The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-04-08
FEARED ATTEMPT
To ATTACK JUDGE
HARRY NsEN WAS SEARCHED
NY pEPUTY MARsHALs BBFoRE
y1ruGE sPEER IMPOSED SENTENCE

gIJpGE sPI1ER IMPOSED eENFENCA~
Rumors of Rescue Brought TO At
teation Of United States Attorney
Alderman and steps Taken 10 Pre-
vent Successfu1 Issue-Court Cor
ridors Crowded With Sailor
Friends of oIsen-Pr1EOner and
His Crime Scored by Judge sPeer
in Imposing sentence-A DfSErace
Tpon the Nation.
Fearing that Harry Olsen, convicted
OF "shsnghaiing would attempt 70 DO
violence 10 Judge Emory speer. he was
taken from the United states. court
room yesterday morning and searched
before sentence was pronounced.
An attempt at rescue was also re-
ported 10 have been contemplated and
especial care was taken 70 prevent
successful issue Il the attempt was
made.
Shortly after court convened a ru-
NOR became current that an attempt
was TO be made by the sailor friends Of
Olsen 10 rescue him as he was taken
from the court room TO the Jail a
large number Of sailors and rivermen.
both black and white. had congregated
in the corridors.
As the prisoner stepped from the ele-
va9or in the custody Of one Of the dep
uty United States marshals, the crowd
pressed about him and began shaking
hands and bidding him goodbye.
Good bye, Harry" "Bood-bye Harry,
was heard on all sides and all seemed
trying 10 clasp his hands as an evil
dence Of good-feeling and sympathy.
A few moments afterwards word
was brought 10 United States Attorney
Alexander Akerman that the friends
of Olsen would attempt 10 rescue him
as he was taken from tbs court room
Circumstances seemed TO justify TINS
runor and Mr.. Alderman acted
promptly, insTucting the deputy mar
ghals 10 take every precautlon 10 pre-
vent a rescue.
Other Rumors Rife.
Others rumors soon became rife
about the court room, and in the cor
Tidors, and an air OF subdued excite
snent prevailed. Among other stories
afloat was one to the effect that Olsen
was q member of a foreign secret So
ciety, that he was desperate, and that
q weapon had been slipped TO him by
one of his friends as he entered the
court room.
AS soon as this rumor reached the
ears Of the maTsh'als, steps TO prevent
any attempt TO iDjure the court were
promptly taken. Deputy Marshals
Tucker and Stalnaker. two siX-fOotsrs,
took the prisoner 10 the witness room
and searched him thorough. No trace
of q weapon was found upon him.
Delayed Sentencing Prisoner.
The court, in the meantime, had an
pounced that Olsen would not be SEN
fenced until later and during the in
term the eyes Of the marshals never
left the prisoner. Had any such at
tempt as runor asserted been contem-
plated, it could never have been carried
out.
As soon as sentence had been pro-
nounced Deputy Marshals Tucker and
Stalnaker took the prisoner in charge
and lead him to the elevator. Again
his friends began attempting to crowd
that they could not go down in the
elevator.
Once on the first floor the marshals
instructed the janitor not TO take the
elevator back up for a few moments.
in the meantime Olsen was hurried
of to Jail and made secure.
Five Years in Penftentiary.
The limit Of the law was imposed on
the prisoner by Judge Speer-five years
an the penitentiary at Atlanta and to
pay fine Of $4,000. In sentencing Oh
sen the court in no uncertain terms
scored the crime Of which he stood
convicted.
Briefly he summarized the facts as
brought out on the witness stand,
pointing 10 the cruelties the negroes
mao Deeu sub voted 10 a5oaI = ship, and
10 their heartless desertion on a for
eign shore. The crime, said the court,
was one which seemed more apt TO be
found in the pages of fiction, or in a
melodrama, than in the present-day
history of a civilized nation. A dis
grace he said had been brought in a
foreign country upon the entire ma
ton, and his only regret was that the
law did not allow Of heavier punish
ment.
In commenting on the trial the
court said:
The Negroes Friends.
The question was distinctly submit
ted TO the jury, Did this man kidnap
and carry away his victim with the
intent that he be sold into involuntary
servitude. and the jury finds that he
did. For this iniquitious conduct the
reckless man who stands at the bar
was paid by the master of the Rus
sian ship $25 a head for the men thus
Kidnapped.
'"The action OF the jury is another
exemplifcation of the truth that the
most effective friend of the helpless
and unprotected negro is the gentle
men of these Southern communities,
who know of his weaknesses, but are
never slow, when he is in the right.
or when he has been wronged. TO come
TO his assistance or his defense"
AS PRIVATE SECRETARY
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