The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-12-06
Former . IS knowledge
of Condl sAs Alleged
and Lat : Tells a
Plausib4 e tory.
Emil Lesser b g Ratified
By Cross Quest Ling OF
Mr.. Sheppard.
GALLAGHER STILL ON STAND
WHEN COURT ADJOURNED AND
WILL BE FIRST WITNESS THIS
MORNING-FOUR OF THE JU-
RORS SLIGHTLY I'll, DUE TO
LONG CONFINEMENT.

The defense in the celebrated case
of W. S. Harlan ct al, charged with
conspiracy to commit peonage will, in
all probability, rest sometime during
to-day, possibly by noon, in which
event the jury will get the case some
time on Friday, the intervening time
being taken up with arguments or
counsel. Only half a dozen witnesses
were on the stand yesterday, three or
them, Messrs. Harlan, Lamata and
Gallagher being defendants in the
case on trial A notable witness or
the day was Emil Lesser, of Blrming-
ham, who, after the proceedings
against Gallagher, Grace and Sander
were instituted, went to Lockhart and
then proclaimed that no peonage ex-
listed at the camps of the Jackson
Lumber Company.
Four of the jurors, Messrs. Schad,
Puhtell, Kramer and Gilmore, are de-
cidedly under the weather, owing to
the long confinement, and DIR. Rem
shaw was called upon to prescribe for
two of them last night. Jurors Schadt
IGilmore and Puhtell appear to be suf-
fering from a slight attack of grip and
Mr. Kramer complains Of an affliction
due to the water he has been drink
ing. 1t was insinuated that United
States Marshal T. r. McGourin had
Ibeen feeding the jurymen too high
: and the suggestion was made that
plate of Dick Warfield's fish chowder
would fix them up ali right again.
Emil Lesser.
Emil Lesser, president of the Ger
man immigration Society of Alabama,
who was called by defense as star
witness, proved himself anything '6ui
a good witness for the men on trial,
He was greatly agitated while on the
witness stand and kept moving about
rising and sitting and gestculatin2
wildly. Mr.. Lesser, in reply TO th(
questions of District Attorney w d
SHEPPARD, on cross examination, sta
ted that he was connected with Jew
ish societies, out on the occasion o.
his trip to Lockhart had been looking
for Germans only; he had not investl-
gated into the alleged capture ana
beating of Mihaly near Laurel Hlli,
Notwithstanding the fact that he ad-
Imitted having been in the court room
lat the preliminary trial when testl-
ImOny relative to this occurrence was
adduced Mr. Sheppard questioned
Mr.. Lesser closely relative TO his reld-
tons with immigration societies ana
had him read the letter which APP
: tpeared in The Journal vest a";ay and
which he had given to Mrs. Qnacken-
boss In his letter Mr.. Lesser mad sta
ted that, if a man was caught and
: beaten near Laurel Hill, as charged,
with the knowledge of the Jackson
Lumber Co, when the action was
, proved he would be ready to modify
his statement that no peonage existed.
w. S. Harlan.
w. s. Harlan, general manager OF
the Jackson Lumber Co. was on the
stand for nearly three hours. He told
iof his dealings with-one Schwartz,
New York labor agent who is now un-
, der Indictment for violating the labor
laws of New York state, stating that
he had opened negotiations for 200
men. the order having been placed
, about April 80 and the first batch OK
: men being received about the middle
: of May and others reaching Lockhart
during June and July. He testified
regarding the different departments OF
the company, each of which, he said,
was under the control Of a superin-
( tendent.
: Mr. Harlan said that, to his knowE
, edge. no one had ever been chased
. with dogs or returned to the camps to
, work out debt and that ne knew o.
no whipping having taken place at the
camp. He had heard of men leaving
the camp and had instructed Gala
CHER that no one be allowed TO come
TO Lockhart during working hours.
G. w. Lamata.
G.. w. Lamata, superintendent OF the
turpentine business Of the company
and also a defendant in the case on
trial was on the stand for short
c time. He said that he had never been
present when anyone was whipped
and had never seen anyone brought
), back to the camps; all he knew about
: any whipping was what he had read
!, in the newspapers. His testimony
y was not of great importance.
Robert Gallagher.
: Robert Gallagher. woods superfn-
e tendent of the Jackson Lumber Co.
: and one of the defendants. was tho
last witness Of the day and had not
finished his direct examination when
the court adjourned for the day. Mr..
/ Gallagher was asked but few ques-
lions during the time he was on the
: stand, and, as matter of fact, needed
! but little questioning as he fired q
Continued on Second Pa9e.l