Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-06-02
IN STATE OF SLAVERY,
Laws Practically Ignored in Alabama
for Many Years.

Washington. June 1.-Chief Wilke of
the secret service is expecting information
of number of indictments by the federal
grand jury at Montgomery. Ala. of per
sons who are charged with holding in
practical slavery illterate coored men of
the state How long the practice of hold
ing unfortunate negroes in this condition
has been going on is not known. even in
Alabama. Some time ago the scheme was
unearthed and the state authorities began
work upon it with the idea of evtcrminat-
ing the practice if possible. The federal
authorities. through the Department of
Justice. We're appealed to about Il month
ago, and the department requested Chief
Wllkie to detail one of his agents to make
an investigation. Chief Wilkie sent Cap
tain DiclIcy to Alabama, and the secret
service officer has heen at work more than
Robert NJ. Franklin has already been in
dicted for keeping negro in scrvituGe
for at least 4 year.
Other indictments are looked for 1t Is
the expectation that the federal govern
ment, through the Department of Justice.
Will pursue the persons guilty of the prac-
tice vigorously until it is broken up.
Information in the hands of Chief Wilkie
tends to show that n regular system has
been practiced for n long time between
certain magistrates and persons who want
negro laborcrS. 1t is said that the plan ia
to bring 4 poor negro before q ma giStrate
on q flimsy charge lie is convicted ana
having no money to pay a fine. the whita
man offers to advance him the money pro-
vided the negro will make a labor contract
with him for a length of time sufficient To
reimburse him for the money and trouble
he has taken to keep the negro out Of jail
He is thereupon taken away and bcgi,,s
what is frequently long term of ciuei
servitude, being frequently whipped for
failure to perform work to the satisfaction
of his employer
In many instances the illiteratc negroes
We're required to sign contracts. the con-
tents of which they did not know. TO work
for the company period of one year
rpCnmnpnSG- rl gn,V
clothes In course of time. when tho
negro began to object to his confinement
he would be soundly whipped In one i'm
stance q negro who ran away from the
man who had him in charge was later
fined for breaking his contract and sent
back to the same company Whipping was
frequent, and the camps whore the men
worked We're surrounded with guards
Dogs were used to chase those who ran
away
The federal authorities in Alabama have
been proceeding under sections 5535 and
5526 of the Revised Statutes The former
section, which became law June =, 1914
provides a heavy line and punishment for
kidnapping and holding in involuntary
servitude' person or haldnG a person ''os
slave" The latter section, which be-
came law March 2, 1861, provides punish
ment for persons holding others in n CON
dition Of peonage," the language being.
who holds, arrests or return to COM
dition of peonage." The federal authori-
ties are proceeding under hot'l sections.
and it is believed here that the prosecution
can be successfully carried out
The effect of the Interference of the
United States has been to carry alarm into
the camps of the Shareholders
The punishment provided by the statnte
for this crime is n fine of rot less than
81 600 nor more than $1,000, or i'm. nison-
ment not less than one year n m more
than five.
An agent Of the secret service who is
now on the ground VIII MAKE a thorough
Of the whole alleged system.
and turn over to the United States attor-
ney for that district all information he
may obtain, with view to the prosecu-
ton of Offenders.