The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-07-18
FEDERAL GRAND JURY MAKES
 FINAL REPORT OF ITS WORK
Peonage Confined to Only Two Localities Indicted Is Persons For PeOnage and Conspiracy.
 Total of 99 Indictments Returned.

clare, that in setting the laws of the United States in motion to prevent out rages upon helpless and ignorant citi- gems of Alabama. who are as well citi- zens of the United States, and under it's protection. you have been the truest and best defenders also of the honor of the South, the State, and its people. While proud that we are citizens of the United States. none of us value the less our citizenship as Alabamians. It should be matter of qualification. not cause of jealousy or apprehension at home. that in executing the laws of the United States, you have been able to as- sist our State in enforcing protection of the rights of It's own citizens, when, by reason of exceptional and untoward cir cumstances, beyond it's control. in a few localities, 1t has been powerless to do so, in particular cases. No man who truly understands or values our institutions. will regret that as to many fundamental rights of the citizen, he has two refuges. instead of one, against oppression; and many appeal to either or both when he has been wronged. Wishing you a safe return to your homes, you are discharged for the term, with the thanks of the court.
 The report of the grand jury in full is as follows:
 To the Hon. Thos. c. Jones, Judge of
 the District Court of the United
 States, for the Middle District of Ala
 bama:
 The grand jury duly empaneled for the May term. 1903, for the District Court Of the United States. for the Middle District of Alabama, beg leave to submit the fol- lowing report:
 We have found ninety-nine true bills for peonage and conspiracy, involving eigh- teen persons.
 We have. found twenty-eight true bills for illicit distilling.
 We have found nineteen true bills for retailing liquor without license.
 We have found seven true bills for vio- lation of the poStal laws. We have found six true bills for viola tion of the pension laws.
 We have found five true bills for per- jury.
 We have found one true bill for resist ing an officer.
 We have also had sixty-nine cases sub mitted to us, in which we have found no true bills.
 We are satisfied many complaints to the grand jury are made by persons to get free trips to the city and earn witness fees. Much time, trouble and expense would be saved, If the Commissioners who bind parties over, would inform the District Attorney in each case which wit nesses are material. and which can be dispensed with. -
 Our duties have been long and arduous owing to the gravity of one class of cases submitted for our consideration and in- vestigation. We regret to report that In two counties in the district, crimes have been committed by some eighteen per- sons, by which citizens of this State and Of the United States, have been systemat- ically despoiled of their rights and lib- erty, confined and made to work, and not infrequently cruelty treated. Conspiracies ir. the two localities were formed and carried out between justices of the peace, cnnstables and employers of labor, to con vict ignorant and defenseless persons and sell them into involuntary servitude, that the parties concerned might make pe- cuniary profit out of this cowardly op- precision of citizens.
 Trumped-up charges. in many instances have been preferred before Justices of the peace. who were members of these conspi- racies, against the selected victims. Any inoffensive and ignorant person in these localities were liable to be thus arrested and sold. The defendants were usually tried hurriedly, convicted without any re-