carrier.
The three men passing the highest on
the list were all colored. Under the
civil service 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. billiard, colored,
was appointed. He resigned about
three weeks ago and on the 26th of last
| month the civil service board certified
the second man on the list, John G.
Allgood, colored.
! Postmaster General Payne today
telegraphed Mr. Conger as follows:
Investigate fully case of John G.
Allgovd, rural free delivery carrier,
who was stopped by masked men yes
terday and his life threatened if ne
continued in the service, and report.
In the meantime service on Route l
will be suspended until your report
upon the facts in the case is received. !"
Postmaster General Payne later said
if the facts were as reported only two
courses are open, namely, to abolish
the route and leave the people thereon
without the 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 carri-
ers and said that the appointees we're
selected through the civil service
commission, their selection, therefore,
not being optional with him.
It is said at the department that the
penalties provided by law for such
offences are covered in Sections 3, 1859
and 8, 995, of the Revised Statutes.
| The former reads:
every person who wilfully and
maliciously assaults any letter carrier
who is in uniform, while engaged on
his route in the discharge of his duty
as letter carrier, and every person
who wilfully aids or assists therein
shall for every offence be punishable
by fine of not less than 500, and not
more than $1,000, or by Imprisonment
for not less than one year, and not
more than three years
The other section provides that "any
person who shall knowingly and will
fully obstruct or retard the passage of
mail carrier shall for every such
offence be punishable by fine of not
more than Sl00.'
It is pointed out that the difference
between these penalties hinges on the
wearing of the uniform, and also that
the word assault" within the mean
ing of the law contemplates just such
an offence as that committed.