The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-08
OBJECT TO
 THE NEGRO Letter Carrier Warned to Quit Service. HIS DEATH THREATENED Payne Orders DiScOntinuance
 of Delivery of Mail. He Says Route Will Be Permanently Abandoned or Troops Will Be Sent to Protect the
 Negro.
HIS DEATH THREATENED

Washington, May 1.-The Eostonico Department was notified officially today that John c. Allgood. colored rural free delivery letter carrier, while making his regular trip near Gallatin, Tenn, was stopped by mon armed and masked and that he and his colored substitute carrier were warned not to continue in the service under penalty of death.
 Postmaster General Payne has sus- pended service on the route pending in vestigation and if the reports of the af- fair are confirmed, summary action will follow. The incident may become a sec- ond Indianola case. The news of the affair reached the Postmaster-General
 today in the following telegram from Postmaster H. swaney of1Galltin.
 Carrier rural route one, while making trip today, held up by masked men. Or dered not to make another trip. Ad- vise."
 The next dispatch came from F. F. Conger, the special agent in charge Of the rural free delivery service. with head quarters at Nashville, Tenn. as follows:
 Dispatch from Conger.
 Rural carrier No i, colored. Gallatin. Tenn, in an interview with me, advises the he was stopped on route today by armed masked men and his life threat ened if he continued in service. Threats also applies to coiored substitute carrier.
 Warned not to divulge cause of his re-
 moval or to assign the reasons. No
 time allowed to await upon appointment of successor. Believing 1t hazardous. he
 will not serve rout etomorrow unless as-
 surances are given him that no violence will be committed. Please advise me what instructions will be issued in the premises. An immediate answer will be greatly appreciated"
 ThIs rural carrier was put in effect
 March i, last. There were five appli- cants. The three men passing the high est on the list were all colored. Under the civil service rules, the Postmaster
 General says. there is no option with the department except to appoint the person who stands highest on the list; therefore Allen F. billiard, oolored, was appointed He resigned about three weeks ago. and on the 18th of last month the civil ser vice board certified the second man on the list John c. Al1good, colored. Postmaster-General Payne today tele- graphed MT. Conger as follows: The Reply of Payne. Investigate fully case of John c. All good and report. In the meantime ser- vice on route will be suspended until your report upon the facts in the case is received"
 Postmaster-General Payne later said ! If the facts were as reported, only two
 courses of action would be open, namely,
 to abolish the route and leave the people | thereon without that service, or to send soldiers t0 the arana to profacf fha rar-
 rier in the performance of his duty. Mir Payne said the former course was the more probable. He called attention to the civil service status of the carriers, and said that the appointees were se- cured through the civil service commits sion, their selection, therefore, not being optional with him.
 It is said at the department that the l penalties provided by law for such off, lenses is covered in the Revised Statutes. | The statute reads as follows:
 Every person who wilfully and ma | liciously assaults any letter carrier who
 is in uniform while engaged on the route l in the discharge of his duties as letter | carrier and every person who wilfully aids or assists therein, shall for every such offense be punishable by a fine of | not less than $100 and not more than
 n.0OO. or by Imprisonment for not less than one year and not more than three years. Any person who obstructs or re- tards the passage of any mail carrier
 shall. for every such offense. be punish.
 able by fine of not more than $10O.' It is pointed out that the difference he.
 tween these penalties hinges on the wearing of the uniform and also that
 the world assault" within the meanins | of the law, contemplates just such an ] onense as that reported