Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1913-04-23
ALLEGES HIS TENANTS
we're Forced TO LEAVE
Held for Murder, v. A. Cole.
man Gets an Injunction

IRSAtaJ OANNA 1oNNAAAS
large number of the male citizens Of
Wilcox county to enjoin them fro;
threatening, intemidating or coercina
the troopers, tenants and laborers OF
persons who may be induced to work
On the farm of w. A Coleman, now
confined in the Jail of Ben Hill county
on warrant charging him with the
murder of Leon Melvin, in Wilcox
county, on the 9th day of April. The
defendants have been ordered to show
cause before Judge George, at Cordele
on June 2, why the relief prayed fol
should not be granted.
Coleman's counsel, John R. Coope"
of Macon; d. B. Nicholson, Haygood &
Cults and j. Monroe Russell, made APP
plication for the restraining order on
the ground that all of the tenants on
the Coleman place had been warned to
leave within forty-eighth ours under
penalty of personal violence and with
the further alleged information that on
2 certain night named every house on
the farm would be burned to the
ground.
The petition asking for the restrain
ing order sets forth that W. A. Cole
man is a large land owner in Wilcox
county, having about twenty-five ten
ants, troopers, or laborers, engaged 70
operate his farms during the present
year. 1t is alleged that these were
all working peaceably at he respective
duties in preparing the land and plant
ing the crops until interfered with. 1t
is cited that in carrying on his farm
operations Coleman has $4,000 invest
ed in mules, has already expended in
advance to the persons operating his
farms between $1,000 and $1,000 in
cash and supplies, has spent $4,000 fol
fertilizers and $500 for farm impli-
ments.
1t is alleged he was arrested early
|. in the morning of April T. and on the
same day various persons whose
names are unknown, conspired %
prejudice the case and rights of thu
petitioner in the community and 10
ruin him financially by taking advant-
age of the criminal charge as a pretext
for threatening intimidating to drive
away from the several farms all of the
tenants and troopers with a view Of
preventing any crops from being made
on the farms during the present year
1t is further alleged on the night of
April T. number of the defendants in
the present action, caused fictitious
warrants to be taken out against two
negro laborrers and they were taken
by the defendants under pretended ar
rest and placed in an automobile and
: started toward Rochelle. 1t is alleged
that the automobile was stopped be-
fore reaching Rochelle and the two
negroes given a severe beating and
then turned loose with instructions
that they should Immediately return
to the farm and notify everybody living
there that they must leave in forty
eight hours under penalty of personal
violence and having their homes burn
ed.
According to the petition, within g
few hours after the negroes had re-
turned home every hand employed or
the place had departed. leaving theil
crops to care for themselves.
1t is further charged that a warrant
; was taken out against Enock McLe
more, foreman of the Coleman farms
charging him with a misdemeanor, in
order to keep him from returning &c
work and he is now confined in the
Jail at Ocilla. Prior to his arrest. it is
alleged the defendants caused to be
published that McLemore was at the
: head of gang which was planning to
assault the Jail at Abbeville and re-
lease the petitioner, who was confined
lfhera af hat time