The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-08
OUTRAGE in SOUTH
NEGRO RURAL FREE DELIVERY
CARRIER HELD Uh IN TENNESSEE.
-~s-
Stopped by Armed Masked Men and
Warned to Quit His Route Under
Penalty OK Death.
HIS SUB" ALse THREATENED
NOTIFIED THEY MUST RESIGN WITH
OUT GIVING T;aUE REASON.
-
Both CoIored Men frightened and I'm
willing to Continue Their Duties
without Protection.
SERVICE At ONCE SUSPENDED
INVESTIGATION ORDERED BY THE
POsTMAsTER: GENERAL.
Letter from 9. w. Tu1loch, Who Re-
GENTLY Made Charges Against Off,
ciaIs at Washington.
Both CoIOred Men Frightened and I'm
willing to Contifue Their Duties
without Protection.
SERVICE AT ONCE SUSPENDED
INVESTIGATION ORDERED BY THE
POsTMAsTER. GENERAL.
Letter from s. w. E'ulIoch, Who Re-
Gently Made CHARGES Against OIL
ciaIs at Warrington.

WASHINGTON. MAJ 1.-The Postoffice
Department was notified officially to-day
that John c. AIgood. a colored rural free
delivery letter carriers while making his
regular trip near Gs.llatin, Tenn, was
stopped by men arme$ and masked, and
that he and his coloresi substitute carrier
were warned not to continue in the service
under penalty of death. Postmaster Gen.
eral Payne has suspended service on the
route pending investigation. and if the re-
ports of the affair are confirmed summary
action will follow. TtS incident may be-
come second Indiancsa case The news
of the affair reached the postmaster gen.
eral to-day in the following telegram from
Postmaster II. Swaney.iof Gallatin:
Carrier Rural Route /. while making trip
to-day, held up by masked men, Ordered
not To make another tris) Advise.
The next dispatch caIae from w. F.. Con-
ger. the special agent in charge of the rural
free delivery service, wsth headquarters at
Nashville. Tenn, follows:
Rural carrier No. T. colored, Gallatin,
Tenn, in an interview With me tonight ad-
vises that he was stopped on route to-day
by armed masked men and his life threat
ened If he continued IN service. The threat
also applies to colOred *ubcarrier. Warned
not TO divulge cause OF shis removal. but to
assign other reasons. Nc time allowed to de-
termine upon appointment of successor Be-
lieyins Ii hazardous. he fwill not serve route
Tomorrow unless assurances are given him
fnat 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 into effect
March 1 last. There We're five applicants
under the civil-service rules for appoint
ment as rural carrier. Che three men pass
ing the highest on the list were all col
ored- Under the ciyit-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. Diilard, colored, was
appointed. He resigned about three weeks
ago. and on the 18th of Eist month the civil
service board certified the second man on
the list, John Allgood. dolored. Postmaster
General Payne to-day tSregraphed Mr.. Con-
ger as follows:
Investigate fully case of John c. ALL
good. rural free delivery carrier, who was
stopped by armed masked men yesterday
and his life threatenedtif he continued In
the service. and reporti In the meantime
service on route Will pc suspended until
your report upon the facts in the case is
received"
Postmaster General Eayne later said il
the facts were as reported only two courses
Of action would be opef. namely, to abol-
ish the route and leavesthe people thereon
without that service or Ito send soldiers to
the scene to protect thes carrier in the per-
formance of his duty. SIR. Payne said the
former course was the more probable. He
called attention to the .civil-service status
of the carriers, and said ,that the appontees
were secured through the Civil-service
Commission, their selection, therefore, not
being optional with himl
1t Is said at the department that the PEN
alties provided by law: for such offenses
are covered in Sections 1886 and 1895 of the
Revised Statutes. The former reads as fol-
lows: Every person .who willfully and
maliciously assaults any letter carrier whe
Is N uniform while engaged in his route ir
the discharge OF his du.y a letter car
rfer and every persons !who willfully aids
or assists therein. shall for every such
offense be punishable hy fine of not
less than 800, and not more than 81 600 ol
by Imprisonment for not less than one year
and not more than three. years" The other
section provides that ANY persons who
shall knowingly and w,llfully obstruct on
retard the passage of mail carrier shall
for every such offense be punishable by q
fine OF not more than Sl00.'
1t Is pointed out that the difference be.
tween these penalties hinges on the wear.
ing OF the uniform, and also that the wore
assault" within the meaning OF the law
contemplates Just such an offense as that
reported.