The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-05-08


Masked Men Near GaIIatin, Tenn.
Was Ordered to ResiEn-Payne
Says Route VIII Probably Be Dis
continued.
BY R. M. Larner.
Washington, May 7.-Serious trouble
broke out in new place in the Post
Office Department to-day. Postmaster
General Payne received kilograms from
postal officials in Tennessee, stating
that John C. Allgood, a negro rural
free delivery carrier at Gallatin, had
been held up while performing his duty
by masked men and told to leave the
service at once under threats of death.
Postmaster General Payne has sus-
pended the service on the route pending
investigation. He looks upon the mat
ter as very serious, as there are many
negro carriers in the rural free deliv-
cry districts of the South, and a sus-
pension of the large part of the service
is possible if the white people main
tain their present attitude.
The route on which the trouble oc-
CuIIGu was put III 6lloCl ny TIE QGPdIA-
ment on March 1. and there were five
applicants under the civil service rules
for appointment as carrier. The three
men who stood highest in the examina-
ton were all negroes. The highest on
the list, Allen F. billiard, received the
appointment, as there was no option
for the postoffice officials. Shortly aft
erwards he resigned his place. and the
second man on the list was appointed,
John c. Allgood. This case is regard
ed more serious than the Indianola af-
fair because it involves the serious
crime of holding up the mails, and pre-
cipitates anew the race problem of the
South.
Discontinue 1t or Get Soldiers.
In speaking of the affair tonight,
Postmaster General Payne says:
There are only two courses left open
for the department We must either
suspend the rural free delivery service
in those districts where the white peo-
pie object to negro carriers or we must
send United States soldiers to protect
these carriers in the performance OF
/ their duties. 1t would not be practical
BILE to give them a military guard, and
although no decision has been reached,
the probable result will be a permanent
suspension of the business in districts
where such trouble occurs. After fur
| Their investigation and report the case
! in Tennessee will probably be referred
| to the Department of Justice"
This latest incident in Tennessee is
! regarded here as another and import
| ant phase of the race problem in the
! South. Representative Gaines of Ten
nessee, in whose. district there are
several negro rural carriers, explained
| the Southern side of the question by
| saying tonight that the women and
| children in the sparsely settled COM
rnunities of the South were actually
afraid to have the negroes come to
their houses to deliver the mail.
The Postoffice Department was
notified officially to-day that
John c. Allgood, a 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 tc
continue in the service, under penalty
of death.
Postmaster General Payne has sus-
pended service on the route. pending
investigation, and if the reports of the
affair are confirmed. summary actor
will follow. The incident may become
a second Indianola case. The news Of
the incident reached Mr.. Payne to-day
in the following telegram from Post
master H. S. Waney of GalIatin:
Carrier rural route one, while max
ing trip to-day, 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 o.
the rural free delivery service, will
headquarters at Nashville, Tenn, a:
follows:
Report of the HOId-Up.
"Rural carrier No. 1, colored, Gala
tin, Tenn, in interview with me to
night, advises that he was stopped oil
route to-day by armed masked men anc
his life threatened if he continued il
service. Threat also applied to color
ed substitute carrier. Warned not t.
divulge cause of his removal, but t
assign other reasons. No time allow
ed him to wait upon appointment o
| successor. Believing it hazardous, h
will not serve route tomorrow unles
assurances are given him that no vic
lence will be committed. Please ad
wise me what instructions will be Is
sued in the premises. An immediate
answer will be greatly appreciated"
Investigation Ordered.
Postmaster General Payne to-day
telegraphed Mr.. Conger as follows:
Investigate fully case of John C.
Allgood, rural free delivery carrier, who
was stopped by armed masked mer
yesterday, and his life threatened II
he continued in the service, and re-
port. In the meantime, service on route
one will be suspended until your re-
port upon the facts in the case is re-
ceived."
1t is said at the department that the
penalties provided by law for such of.
| lenses are covered in Sections 1869 and
1895 of the Revised Statutes. The for.
mer reads:
Every person who wilfully and ma.
liciously assaults any letter carrier who
is in uniform. while engaged on hi.
route, in the discharge of his duty a:
a letter carrier, and every person whC
Wilfully aids or assists therein, shall
for every offense be punishable by
fine of not less than 800 and not NOR,
than $1,000, or by imprisonment for no
less than one year and not more thar
three years"
The other section provides that IAN!
person who shall knowingly and will
fully obstruct or retard the passage o.
a mail carrier shall for every such Of
Tense be punishable by a fine OF no
more than $780,"
II is said that the difference between
these penalties hinges on the wearinl