The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-05-25
HE DECLARES PRISONERS THREATENED WITH DEATH
Receiver For Operators Of Mine Issues Statement De- nying Knowledge Of Charges Of AIdrich Declaring Many Free Laborers Employed
STATE CAPITAL BUREAU r
 THE AGE-hERALD


 Narration of men being shot down like beasts, whipped with straps load ed with lead and threatened with death if they told, and other alleged acts of cruel treatment at the Ald- rich, Ala, mine, where convicts work under lease, is embodied in a letter published in the Montgomery Journal here today.
 The letter was slipped to a Mont- gomery Journal reported during an inspection of klby prison by mem- The reported had accompanied the party. The letter follows:
 ITO the Good People of Alabama:
 The write-up in the Montgomery Journal has opened the eyes of the state and should open the eyes of the world. Speaking of the treatment of prisoners at coal mines in Alabama. one place in the state mentioned is the Montevallo Mining company of Aldrich, Ala. in sight of the female college or an institution for girls, where they are being trained. Mine Death Trap. He Says.
 Now, Judge Fort of Jefferson county is exactly right about the in- stitution. The people of Alabama do not know how bad it really is. if the truth was only known about this
 
 Now think l am in position to know, for I was among the first bunch of prisoners to land at Ald- rich when prisoners were put to work after the free labor refused to work. No one knows just how awful it is unless they have served as pris- oner a such places. l went to Ald4 rich from the Lucille mines, another death trap.
 When we entered the mines we were driven worse than slaves. The task was hard and We were forced to work where the water was pouring down upon us worse that rain ever fell from the clouds. We had to stand in water half leg deep and plenty of rocks were falling in the water.
 Every two or three days two to six men were hauled to the surface or to the outside to be placed in the hospital and the grave yard. I was not on coal, as we call it, but three days. l was placed on a hoisting en- zine to hoist the coal from the bot tom of the mine to the ninth entry where the trips were sent to the top by the main outside rope that reached as far as the ninth east entry. Warned Fly Signal.
 Many times have I received a sig- nal which was a warning that I was pulling a man trip. Threo long rings!
 All over the mine rocks fell and l know of large portions of the mountains falling, trapping whoever happened to be below.
 To-day where men are put away will cover large part of the moun- tain side. I look upon this place as slave center for the Montevallo inning company. We did not have any limited time to work. We en- tered the mine at 6 o'clock and we were forced to stay in the mine until the mine foreman saw fit to let us out, sometimes 9 and 10 o'clock at night By the time we got our sup per It was close to midnight.
 We were fed cold cornbread, water greens, turnips or cabbage, with a small hit of salt pork, all half cooked. The worst of 1t was there were worms, grasshoppers and bugs mixed in with it. When we had beans there was always plenty of little black bugs swimming about the top of them. So-called soup was rusty water,
 Judge William F. Fort and all others who are making an effort to have the convicts placed on the state highways and state farms should be
 (COntinued on pnve V'xxo(