The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-06-28
1. A. Grogan Brought to Montgomery. WAS RELEASED ON BOND District Attorney Reviews Work of Grand Jury. Ninety-nine Indictments and rwen- ty Defendants Who Live insTwo Counties He Says the Witnesses Have Been
 Intimtdated.
 

L. A. Grogan. a Deputy Sherif of Coosa County, was arrested yesterday at Goodwater and brought. to Montgomery on a charge of assisting in carrying away d person to a state of peonage. He imme- diately made bond and returned to Good water last night.
 Grogan is specifically charged with as- sisting in holding in peonage negro woman. Emma Pearson. His bond was figed by Judge Thomas G. Jones at $i.ooo. which was promptly made. Deputy Mar shal Hiram Gibson, by whom the arrest was made having with him the power of attorney of G. E. Thomas and J. M. Stevens, prominent citizens of Goodwater to make the bond.
 Emma Pearson is said to have been ar rested by Grogan on a charge of yag- rancy. Her fine, it is said, was paid by Elijah Turner, by whom she Is alleged to have been held in peonase. It Is al- legged that Grogan was party to the crime. .s5.
 old and Is said tc be highly respected citizen of Goodwater. He was once guard for Elijah Turner against whom indictments for peonage have been re- turned In the Federal Court of the North ern District.
 He denies absolutely that he has done wrong and indicates that the peonage
  Coosa and Taliapoosa counties to become unbearably impertinent.
 Statement by MT. Reese.
 An interesting development in the peor- age prosecutions yesterday was an au- thorized interview with Hon. warren 5. Reese, United States District Attorney. In which he summarizes the entire work done by the grand jury and the District Attorneys ofice during this term Of trnkn i~ falinwa.
 ''There have been presented by the grand jury of this court uinety-nine in- dictments against some twenty defend- ants These indictments are for viola tons of Sections 55os. 55a5 and 552e of the revised statutes of the United States that for conspiracy to injure. oppress and in- timidate a citizen of the United States in the enjoyment of a right and privilege granted to him under the constitution and law of the United States, and for kid mapping and taking and carrying away any person with intent to place him in condition of slavery, and holding and re- turning him to a condition of psonage. These twenty defendants are divided | into four classes: First, those who are denominated as proprietors of planta' tions, mills, quarries and the like; seconn those who are guards in the. employ oi such proprietors, for the purpose of ex | acting the involuntary servitude from tht victims of the system; third. those jus tices of the peace who are bribed or ir coIluslon with the proprietors for the pur pose of causing these victims to be placed | in a condition of involuntary servitude l fourth those who are constabtes and prosecutors Vith full knowledge of thu disposition to be made of the bodies lo | the victims.
 Names of Defendants.
 Under the first classification abov' noted, will be found John W. Pace. J. F i Turner, George D. Cosby, B. F. Cosby w. D. Cosby. These parties are all large | land owners, millers and quarriers. Un | der the second head are the guards, James | Todd, Jesse Berry, Tom BiAsstngale, Al len Turner, Anderson A. Hodge and Rop' ert Barron. Under tise third head are | James Nj. Kennedy and W. D. Cosby Under the fourth head are Robert N | Franklin. F. M. Pruett, J. c. Dunbar. L. | A. Grogan. Jack Patillo, J. w. Haraison and William T. Joiner"
 Right here 1t should be said that but | sixteen of these defendants have been ar rested and released on bond. If James M. Kennedy, Tom Blassingale. Robert Barron or william T. Joiner have been | arrested or made bond the court records do not show 1t.
 intimidation of Witnesses.
 MT Reese was asked concerning the reported intimidation of witnesses and jurors. He said:
 While the laws of the United States, Sections 54o4, 5406 and 5406 prohibit intirni- dation and interference with witnesses of the United States and grand jurors. still, in order to secure their protection more effectualy from violence and the like, the government has provided that these wit nesses and grand jurors need not return to their homes unless they so desire to do."
 It Is known that a number of negro witnesses are held In Montgomery at the expense of the government. but Mir. Reese declined to discuss this phase of the matter.
 "Will you give specific instances of intimidation of witnesses?" MT. Reese was asked.