Show IN BONDAGE ALABAMA NEGROES HELD IN SER FOR DEBT startling disclosures made by secret service aberts regard ng condi eions in athern ut hern state at the request iest of the department of justice the united states secret ser vice has undertaken an investigation of the charge of peonage or holding another in servitude to work out a debt which as been made against per sons living in the vicinity of mont gomery ala one man named robert N franklin has already been indicted tor for keeling keening a negro in servitude and information in the hands of chief wll wil kle tends to show that a regular tern tem has been practiced between tain magistrates and persons who want negro laborers the plan is to bring a poor negro before a magistrate on a flimsy charge he is convicted and the white man offers to advance him the money pro vided the negro will make a labor con trat with him for a length of time sufficient to reimburse him for the money and trouble he has takegi to keep the negro out of jail the begio is thereupon taken away and begins what Is frequently a long term of cruel servitude |