The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-18
DARK GRIMES OF
PEONAGE SYSTEM
Alabama Negroes, Virtually En-
shaved for Debt, Cruelty NAL
treated by Their Masters.
Dist. Atty. Reese Tells Washington
Officials of One Case Where
Murder Was Done.
The Attorney General Determined
to Stamp Out System and Pun
ish Offenders.

New York Sun Special Service.
Chicago, June 1S.-A Chronicle special
from Montgomery, Ala, says, among
other things concerning the condition of
the negro in the south: The federal grand
jury now in session in Montgomery has
listened to revelations so debasing and
shocking in connection with it's investiga-
ton of peonage in Coosa and Tallapoosa
counties that it's members have deter
mined to go Ito the bottom Of the whole
wretched business. They are prepared to
sit all summer if required to do SO. Be-
fore they get thru they propose to return
indictments against every landowner,
every county officer and other person
against whom there is reasonable proof of
completely in the widespread conspiracy
to enslave hundreds of INDECENT and
helpless negroes.
The federal authorities in Montgomery
who have conducted the investigation up
to the present time are, in receipt almost
daily of letters from responsible white
men in various parts Of the state assuring
them that the crime is not confined to
Coosa and Tallapoosa counties.
Reese consuIts Knox.
The chances are that Attorney General
Knox, in the very near future, will desig-
nate one or more special attorneys and
vest them with authority to take the field
for the purpose of Investigating every
i
District Judge Thomas Good Jones or
United States District Attorney Warren s..
Reese, Jr., of the middle Alabama dis
trict Mr.. Reese is in Washington in con-
sultation with Mr.. Knox He took to the
national capital a large accumulation of
evidence In the form of affidavits and
confessions, the former from negroes who
had been held in bondage and the latter
from persons under indictment for con-
spiracy to re-establish this form of
slavery.
The revelations which the young district
attorney will make to the attorney general
can have no other effect than to cause an
immediate broadening of the investiga-
ton and the rebuilding of the efforts of
everybody concerned to destroy peonage.
Horrible Crimes Committed.
Crimes that would disgrace and stain
the darkest pages of the history of sa-
very have been committed under circum-
stances that render them all the more ag-
gravating because justice cannot be melted
out to the men who are guilty. District
| Attorney Reese has in his possession evil
dence of a murder SO brutal and revolving
| that 1t requires great credulity to believe
| its shocking details.
| The man who committed the murdel
will never be adequately punished because
| the witnesses to his savagery were al
negroes. You cannot convict white mar
| in Alabama on the testimony Of a black
| man. This is especially true where the
victim Of the crime is black
The men who are pressing this inyesti.
| cation, however, themselves native Ala
bamians, sharing to some extent, at least
the prejudices Of the region against bIacl
testimony, are unanimous in their belle
that precedent ought to be set aside, 81
that Justice can reach out and claim fo
| her own the brutal young ruffian who de
ilfberately beat defense1ess negro wonoa,
| to death.