The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1922-11-25
MISSIONARY REPORTS MILLION EAST AFRICANS STARVING
j. S. OFFICIALSFTND WHITE MAN HELD
ASPEON ON GEORGIA FARM.

Atlanta, Ca, Nov. 23.-The first
case on record in which white
man is charged with holding a white
worker in peonage, has been un-
earthed in Fayettee County Georgia.
The poems name is Pony Thompson,
SO years old. He was discovered on
the farm Of John Waller. who is
now being held in connection with
the murder OF a mail carrier nam
ed Langston, who lived in Fairburn.
Detectives were seeking. el idence in
connection with this staying when
they came across Thompson. At the
time of his arrest he was dressed in
ragged cut Of overall. In telling his
story to the federal officials, he
said that he had been given no mon
ey with which to buy clothing. At
ter listening to his story he was
brought to Atlanta before officials
where he related story Of eight
years of alleged cruelties at the
hands OF Waller.
Eight years ago he entered into
an agreement with Waller by which
he was to work the latter's farm
on equal shares, according 10 his
story. The first year, he stated,
Waller seized the entire crop and
refused to divide with him accord
Ing TO the terms Of agreement. A
new agreement was made between
the two men at the expiration Of the
first year in which Thompson was
to receive a salary for his work on
the farm, he stated. but all during
the ensuing seven years Thompson
claims he received not more than
$40 in money from his employer.
In 1920 Thompson. claimed he
ran away from the farm and went
TO Coyington, Ga. His stay there
was short lived. he claimed, as Wal
Ter is alleged to have sworn out
warrant charging him with mis-
demeanor. which was served on
him by the sheriff OF Fayette county
and he was returned to Fayetteville.
Upon his agreement to resume work
on the Waller farm, Thompson de-
clares. the charges against him were
dropped.
Once before, in 1913, he left the
farm but was overtaken by Waller
before he could get away from the
vicinity. and taken back. On this
occasion, as on others. Thompson
asserts that he was threatened with
physical violence by Waller II he
ran away again.
when I ran away from the farm
in 1920 Waller swore out war
rant charging me with breaking a
labor contract. I don't know just
what the contract was about but he
claimed that was bound to work
for him and could not leave his
services legally.After my arrest in
Covington. / was returned to Fay
ettesville and Waller came to me
and told me II would return to the
farm he would go on my bond.
81 do not know what ever be-
came Of the warrant against me
but at every session Of court Wal
Ter would come to me and tell me
that he was on my bond and il left
him the sheriff would arrest me
and put me in jail He did this for
more than two years. was afraid
to leave him again for fear that |
would be placed in jail"
Records in the Fayette superior
court show that Thomrscn was ar
rested on charges of violating a
labor contract but at the subse-
quent term of court the charges
were dismissed.
AS a matter Of safeguarding
Thompson from any possible violence
government officials are holding him
under surveillance and under the
protection of the authorities at a
place which they refuse to divulge.