Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1903-05-08
MENACE COLORED CARRIER
Masked Men Tel Tennessee Postman tC
Resign Under Pain of Death,
PAYNE sUsPENDS RURAL DELIVERY ROUTE
Department May Abolish Service Al
together or obtain Assistance
From Troops TO Guard Mails
Entrusted to Negro.

WASHINGTON, May THE Postoflce
department was notified ofiicially today
that John G. Allgood, a colored rural free
delivery carrier, while making his regular
trip near Gallatin, Tenn, was stopped by
men armed and masked and he and his
colored substitute were warned not to con-
tinue in the service under pain Of death
Postmaster General Payne has suspended
service on the route pending an investiga-
tion and il the report is confirmed sum-
mary action will follow.
The news reached the postmaster general
today in the following telegram from Post
master Swaney Of Gallatin:
Carrier rural route No. 1. while making
trip today held up by masked men and
ordered not to make another trip. Advise.
The next dispatch came from Special
Agent Conger in charge of the rural free
delivery service, with headquarters at
Nashville, Tenn, as follows:
Carrier Afraid of Life.
Rural carrier No. /. colored Gallatin,
Tenn, in an interview with me tonight ad-
vises that he was stopped on route today by
armed masked men and his life threatened
If he continued in service. Threat also
applies TO colored substitute carrier.
but to assign other reasons. No time al
lowed to await appointment OF successor.
Believing It hazardous he Will not serve serve
him that no violence win be committed.
Please advise me what instructions will be
issued in premises. An immediate answer
Will be greatly appreciated.
POSTMASTER General Payne tonight tele-
graphed Mr.. Conger as follows:
Investigate full case Of John G. Allgood;
rural free delivery carrier who was stopped
| by armed masked men yesterday and his
| life threatened II he continued in the
service. and report. Service on the route
Will be suspended until your report on the
| facts in the case is received.
Troops May Guard Mail.
Postmaster General Payne later said II
| the facts were as reported, only two courses
OF action would be open, namely:
| a. To abolish the route and leave the
| people thereon without that service.
| (2l To send soldiers to protect the carrier
| in the performance Of his duty.
| Mr.. 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 we're secured
through the Civil Service commission, theiI
selection therefore not being optional with
him.
1t is said at the department that the
penalties provided by law for such offensei
are covered in sections 1869 and 1895 o
the revised statutes. The former reads al
follows:
Every person who wilfully and mali
ciousy assaults any letleI carrier who |,
in uniform while engaged on his route IL
the discharge OF his duty as letter car
rier. and every person who wilfully aid
or assists therein. shall for every offens
more than 81 .0OO or to Imprisonment 70
not less than one and not more than thre
years.
The other section provides that:
ANY person who shall knowingly AM
Of mail carriers shall for every such offens
SiOO.
1t is pointed out that the difference be
tween these penalties hinges between tn
wearing Of the uniform and that the wor
assault" within the meaning OF the law
contemplates just such an offense as tina
reported.
This rural route was only started 4
March, when there were five applicant
under the civil service rules for appoint
ment as carrier The three men passin
the highest on the list were all colored
Under the civil service rules the postmaste
general says there is no option with tn
department, except to appoint the perso
who stands highest on the list. Therefor
Allen f. billiard. colored, was appointed
, He resigned about three weeks ago, and o
April 26 the civil service board certihe
: the second man on the list John G. All
= good colored.
? TuIIOch Replies to Payne.
Mr.. Tulloch has replied promptly to Nj
Payne's request for proofs to sustain hi
: charges of postofice Irregularities.
In his letter, which was mailed to tn
postmaster general this evening, he re
frains from giving any facts bearing o
r the investigation. suggesting that the Off
a cials to whom Mr. Payne has written hay
= all the necessary data II they choose
9 give it, At the same time he said tonigf
b that he Is ready To suhstantiate all he ba
said, but wants to read first the reptile
!. of those to whom the postmaster genera
= has written before going into details.
d OMAHA BOYS ARE INJUREI