The Pensacola journal., 1907-05-26
GRAHAM BROTHERS TRIED
UPON CHARGE OF PEONAGE
Case Continued After the
Hearing of Some of the
Evidence.
r. S. MAYS, A TURPENTINE oPER-
AToR, WAS PRINCIPAL GOVERN
MENT WITNESS-HE TELLS S
ABOUT THE GRAHAMS FIRING
ON HIM.

J. Inc preliminary trial of Thomas
and John B. Graham, of Alabama. up-
on the charge of peonage, was COM
menced before United States Commits.
sioner Marsh yesterday morning at
10 O'Clock, but after the government
had made its case, the further hear
ing was postponed until June upon
request of Judge Maxwell, counsel for
the defendants, upon the ground that
some OF the witnesses for the defense
mad Eot been procured, and he was
not therefore prepared to go further
with the case.
Five Witnesses.
The government was represented bV
Assistant District Attorney Wilson
and one witness was examined al SUD-
port OF the charge of peonage. r. S.
Mays, who owns and operates a tur-
pentine farm near McDavid, was the
principal government witness, and his
statements, it is alleged, are cor
roborated by the other four witnesses.
The witness stated that on May II,
Thomas and John B. Graham drove up
TO his place in a carriage, arriving
there just before sundown. He said
they told him they had come for. a
negro named McCants, who had
skipped from their turpentine camp
in Alabama, owing them $50 Nc
Capts was at witnesses place, and he
stated that the Grahams forced Nc
Cants to get into the carriage, and
then departed.
Wife Taken, Too.
After they had gone two or three
hundred yards. the witness said, the
carriage stopped and they sent the
negro driver back after the wife of
McCants, who had also left them.
The latter was afraid to go 20 them,
the witness said, and came to him
He told her that he would go with
her, and have the whole matter set
tied, and TO protect himself he passed
through his house and picked DIP his
winchester rife, and went to the
point where the Graham brothers
were seated in the carriage.
+, Fired on r. S. Mays.
There. he said, he demonstrated
with them, and told them it was hot
right to act in such manner. The
reply, he said. was to open fire with
revolvers upon him, and jumping be
hind a tree. he returned the FIRE from
his Winchester
The negro woman, he said. had gone
to the carriage to see her husband.
and during the firing she got into the
ONSSy anu ShO NChlNiC IAONSQ OH uO~H
the hill.
Later. the witness said. about four
days after the 18th, McCantss wife
returned to witnesses place, having
again left the Graham place.
McCants Not Located.
McCants could not be lOcatei to be |
as witness IN the case, |
although the government aad defense |
made efforts to secure him, 2oth want |
ing him as a witness. His wife said |
he left the cabin they were occupying |
late one afternoon, saying that he |
would return in a few minutes, but |
he never came back, and sne left.
The woman was not used bv the |
government as a witness, but she and |
two or three other colored govern |
ment witnesses were held IN iail un- |
til the preliminary trial is completed. |
Both the Graham brothers were |
placed under new bonds of $500 each. |
which they made at once and returned |
to their place of business. Their |
brother, who is a practicing attorney |
Of McRae, Ga, was here yesterday |
and was associated with Judge Max |
well in conducting the defense
Excellent pasture for horses of persons |
going out of city. Good care guaranteed |
Address o. e Searie, Roberts, Fla.