The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-23
TWO SPEAKERS ARE PUT UNDER ARREST AT FULTON SPRINGS Chief Deputy Brown Is Also Arrested on Charge
 ot Assault PREACHER STOPPED IN
 MIDST OF HIS ADDRES SS Had Asserted That the Only Enemies the Miners Had Were "Higdons
 Dirty Deputies"-Big Crowd
 Attends the Rally.

Three arrests were made yesterday at | the strikers rally at Fulton Springs, near Lewisburg. One arrest was that of the Rev. w. A. Lewis by Chief Dep uty Sheriff Lucien Brown; another that of G. F. Howle, editor of the Birming- ham Register, which was made by the soldiers at the request of Chief Deputy Brown; and the third arrest being that of Chief Deputy Brown himself, on warrant sworn out by w. D. Smotts.
 More than 5000 persons attended the barbecue, which was said to have been given to the strikers by the members 1 of the Farmers union in Jefferson county. Practically all of those in at tendance were whites, group of blacks l being assembled on a small hill back of the speakers stand. The negroes l took no part in the proceedings, nor mixed with the crowd. The feminine 1 sex was well represented, and, with the exception of the arrests, the day was l one of general jollification.
 The speaking began at o'clock, with the Rev. W. A. Lewis presiding. The speakers were w. R. Fairley, national committeeman; National Organizer Pasco, Mr. Perkerson of Lewisburg, G. F. Howle of Birmingham, and Curtis Shugart of Birmingham
 Trouble Begins Early. Trouble began with the opening of l the meeting. Prayer was offered by the Rev. Lewis, after which he pro- ceeded to make an introductory speech. In this talk he remarked that the sol diers were the miners friends and that the only enemies the miners had were "Higdon's dirty deputies
 Chief Deputy Sheriff Lucien Brown, Deputy Sheriff Sid Cowan and large force of deputies with 100 soldiers, were at the meeting. When MT. Lewis made his references to the deputies Chief Deputy Brown proceeded to arrest him, pushing through the crowd to the stand. The preacher made bond on the spot, and the meeting continued. Shortly afterward Chief Deputy Brown was placed under arrest by Con- stable Ellard on the warrant sworn out by w. D. Smotts. This warrant charged assault upon a widow woman, Mrs. c.
  1 chief deputy had knocked her over a bench while making his way to Lewis. He made bond immediately. When asked about the occurrence last night Major Brown stated that he did not know on what grounds the charges were based. He said that while he was going to the stand that by accident he brushed by a woman, who was sitting on a bench, but that he did not knock her over and that he apologized to her.
 The other speakers followed in quiet succession until MT. Howle's turn. Their talks were full of encouragement to the strikers and similar to many other talks which have been made by the union lead CTS and sympathzers.
 HoWIe's Remarks Resented. MT. Howle proceeded to tell of the Brighton lynching and one or two other incidents, remarking in connection with them that neither the governor nor sheriff had offered any reward for the arrest and conviction of the persons guilty of these crimes. He then referred to the recent shooting to death of negro prisoner who was escaping from the courthouse and remarked that he was shot 4u the back while handcuffed. "The men wno did this shooting are still in the employ of the sheriff." said he, and his arrest im- mediately followed.
 This arrest was made by the soldiers at the request of Chief Deputy Brown, the soldiers marching to the stand and es- corting MT. Howle short distance from it. MT. Howle wanted to make bond and was told that the military officers could not allow it and he would have to be turned over to the sheriff at Brmilg- ham.
 Mr. Howle replied that the sheriffs chief deputy was on the scene and called on several persons to witness his lemand upon the soldiers that he be turned over to Chief Deputy Brown. After gfod deal of consultation among the deputies and military officers it was decided to put him in Major Browns custody. This was done and Mr. Howle made bond at once, a large crowd of men surging around wanting to sign the bond.
 Another speaker followed MT. Howle, and the speaking was finished. It was still early in the afternoon and the crowG 'n- dulged in dancing in the pavilion until a tate hour, there being no further excite ment
 Chief Deputy Brown also had another warrant sworn out against him, the Rev MT. Lewis swearing cut one charging him with interrupting public worship. 1t ap- pears, however, that this warrant was not served on Major Brown.
 The troops at the scene were composed of men from the provisional compuny, which is camped at Norwood, and of Companies c and K, these two companies beign brought in from their respective camps. They numbered about 100 and were under the command of Captain Maddox. Lieutenant Colonel Hubbard, Major Noble and other members of iis staff also arrived at the springs while the sreaking was gong on and remained there for some little time.
 Outside of this rally there was nothing but quiet in the coal strike district. No imported men were sent out under military escort, and reports from different places