The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-11-18
This Was Sensational S
nent Made by Witne
in Yesterdays
Trial. Lo1
Evidence Continues To Be Of
Most Damaging Charac- 2
ter to the Defense.
FORMER EMPLoYE OF JACKSON
LUMBER COMPANY TEsrIFIEs.
THAT HE WAS EYE WITNESS TO
WHIPPING OF MIHALY-orHER
TESTIMONY AS TO WHlPPlNes
AND ABUSE.
BY BEN h. THOMAS.

Eight witnesses were heard yester.
day in the proceedings against w. s.
Harlan ct al for conspiracy to commit
peonage, in the United States District,
court, Judge Charles Swayne pre-
siding and the testimony adduced,
as on the preceding day, was
of the most damaging character. A
notable feature of the trial was the
practically complete failure of the de-
tense to bring out anything on cross
examination that tended to weaken
the case of the government and, in
fact, what they did succeed in bring
ing out only served to strengthen the
case of the government against the
defendants.
As upon the other days Of the trial
the objections were numerous, defense
objecting to nearly everything in the
line of testimony that was adduced.
Nearly all of the objections were
overruled by the court and exceptions
taken by defense.
When the case was called for trial
yesterday morning Erastus ]. Par
sons, United States District Attorney
for the middle district of Alabama,
was present and throughout the day
gave the closest attention to the tes-
timony of witnesses. Whether or not
the proceedings in this city will re-
suit in an action against the Jackson
Lumber Co. In the Alabama district
Mr.. Parsons would not say, but the
fact of his presence was sufficient to
cause considerable speculation upon
this point.
The trial opened with John Foster
on the stand, his testimony not hav.-
ing been finished the day previous.
He added nothing to the testimony al
ready reported. He was followed by
William Keller, one OF the men
brought from New York who proved
a good witness for the government.
Incidentally Keller mentioned the fact
that the log camps of the Jacksol8
Lumber Co. were commonly calledai
"Gallaghers He'll by the employees I
of the plant at LOckhart.
Other witnesses were John DAVIS, !
Arthur Buckley and John Smith, am
former employees or the Jackson Lum-
Der Co. who testified to the treatment
accorded the men of the camp, to
whippings and other cases of abuse;
Justice of the Peace James Johnson,
of Florala, who told OF the methods
employed by the company to make
the men sign contracts to WORK OUT
alleged Indebtedness; c. II. Monacky,
whose testimony was along the same
lines as that of Justice Johnson and
C.. Frank Dunkey, former employee
of the company who told OF the
whipping of Minaly, to which he was
a witness.
On the whole the case Of the gov"
eminent was greatly strengthened by
the days proceedings which, In detail
were as follows:
Morning Session.
John Foster, VINO was on the STAND
when court adjourned Friday night,
was recalled for cross examination
at the morning session. Witness STAT
ed he had not seen The Bulgarian. TO
whom he referred Friday, returned to
camp. and that portion OF the testt
mony was stricken from the record
On redirect examination wstneSa
states that the Bulgarian had disap-
neared and that wagon with uogs
lad soon thereafter left the c1mp.
Witness had seen Gallagher strike
and kick the Bulgarian after he was
brought. Or came. hack to the Camp.
Tie court also ordered everything
that big Harry" had said to witness
stricken from the record and INSTRUCT
ed the jury to disregard such tesu-
mony. Defense moved to strike out
the entire testimony of Foster, but
was overruled by the court and an
exception granted.
Witness stated that the reason he
had not left the camp was because
he was afraid; the guards, witness
had told Angelo, one Of the bosses,
reminded him of guards at Porto
Rico. and witness had stated, they
probably had the same orders, |. 9.
''sboot to kill" The guards were
placed, witness stated, about two
weeks after he reached the camp.
but he had never seen anyone
stopped by the guards or brought
back.
William Keller.
William Keller. oil New York, one
of the men engaged at labor agency
in tlat city was then called. He left
New York in June in company With a