Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-05-08
COLOR[D MAIL
CARRIER STOPPED
Armed Men Halt Him and Warn
Him Not to Continue.
THIS UNDER PAIN OF DEATH
Two Remedies for the Evlli Abolish
The Route or Send Federal Troops
To Protect H.

Washington, NAV l.--Thc postoflce
department was notified officially TO-
day that John c. Allgood, a colored rur-
al free delivery letter carrier While
making his regular trip near Gallatin,
Tenn. was stopped by men armed and
masked and he and his colored sub
carriers were warned not to continue IN
the service under penalty OF death
Postmaster General Payne has sus-
pended service on the route pending an
Investigation and II the report OF the
effar be confirmed, summary action
viii follow The incident may become
q second lndianola case. The reports
reached the postoiioe department today
In the following telegram from the
postmaster at Gallatn:
Carrier. rural route No 1 while
making trip today, held M by masked
men, Ordered not to make another
trip Advise"
The next dispatch came from Spe-
cial Agent Condor, IN charge Of the
rural free delivery service, with head
quarters at Nashville, Tenn, as fol-
lows
Rural carrier No l. colored. Cal
latin, Tenn, IN an interview with me
tonight advises that he was stopped
on route today by armed masked men
8nd his life threatened IL he continued
IN service. Threat alto applied to col
croo sub-carrier Warned not 10 d.
yulge cause Of his removal, but TO as
sign other reasons. No time allowed
&C. await upon appointment OF success
sor. Believing Il hazardous, he VIII
not serve route tomorrow unless as
surances are given him that no violence
viii be committed. Please advise me
what instructions will be issued In the
promises. An immediate answer viii
be greatly appreciated
This rural route was put in on March
last. There were FIVE applications
under the civil service rules Tor APP
Tointment as carrier The three men
RAISING 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
10 appoint the person who stands the
highest on the list Therefore, Allen r.
Dlllard colOred, was appointed He
resigned about three weeks ago, and
on the 26th OF last month the civil ser
vice board certified the second man on
the list John G. Algood, colored
Postmaster General Payne today tele-
graphs Mr. Condor as follows;
Investigate fully case Of John c. All
good, rural free delivery carrier. who
was stopped by armed masked men
and his life threatened II he continued
in the service. and report. In the
meantime serN Ice on route will be sus-
pended until your report upon the facts
In the case Is received
Postmaster General Payne later said
II the facts were as represented only
two courses OF action would be open,
namely. TO abolish the route and leave
the people thereon without that service
or 20 send soldiers 20 the scene to pro-
tect the carrier In the performance OF
his duty, Mr. Payne said the former
case was the more probable He called
attention 10 the civil service statutes
OF the carriers. and said that the APP
pontees were secured through the civil
service commission. their selection
therefor not being optional with him.
II Is said at the department that the
penalties provided by law for such Of
lenses are covered in sections $500 and
1905 OF the revised statutes The for
mer reads as follows,
liciously assaults any letter carrier
who is in uniform while engaged on his
route in the discharge Of his duty as a
letter carrier. and every person who
aids on assists therein. shall
for every offerse be punishable by a
line OF not less than 500 and not more
than $1,000. or by Imprisonment for not
fss than one year and not more than
three years"
The other section provides that ANY
person who shall knowingly or wil(uly
lbstruct or reiard the passage Of mail |
carriers shall for every such ohense be |
by fine Of not more than |
BOO"
II is pointed out that the difference |
between the penalties hinges on the :
wearing Of the uniform and also that |
he word assault within the mean |
ne OF the law, contemnlates Just such |
IN offense as that reported