The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-11-16
'BR0UHT BACK TO CAMP AT
 PISTOL POINT, SAYS WITNESS


 today. in the trial of W. S. Harlan. Manager of the Jackson Lumber Com panyi s. P. Huggins, Jeb S. Howell, and O. c. Hilton, charged with con- spiracy to commit peonage. Tn the trial following the selection yesterday of jury every inch sof ground was stubbornly contested by counsel for defense especially in re- iation to the admittance of testimony, and numerous motions and objections were made and raised. The court room was. filled throughout the day, many being interested in the proceedings. The most important witness today was Hungarian named Rudolf Lam igner, who testified through an inter- preter to having reached this country in June of 1906, and signing a con- tract with labor agency in New York to work for the Jackson Lumber Com pany at Lockhart, Alabama; of his arrival there in July of this year with twenty-eiglIt others; of his subsequent attempt to escape after two months work; of his capture and return to the camp and his final deliverance by the Hungarian consul at Mobile who re- sponded to an appeal from his people. and coming to the place carried away seventeen, including witness Was Brought Back. Lanig1er stated he became dissatis- lied because he was given work which he had not contracted to do, but was afraid to attempt to escape, as he saw two Germans endeayor to leave, who were brought back.
 However. after working two months h" and two others made the attempt. Fearing capture, they took to the swamLs. intending to come to Pensa- rola. They walked for two days through th" weeds, and finally took a road which they had travelled for some time. when they heard horse hoofs beat upon the road. A few moments afterwards a horseman galloped up and his companions fled, but the horseman ieveled his revolver upon witness and commanded him to halt,
 He was then compelled to walk in front of the horse 70 a blacksmith shop, where he was held two hours. The blacksmith received a gun from the hoFseman. and later he was turned 0ver tc C. B Huggins, placed upon a train and taken to Florala, and there transferred to wagon for Lockhart
 Arriving there, he was first eaken 10 the managers office, and then to the camp. where he was locked in house for the night, and the following day sent back to the work he had left
 Petitions were then sent to the Hun garian consul at Mobile, who came to Lockhart and took witness and sixteen others away from the place. Witness had no complaint to make of treat ment received while in, the camp.
 H. M. Stokes, residing at Laurel Hill, testified to seeing, during June and July, foreigners pass through that place coming from the direction of the lumber camps. On one occasion, he saw three men from the camps pass through In a wagon and make inquiries about foreigners.
 They Had BIeodhOunds.
 Two of these men wero Woods Fore men Gallagher and Grace. while the third he did not know. They had two bloodhounds In the buggy, and fol- lowed in the direction the foreigners had taken returning a few hours af- Forwards with two foreigners, one of whom was strapped in the vehicle.
 O. w. Hudson, of Laurel Hill, stat ed he had heard c. c. Hilton. while in Laurel Hill. say that he, went to Crestview after some men who had tried to escape and had ''treed' them in a swamp.
 Julius Rhodes. also of Laurel Hili, saw Gallagher. Grace and another man in July hunting for a foreigner. They had bfoodhounds, and Inter when they returned, they said they had caught up with the men, but could not bring them back as the sheriff had wired to let them alone. ~
 D. Clearly, residing four miles west of Laurel Hill, testified to seeing Hin- ton pass near his place inquiring for foreigners. He was on horseback, and armed. and he had also seen Gal lagher and others with foreigners In a buggy or wagon.
 While considerable testimony was brought out, the government has yet several important witnesses In this case, while the defense has an array of witnesses to be heard who,- it is stated, will show that the men who were arrested had committed theft at the camps, and were arrested and held for this reason.
 Much of the time of the court was consumed today in hearing arguments upon objections to certain portions of the testimony by counsel for defense, especially that portion relating to oth- CTS than those on trial With one or two exceptions. all the objections were overruled by the court, and exceptions were noted. It is probable The pres ent case will occupy all the day and tomorrow and possibly over into next week
 When this is completed. one of the four indictments will be taken up, and it is predicted that fally two weeks will be consumed in hearing these i'm portant cases.