Show VIOLATION OF STATUTES negro forced to work without pay under penalty of death cape girardeau Girard cau mo sept 12 john reed a who served in company I 1 tenth cavalry in cuba during the spanish american war wa one of the principal witnesses for the government today in the trial of smith brothers wealthy landowner sto prove violation of the peonage statutes he said 1 I never lecci vod a cent for my labor al the time I 1 worked fai the smiths I 1 was forced fo wark under penalty of death I 1 waa lured to missouri under pretense that I 1 was to work in a flour mill other negroes came with me before Q know it wo were all prisoners the government lias 94 and allie defense the prosecution spent the entire day examining foul witnesses allne groos it is estimated that eight H day will be all that can bo handled and at that rate court will necessarily be in session two or three weeks |