The Savannah morning news., 1903-11-25
FINED FOR PEONAGE
McREE BROS. PAID HEAVILY FOR
THEIR IGNORANCE OF LAW.
$1,000 IN EACH OF TWO CASES
REMAINING ELEVEN CASES PUT ON
THE DEAD DOCKET.


Under $500 Bond.
AS was expected, the McRee broth
ers, indicted by the United States
grand jury on the charges of peonage
thirteen separate and distinct cases
having been made out against them
appeared before Judge Speer in the
United States Court yesterday, plead
ed guilty and were fined $1,000 jointly.
The fine was promptly paid and the
prisoners were discharged.
In sentencing them, Judge Speer
said that it was very pain
full and at the same time a very inn
portant duty which devolved upon the
court. The law which the prisoners
offended, he said, is as follows:
Every person who holds, arrests or
returns or causes to be held, arrested
or returned, or in any manner aids
in the arrest or return of any person
to condition of peonage shall be pun
ished by a fine of not less than 81, 1000
nor more than $5,OOO or by imprison-
ment not less than one year. nor more
than five years, or by both.
Every person who obstructs or at
tempts to obstruct or in any way in
terferes with, or prevents the enforce
ment of the preceding section, shall
be liable to the pains and penalties
therein prescribed"
No Brutality Disclosed.
II am very glad" Judge Speer said,
that the evidence does not disclose
any particular brutality on the part
of the prisoners towards individuals
but they deprived a number of people
of their liberty, in violation of the law
They held them in involuntary servi-
tude, and merely because these persons
were indebted to them, debts which
they themselves voluntarily assumed
1t is prescribed by the Georgia law
that when a fine is paid, no matter
whether by the prisoner or by anybody
| else, the man is free He who pays
the fine has a debt against him, but
has no more right to hold him and
| work him for the payment of that debt
| than any other creditor has the right
| to seize person who is his debtor
and hold him in prison or work him
Under the Roman law the debtor was
the slave of the creditor. This rule
the progress of civilization had abol-
| ished for centuries.
There is a peculiar obligation upon
our Southern white people" said Judge
| Speer, ito do all we can for the bet
| terment of this race which is among
us, which was formerly serVile, and
yet which forms so important part
of our economy Most of them are
ignorant; many of them are degraded,
hut fas
white man in the South to do all he
can to give the negro a fair chance.
| The various schemes for the solution
of the race problem are mere idle talk.
We must proceed under the Providence
of God to give the negro justice and
enforce obedience to the law by him,
and let the slow process of time work
out the solution of the problem for us.
That is the condition which confronts
| us.
An Alarming state of Affairs.
NOW, if it be true, as claimed by
counsel that the violation of this law
| by holding negroes in Involuntary SER
| Vitude, is general all over that large
and prosperous part of our state, known
as Southwest Georgia, it presents a
most alarming condition. l cannot
believe that it is as general as he says
| it is. | know the kindness and the
considerable temper of the Southern peo-
| pie towards the negroes. They are
the best friends the negroes have. They
| give them an opportunity to live an
| opportunity to work at any trade, they
protect them, and the negro will feel
safe as to his rights in submitting
any case to jury composed of South
ern gentlemen, no matter how serious
the charge.
Some talk wildly and extravagent-
| ly about the shot gun policy" said
Judge Speer, but they do not represent
the gentlemen of the South.
A Duty the Court Regretted.
"These conditions make it impera-
tive upon the court to consider this
as q very serious case, and yet
feel that very strong appeal has been
made for clemency. The prisoners
have frankly admitted their violation
of the law. l wish that it were in my
power, with due regard to the rights
of everybody, and the great response
bility deVolving upon me, to give them
a smaller penalty than l feel obliged
to impose. | sincerely wish that, but
l must consider the general interest
and the effect of this sentence on other
people, who may be disposed to offend
as these have done. For the honor
of the state of Georgia, and for the
good name and character of the South
ern people, this case cannot be regard
6u dS ITlNl1l.
Judge Speer recalled that there were
thirteen cases against the McRees.
On eleven of these cases he suspend
ed sentence, and on each of the others
the case where woman was held, and
the case where the boys were held he
imposed the fine of 81, 900 in each case
Il will add" said Judge Speer that
this suspension of sentence will con-
tinue during the good behavior of the
| defendants. These sentences will hang
over them and may be imposed at any
time, but l am very sure there will
be no conduct or demonstration on their
part of such character as will make it
necessary for the court to take that
action"
The McRees Grateful.
Mr.. Edward McRee said to a Morn
| ing News reporter that he and his
brothers were grateful for the consd-
Grafton of the court and were glad
that the cases against them had been
finally disposed of, for although the
remaining indictments were still held
over them, there would never arise
a necessity for an infection of punish
| ment through their disobedience of the
law The Messrs. McRee left yester-
day for their home in Valdosta and
extended Judge Speer and the court
officials, as well as representatives of
the press cordial invitation to come
down to their plantations and enjoy
a season of shooting
William +. Crawley and Thomas ]
! Mcclellan, who We're also indicted. the
charges against them being that of
transferring the prisoners and con-
H.. . .,.r H.. l..