Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-18
Tive Indictments for PeOn-
age Are Returned.
Prominent Men Connected With
the Florida Railway.
Others Were Recently Indicted at
Jacksonville, Fla.

New York. March 11.-Fullowing in
dictmenrs handed Gown by the United
states grand jury. Edward j. TRAY.
head CT tn lthoT department of the
Florida East Coast Railway, and Fran
cc:;cJ Sabbia. Il well-knoWn labor
agent of this city. were arrested OH
charges of white labor slavery and
conspiracy. They We're arraigned Sat
urday before United States Commits
sioner Shields in the Federal building
and held in bail for trial.
1t has also transpired that similar in
dictnents We're recently found at Jack
sonviile against J. c. Meredith and w.
S. Krone, engineers in charge of the
expedition Of the Florida East Coast
Railway The road is controlled by
Henry NJ. Flagler. and is in course of
construction from Miami to Key West,
connecting the Florida keys. News of
this indictment is now made public for
the first time.
Tho indictments here and in Florida
are the result of Investigations direct
cd by Attorney General BOnaparte and
Henry l.. Simpson of the department
of justice at New York. The proceed
ings before the grand jury were con-
6uctcd by Mary Grace Quackenbos. the
lawyer. who first brought peonage mat
tcrs to the notice of the department of
justice anG vino some months ago was
appointed special assistant United
States district attorney in charge and
conduct OF these cases. 1t was under
her direction that the evidence was
gathered.
Sabha has for years conducted an
employment agency in this city, his
present Office being at 225 Bowery.
Thousand of men. it is said. have been
shipped by him to the South, and cs-
peciallv for construction work on the
railroad mentioned.
1t is understood that the indictments
arise out of complaints {. white labor
slavery made by number of these Ia
borers. who succeeded in escaping from
the Florida keys. where they say they
We're held and forced to work against
their will.
According to recent newspaper ac-
counts large numbers of men seeking
work We're sent to Jacksonville by Sab
bia, induced to make the trip by his
glowing promises of work and wages
which We're never realized. At Jackson
Vile they We're taken in charge by
Triav in charge of the labor depart
men!, and placed on the company
boats. from which they were distribute
ed to tie various islands.
The men say they were forced to per-
form work other than that promised
and of the hardest kind. We're not per-
mittrd TO leave the islands. and kept in
constant debt BY means of excessive
cpr,niseary charges: their only means
Of communicate ton with the mainland
OF Florida was by the corpany's boats.
and that many who finally succeeded in
reaching the mainland We're pursued
and arrested on the charge OF attempt
ing 70 avoid the payment of debts
1t IL said that in frequent instances the
men arrested were actually convicted
a nd sentenced. and sent back to the
islands to work out their sentence in tho
/ convict chain gang 1t is believed that
tie indictments and arrests at Jackson
Vile of Meredith and Krone, the engi-
reers III charge Of the railroad construc-
| ton Of Flagler's road arose out of these
| charges.
Additional indictments, it was rum0r"d
were being considered by the federal
grand jury. but neither NJ S. Quackon-
bus nor any Of the attaches Of the dis
| trict attorneys office would speak of the
matter.
Some months ago s. 6. Schwartz. a la
t3r agent. was indicted and arrested in
this city on similar charges OF peonage
but his case has not yet been tried. 1t
| is said THAI the department of Justice in
tends to take active and vigorous steps
for the prosecution of offences against
| the peonage statute, and that startling
developments are expected.