The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-06-28

The grand jury for the Northern Dis trict then being in session the attention of the jury was drawn to the report made by MT. Parsons with the result that many witnesses from Coosa and Shelby Coun- ties were summoned to Birmingham to testify before the grand jury.
 While the newspapers have not yet been given access to testimony before this grand jury, the defendants having not been called for trial, it is said the story | of the first case was as follows: Matt Davis, a husky young negro and | son of Charlie Davis lived on the farm of the McCord brothers near Goedwater. i The Davis negroes worked under contract | with the McCords and were regarded as good negroes. Charlie Davis had the reputation of being law-abiding and honest. He paid his bills and ran open accounts at neighborhood stores.
 One day Matt Davis appeared at the store of Robert N. Franklin in Good twater with verbal order from his father for provisions amounting to H. The order was filled without objection. A l lew days thereafter Matt Davis was ar- rested in Goodwater and arraigned be- | Toe J. l.. London, a justice of the peace. argad with securing goods by false pre- lenses. Frightened and ignorant of the law he pleaded guilty to securing the goods and was fined s9 by Justice London. Asked by the Justice If he could get any one to confess judgment for him the negro boy turned naturally to Franklin. with whom he knew his father was on | good business terms. Franklin Confessed Judgment and Matt Davis disappeared. Some time thereafter McCord brothers. | who had been pursuing a search for Matt Davis. located him at the convict camp | Of Elijah Turner at Calcis, Shelby Coun- | mil l McCord brothers made an effort to se- scure possession of the young negro in nehalf of his father and the controversy arose which resulted in the employment or MT. Parsons and the exploitation of the case before Federal grand jury.
 It is alleged that Elijah Turner paid Franklin $50 for Matt Davis and that | Davis was taken Q Turner's place by | Franklin.
 While the Federal grand jury was in session at Birmingham Matt Davis. en route to Birmingham to testify, was taken from train and told that If he testi- ned his life would be imperilIed This incident so aroused the indignation of Judge Jones that he sent armed off, cers to. Coosa and Shelby counties for witnesses who were taken to Birming- ham. where Judge Jopes gave them his personal assurance of their safety The investigations at Birmingham re- | suited in about dozen indictments be- ing returned including true bills against Robert N. Franklin, Elijah Turner and A. M. Pruet. Franklin and Pruet have also been indicted by the Montgomery grand jury. During the progress of the investiga- l tions in Birmingham Judge Jones. it IS said, had frequent correspondence with the Department of Justice in Washington, l in which he made 1t known that he would insist that every guilty person should be punished,
 The term of court for the Middle Dis trict coming on the court of the Northern District adjourned, Judge Jones, 1t Is said, having advised the Department that ne would continue the investigations sit- ting in the Middle District W About the time the Federal grand jury convened here early in May. District At torney Reese went to Washington where presumably he was advised of matters already reported by Judge Jones.
 The first arrest made. as a result of in- dtctments returned here, was that of Robert N. Franklin, who had already been arrested, taken to Birmingham and made bond.
 To date the grand jury has returned 90 indictments charging peonage and similar onenses. These indictments are against but 20 defendants. many of them being indicted in numerous cases Seventeen de- fendants have been arrested and made bond. The hand of the law has not yet been laid on three of them.
 Early In the progress of the grand jury investigation here Eastern newspapers took up the matter and began to inform the world of what our grand jury and our District Attorney were doing. The pub licity promotion bureau was at Its repre-. hensble work
 The New York Post published A dis VUa sl1i In nrt,. an affidavit made before the grand jury here by Joe Patterson, a negro, held on the farm of John w. Pace. And this was before John W. Pace was arrested!
 Does It not seem that the editor who wrote that the defendants were being convicted before they wero tried hit the mark?
 Another phase of this matter that should not escape attention is the repeat ed statements that a system of peonaRe exists in several counties of Alabama Confining ourselves to legitimate fact no persons living outside of Coosa. Talla- poosa and Shelby counties have been in- dlcted for these offenses.
 The Chicago Chronicle, whose corres- pendent has been in Montgomery. goes Into the most minute details of grand Jury transactions az to Lowndes County A statement of the case of Freeman, a negro, Is narrated at great length and it SN'A tSN 'Ai"t thcAO ID peOildso III bOWnues County.
 The Chronicles statements may be true but The Advertiser would not undertake to indict Lnwndes County without legit- innate proof. It is no breach of faith to say that The Advertiser was informed through it's regularly employed news agencies that Freeman as well as certain other witnesses had testified before the grand jury. The Advertiser had too much respect for the court and its grand fury to publish it's proceedings and The Adyer- tiser had too much respect for the people of LOwndes County to damn them before the grand jury had charged that persons in that County were guilty of crime
 There is A definite rumor to the effect that Judge Jones complained to President Roosevelt at the manner in which private information In his court has been re- vealed and the ulte-ior motives impelling the revelations. The President, 1t Is said, expressed amazement at this information and intimated that he would do some in. vestigatng himself.
 Judge Jones has invariably denied him. self to intervlewers holding that no state ment about the work of the grand fury can properly emanate from officers of his | court.
 If peOnage epists in more than three | counties of Alabama 1t will be revealed | at the proper time and in the proper way by the Federal grand jury. The Adver- | tiser will give legitimate publicity to all | cases as they arise.
 
 TIRED MOTHERS. It's hard work td nA