Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-04-26
NEW MURDER Fk!a|M'
IS NOW REPORTED
To FEDERAL AGENTS
Complaints AIIege That ''Un-
thinkabIe Conditions'' Ex-
list in a South Georgia
County

The United States grand jury bee
gan inquiry Monday into reported
conditions Of peonage on the form OF
7. B. Stribling, prominent farmer or
Pike county. Charges that he held
negro farm hands in a. state of Inc
voluntary servitude have been un.
der investigation by department OF
justice agents for several weeks.
Alleged peonage conditions in a
dozen or more counties in the state
are set for investigation by the
grand jury later in the week. The
probe will include murder farm No.
g." said to be in operation in the
southern part of the state along
similar lines as the John S. Wils
liams farm in Jasper county. This
farm was described in an exclusive
story in Sundays Journal.
Federal officials announced that
the present grand jury will not rec
sumo it's investigation of the Will
liams' farm. Indictments against
John S. Williams and his sons. HuS
will not be sought at this session.
Agents said further investigation
by the department of justice is being
made and that it is likely the grand
jury in the southern district villa
soon take charge of the case.
Twenty-Five liquor cases, five mail
fraud cases, and several miscellane-
GUS cases constituted the grand
jury's program for it's first days
session.
Assistant district attorneys pres
sented evidence against Mrs. Daisy
Sanders, alias Mrs. Will Sanders.
who is charged with violating pros
hibition laws.
1t was understood that an indict.
+ment was returned within thirty
minutes after the session opened
against Sidney L. Upshaw, charged
with misuse of the mails in an all
legged confidence game which postal
agents say he operated in Atlanta
for several months last year.
Vincent Hughes, officer in charge
OF the Atlanta bureau of investiga-
ton, said Monday he had received
from United States Attorney Hooper
Alexander a full report of the second
murder farm" and that his agents
would visit the place Monday anc
launch an investiga ton.
The evidence submitted to US Is
OF sensational nature and the casa
may develop into one almost as bad
as the Williams case" said Mr..
Federal authorities said Governor
Dorsey is cooperating with them in
bringing about an immediate in-
yestigation of Murder Farm No.
case to the attention of the state. and
county officials as soon as an Off
cial report of the farm reaches his
office.
District Attorney Alexander said
the witnesses in the second death
farm case are reliable and promi-
nent merchants and business men.
They have signified, he says. a will
ingness to appear as witnesses any
where and bare the details of what
they call "a place equally as had as
the Jasper county farm"
"As soon as the reported condi:
tions have been investigated and
verified, complete details of the case.
together with the names of the
principals. will be made public" the
district attorney said
The federal grand jury is not ex-
pected to remain in session more
than three or four days. That
wholesale indictments charging
peonage will be returned is the pre-
diction of court officials.
Federal charges of conspiracy to
violate peonage laws have been dock
eted in United States court in Geor-
gia and Tennessee against Deputy
P. Dunnway. all of Oglethorpe coun-
ty. in connection with the alleged
detention of negroes on the big plan
tation formerly owned and operated
~ the late Colonel James M. Smith,
it was learned at the federal build.
ing Monday.
Agents Of the department of JUS
tice were notified by federal agents
in Chattanooga that the grand jury
in that city would take action in the
case this week. A number of negro
farm hands on the Smith plantation
which. it was said, is now being OPP
Grated by the Dunnway brothers,
we're. it was stated, on the way to
Chattanooga Monday in charge Of
federal officers.
to the federal grand jury at Athens
next month. it was learned.
The case dates back to 1916. ac-
cording to the investigating agents.
They charge Deputy Erwin and the
Dunnway brothers with. forcibly re-
turning to the farm four negroes
who escaped and went to Chattanoo-
ga. The negroes were returned and
held in peonage for several years,
it is charged.
Alleged instances Of recent mis-
treatment of negroes on the big
farm. which is located at Smith
onia, Ga. were cited to local federal
agents by Dave Dean, a negro fugi-
tive from the palce. who reached At
lanta Saturday.
According to the negro, conditions
became so severe that he made his
escape at night and came to Atlanta :
to tell his story. He said he left
500 worth of property on the place.
and that he is afraid to return
for it.
Agents charge that warrant
charging "cheatine and swindling,"
which has subsequently, been sworn
out for the negro through Madison
county farmer, is the result of a con-
spiracy to force the negro to return
TO the O1a0tatiOn