The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-11-22
LESSER ON THE STAND German Editor TeStifies
 in PeOnage Case. SPEAKS HIGHLY OF CAMPS Says Conditions Were Good and
 No Complaints Made. Witnesses In PenSacola Trial Praise Management of Lumber Conn
 paiy at Lockhart--Fnr
 Above the Average.

 Fourteen witnesses were examined today for the defense in the trial in the United States Court of Manager w. S. Harlan, ct al, charged with con spiracy to commit peonage. and this afternoon just before adjournment the defense rested it's case The summing up of the testimony will begin tomor- row.
 The witnesses to testify today fol- lowed the same lines as those of the previous day. They spoke most high ly of the management and bosses, the general equipment of the camp and the conditions that have prevailed there for some months, or in some instances, for years Those wio were formerly in the employment of the company told of always obtaining fair treatment rlenty to eat, and good, sleeping ac- commodations, while there were abso- lutely no restrictions upon their going and coming from their, place of em- ployment When some of them decid- cd to seek other employment there was no effort upon the part of tle bosses to in any way interfere with their de- parture.
 One of the witnesses of the day was Manager Harlan, who stated that he knew nothing whatever of any Of the alleged captures and beating of men employed in the camps.
 Another of the defendants to testify was c. O. Hilton, who had but an in- distinct recollection of the events that occurred at Crestview when Laninger, the man against whom the overt act or the conspiracy is alleged to have been committed, was with him and during the course of the ex O nation made several conflicting statelhepts
 He said he met Laninger on cross road a few miles from Crestview; that I.aninger at first tried to run away but fell, afterwards coming toward Wlt- ness In manner that frightened him. Hilton said the man made motions to- wards his mouth and pointed in the direction of Lockhart, and, although the man was not wanted, insisted upon fol- lowing him to Crestview from where he was subsequently, taken by Hug gins to I.ockhart.
 Emil Lesser 7restIHes.
 Among the strongest witnesses for the defense to testify were Emil Les ser, President of the German Immigra- tion Society of Alabama. Mayor w. C. Mclaughlin of Florala. and Rev. w F. Martin, also of that place. They had all visited the camps. conversed with the men and found them satis- fled. with no evidence of any mistreat- ment or peonage. These visits to camp had been made immediately after the papers had published articles regard ing the cases of foreigners coming to Pensacola and telling of treatment at the camp.
 Mir. Lesser was a strong witness His home is in Birmingham, where he pub fishes German paper. and as soon as he heard of the alleged peonage cases. he left there for Lockhart. and arr irving there found 1t to be one of the best conducted lumber camps in the South
 He made a rigid investigation into the charges of beating of men. and said that he brought out the fact that there had been stealing in the camp by two who had been brought back and each given a whipping, but this was done by their fellow laborers as punishment for the theft. He was present, he said. when the men were served with din- ner. and the food was not only plenti- ful. but wholesome He. had spoken while at Lockhart to about 100 men, thirty-three nf them spoke the German language. and that no one complained to him of being dissatisfied or of any bad treatment but on the contrary all seemed to be satisfied
 He had been taken through the camps nv Tr Tramnnel, but in talking to the men the doctor was not present. He had. upon the completion of this investigation, placed the results before the German ambassador at Washing ton, the General Consul at New Or leans, the Governor of Alabama and the Consul at Pensacola
 Upon the completion of the testi- monY of Mir. Lesser. a German named Charles. Haas was placed upon the stand by the nrosecution in rehuttal. He remembered having talked with MT. Lesser, and of telling him he was satis- fed, but the reason he did so. was be- cause he thought MT. Lesser was with one of the bosses.
 Camps Above Average. Mayor ". C. McLanghlin of Elnrala