Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-06-26


, cases of slavery or peonage which
are under investigation.
| AS stated in previous dispatch.
one of the justices had turned gov
ernments evidence and disclosed all
the details of the wretched conspiracy.
The justices submitted to the ne
groes being arraigned before them
on fictitious charges. They admins
tered fines upon the perjured evidence
of the constables making arrests. Al
ways when these proceedings were
under way Pace or Turner or one Of
the Cosbys would appear and offer
to pay the fine Of the negro upon con-
dition that the negro entered into
contract to work for him for stated
period Of time.
SIGNS AWAY HIS LIBERTY.
Here is the form Of contract most
generally used:
State Of Alabama.
This contract and agreement entered
into this 80. day Of ...., 1903. by and
between ]. F. Pace and ..... Witness
eth the said 80. hereby hires himself
to the said Pare In Tallapoosa county
for the term of twelve months, begin
ming on this date and ending on the
$50. day OF 49,, 1904. Now said 80.
hereby promises and agrees to do good
healthful work for said Pace during
said term and, agrees to remain on
the premises OF the said Pace during
the said term and do such work as
the said Pace may direct and not 70
absent himself from said premises
without consent OF said Pace. And in
the event said Pace shall deem 1t nee
essary to keep said 80. confined dur
In gsaid term he shall have full au-
thority under this contract to do so.
And the said 80. hereby acknow,-
edges receipt of $25 for said services
which amount is paid by the said Pace
and received by the said 80. upon
80. agreement to work as herein
agreed. Now the said Pace hereby
agrees to accept the said 80. into his
services and pay him 81 per month
dnriIg said term.
NO HOPE OF ESCAPE.
It is after this contract has been
signed that the negro is reduced to
the state of mere slave, for then the
contract labor law makes it possible
for the master to hold him in bondage
st will. There Is no escape Tor the
poor creatures once they have made
their marks upon contracts Of this
character. Following their instinct,
they always try to escape because they
are beaten, starved and stripped Of
their clothes. On the Pace plantation
they are thrown into the stockade at
night and guarded by men armed with
rifles. When negros term If i'm
rrisonrnent is running out the white
slave driver contTives to permit the
unfortunate to iun away. His act
thereupon becomes clear violation OF
the contract labor law which provides
that a laborer who fails to fulfill
such a contract is guilty Of misde-
meanor. 1t is only necessary to put
the dogs on his track, follow the dogs
with horses and take the fugitive out
of the tree which he is always forced
to climb to save himself from being
torn to pieces. ''''
These man hunts constitute one Ut
the principal ausements Of the plant
ers of that part of Tallopoosa county
lying around Sandy creek. The negro
is brought back in chains, beaten half
to death. and in order to save his life
is forced to sign contract to serve
his brutal master for another twelve
months. He may seek to escape. but
the result is always the same. This is
lecrage, as 1t is known in Alabama.