The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-27
ABOUT PEONAGE CHARGE
Bowden Says Great Injustice Hns Been
Done Shelby Deputy Sherifs

10 the Editor of the Age-Herald:
A great injustice has been done to the
two deputy sheriff, Patterson and Nc
Even, of Shelby county by reason of the
prosecution now pending In the United
States court charging peonage.
Patterson and McEwen are innocent as
Will be clearly shown In event an indict-
ment Is had. The case In question has
no merit whatever, and was instituted
at the hands of a jealous competitor
The alleged peon, Geo. Shen, has been in
the employment of my company at Key
stone during a period of about seven
years. He serves as a lime kiln fireman
and is paid by the barrel, earning from
t22o to So per day, and receives same
daily. This negro Shen Is one of our
very best men and we have never had &C.
casion to make complaint as to his at
tentiyeness or his personal conduct. He
10 and has always been a free man since
his connection with our company and has
never been held in peonage by our COM
pany or its representatives
1t is alleged that Patterson and Nc
EVEN arrested and beat George Shen
are returned him to Keystone in state
of peonage, all of which is absolutely
untrue according to the evidence shown
by the government witnesses during the
preliminary trial before Commissioned
Watts last Friday. George Shen himself
stated that he had neither been arrested
or beaten by the two deputies and that he
requested them to allow him to ride with
them from near West Calera to Calera,
which they did. Shen left keystone a
few days prior to the alleged arrest for
IA of
parties at West Calera pertaining to a
small estate In which he was interested
and expected to return to Keystone
within two or three days, but his funds
became exhausted, so he states, and he
secured temporary work with NJ. F. H.
Hardy as a. wood chopper for the pur-
pose of securing funds with which to de-
fray his expenses to keystone.
Patterson and McEwen had certain pa
Ipers to serve on various parties pertain-
Ing to the county court, and on their re-
turn to Calera on the day of the alleged
arrest Shen happened to see and recog-
nize Mr.. Patterson driving along and re-
quested Mr.. Patterson to loan him rail
road fare to keystone and also asked to
be allowed to ride to Calera with the
two deputies, to which they consented
The two deputies were intoxicated to
some extent and Patterson and Shen be-
ing friends, Patterson handed Shen his
pistol, stating that he was little full
and requested Shen to deliver the pistol
to r. E. Bowdon at Keystone, which he
did. When the two deputies and the
negro reached Calera at about II 40 or u
o'clock the two deputies retired and slept
until $50 o'clock, and the negro walked
around town inexperienced until 5:52
when he left on the train for keystone,
where he went resuming his usual duties
hs fireman.
Neither our company or its agents have
over had a warrant of arrest issued for
George Shen, neither have we ever re-
huested the arrest of him. He has never
Violated any obligation or duty toward
is and we regard him as one Of our
1lost faithful and valuable employees.
Shen himself says he was surprised to
hear of the arrest Of Patterson and Nc
Gwen and that the same was done with
put his knowledge or desire.
The preliminary hearing was concluded
oday and the deputies bound over and
he bonds placed at $500 each. which were
promptly made.
The evidence as produced by the gov
rnment was indeed feeble and I feel
confident that the grand jury will fail to
ndict. If an indictment is had the evil
ence as produced by the government
witness during the preliminary will readi-
v acquit the deputies in the general
rial r. e. BQWDON,
Supt. keystone Lime Co.
Birmingham, July 20, 1910