The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-21
FARMERS
HELD FOR PEONAGE
Charged With Holding and
Whipping Wash Garner
TRAGEDY IN LOWNDES
Greedy Perdue Is Killed by Robert
Taylor Near Sandy Ridge-Both
Are Single Men-Lbrary
Class Opens.

Montgomery. July 2O-(Special.) six
prominent citizens of Butler county and a
negro were brought to Montgomery this
morning. charged with holding Wash Gar
ner, negro, in peonage and whipping
him. Their names are Butler and Andrew
Searcy, father and son; Sam and Jean
Searcy, father and son; W. H. Shanks,
son of former Sheriff Shanks, and Lloyd
Thomas, white, and j. H. Montgomery,
a negro. All are well known and live
within short distance of Greenvine, the
county seat
A story from Geenville says that the
arrests. created much surprise in the
county and great deal of feeling that the
men were the victims of an unfortunate
set of circumstances. The warrants were
issued at the instance of H B. Barnes, an
Inspector of the government, out of the
court of United States Commissioner John
A. Elmore. Mr.. Barnes went to Butler
county last week and worked up the
cases, after which he returned to Mont
gomery to secure the papers. A large
number of Greenville citizens came up to
give sympathy and support to the ac-
cused
These are good citizens of the county,
said one of the party, land we are at a
loss to know why they should be sub
jected to such annoyance. 1t is not be-
lieved that a case can be made out against
any of them, and in the end 1t will be
seen that there was little reason to bring
them into this unpleasant prominence"
The same thing was said by others in the
party, the impression being that the ar
rests grew out of a feeling of resentment
on the part of someone and will in the
end be set right for all.
Jesse Stallings of Birmingham and c. e.
Hamilton of >4reenville appeared for the
defendants, the government being repre-
sented by e. ]. Parsons district attorney.
On representation of not being ready
Judge John A. Elmore granted a con-
tinuance to August 3, at which time the
case will be fully aired. The white men
made bond in the sum of $1,000 each and
the negro in The sum of $500.
The party made picturesque appear
ance In the city. After making the bonds
the visitors. with Mr.. Stallings and Mr..
Hamilton, spread themselves in picnic
style on the grass near the courthouse
and had a good time talking over the
case and Of old times. Mr.. Stallings was
for some time a resident of Butler, going
to Congress from there, and he had a
jolly visit with his old friends, many OF
whom he had not seen lately.
Tragedy in Lowndes.
News comes from Sandy Ridge, a small
place near Letohatchie, of the killing of
Greedy Perdue, a farmer of 35, by Rob-
ert Taylor, a neighbor. 1t seems that as
a result of old trouble Taylor went
to the field where Perdue was at work.
-
a revolver. Taylor passed through Leto-
hatchie at noon en- route to Hayneville,
the county seat Of Lowndes, to give him
self up. Both are well known. Neither
had a family.
Mer.ett Sees Conner.
H. P. Merritt, senator from Macon, and
one of the close friends of the governor
came to the city Tuesday to transact
some important business. and spent some
time with Governor Conner discussing,
no doubt the coming special session OF
the legislature. When seen by a reporter
Mr.. Merritt was noncommital. and asked
to be excused from discussing any of the
questions before the coming sessions just
now. Mr.. Merritt is one of the most
popular men In the legislature and was
shown many favors and honors not only
by the governor, but his associates.
Library CidSs "opens.
The annual class of library workers,
held under the auspices of the depart
ment of archives and history, began to-
day, with Miss r. D. Baker, the new
assistant In charge of library extension,
In control. 1t will run 30 full days, to
August "a. DR.. Thomas M. Owen direc-
tor of the department, Is greatly pleased
over the outlook. there being an even
dozen in the class which is held In the
Capitol Hill school building. Many of the
well known cities of the state are inter-
ested. The object of the class. the sec
ond to be held. is to train librarians and
library workers. this being one of the
activities of the department of archives
and history
Minor Alabama News.
Teachers have been elected for the high
school at Thomaston as follows: E. M.
Kelly, principal at $500: Misses Ernestine
Erwin and Lena Lockhart, assistants
c. P. Morris Of Dallas and A. A.
Mathews of Lamar, tax collectors, made
settlements with the state on Tuesday.
Commissioner of Agriculture ]. A. will
kinson is in Tallapoosa county for short
stay.
Lots Are Sold.
Huntsville July 20.-CSpecial. 1.-Two real
estate sales were held vesferdav n, r,f5a