Show a 0 I SMITHS SMITHS CONVICTED OF NEGRO PEONAGE Missouri Farmers Must Serve Terms in the Peni Peni- Capo Cape Mo Sept 21 21 Charles M. M Smith his son Charles M. M Smith Jr and five tenants of the Smith farms In New Madrid county in the were found Coun guilty of peonage F Federal eral court hero toda today Judge Pollock overruled a a. motion for a n new trial and 1111 sentenced Charles M. M r. r Smith sr to three years and six Ix months months' Imprisonment and fine Cine Charles M M. Smith Jr two years' years Imprisonment Imprisonment Im Im- and tile fine Tho The five lve suar guards s were sentenced to terms of or Imprisonment ranging from Crom one to two years ears nn and given on fines averaging each The conviction of or the Smiths and their overseers was vas tho the final outcome of oC the first peona peonage o trial ever held in Iii Missouri 1 and records show but hut six similar C cases ever brought before a acourt acourt acourt I court In the United States Stales It was shown dm during Ing the trial that the Smiths brought half a hundred Cairo and negroes from Crom Memphis other river points to their farm In New Madrid county for Cor or the purpose of converting con con- a avast vas ast t area areu of or swamp land in into into in- in to tillable soil soli The Thc transportation of the negroes was paid by hy the Smiths lI Herded Like LUc Sheep J The testimony of somo sonic of or tho the negroes ne no- groes showed how they were worked driven and whipped by taskmasters dm during Ing tho the day and herded herded herd herll- e ed like sheep In miserable quarters at One negro blinded In one ono eye ee told how his sight was partially partial destroyed with a a. whip In the hands of one of or orthe the guards while another who hobbled into court on crutches exhibited an nit ankle which ho he te testified had been crushed with a club by one of ot the O er overseers CIs The Tho defense tried to lo prove that owIng owing ow ow- ing lug to Ill feeling against negroes In the tho I county It was necessary for the protection protection pro pro- of or their laborer laborers that the they b be guarded ed at all times b by armed men The Tho Indictment of the Smiths b by a Federal grand Crand Jury jur was brought about through a u negro who esc escaped ped from rom one of ot the Smith farms and und ma made e his wa way to St St. Louis where he told such an astonishing story ton to tho authorities United States marshals that lint deputy were sent to Investigate In Most of oC the negroes who were being held In bond- bond bondage ago age by the Smiths confirmed the s stor tory story tol told to the authorities b by the escaped man an and departed front from tho the farm under under un un- un- un der her the protection of r deput deputy mar mar- I |