The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-02-12
LOCAL MArrHRe.

Whipping Rhae Man As no little exc;te,,. an
has been created In our city. by the rumor In
John d. Perrin, Overseer of the Chain Gaf,p. hal
cruelty beat en-, with the cowhide q convict mama
James Shahee, on Saturday last, in one of III,
public streets, the Mayor has thought proper n
have the affair investigated before him. and NJ
now give the evidence elected to our readers thai
they may see how far the charge is sustained, -
When the case was called yesterday, Perrin ap-
peared In Court, attended by his counsel r Il
Howison, Esq who conducted the examination on
the part of the defence
Oliver Hope, sworn On Satutday lest, while ait-
ting In my house on Byrd street, heard some ore
hsiooiag bur paid attention TO it, until heard
the cry OF murder repeated several tunes. then
went to my front door, snd on looking out fer-
rim have man against the coal yara fence choking
him Perrin then got him from the fence and BE- gan
u beat him with the butt end of the cowhide VIII ch
he continued to DO till the man, crying mu
der s the time got into the ditch Perrin then stor
ped, as II exhausted for minute or Lwo, when be
resumed the beating. think Perrin could rot have
gwen the white msn less than fifty licks / heato
thu man say TO PERM you beating me because
am not able TO work-ny hands are isleIed too
bad to work" The u an had his ball. aud part OF
his chain, in his hand when l srw him did not
know the mau i saw Perm, at one time, take
McM aaan, Who was then in the chain gang but re.
McMahsa had refused TO pull off his cost and work
rern stopped in the Office of the coal yard and get
acowhlde, but what he did with it, an, unable rc
say :" men Nc Mahsn returned 70 the ditch, he had
At another time, raw him have a boy n.med
smith, ted by the neck to tree and Understood that
ne ept him there two or three hours
Thomas Ford, sworn.-i live on Byrd street and
was Fitting b7 the fire when heard some one hal
eelng, and on going to the door saw Perrin heating
wnite man. After the man got into the pit saw
fetrn give htm several cracks over the be ad srms
and shou ders with the bu eEd of a cowhide Par.
rim whipped the from the coal yard fence across
ths rect until he jumped into the pit. The man
had ball in bis hand. l sew Perrin whip uegfo
there once This occurred between aud 10 O'clock
last Saturday morning. On being asked by the
counsel tor tpe defence. whether he thought the
chan gang good institution not the witness IN.
swered .thatis my business snd don't choose to
aIswer"l ~
George Vaahorn, sworn.-I live with Hope and
wa, SITE ng Ia his back room, when heard some one
nalloong. On going to the front door saw Perrin
beating man with the butt end of a cewhids-
"hen the man went back to work Perrin hir him
several licks l saw Hope standing in his door I
did not hear the cry of murder. Perrin gave him S.
or 40 lcks, and stuck him or or three BIZ WIS a
ter he got into the ditch. The man then went to
woIk. know nothing CT the mans conduct be ore
he was beaten
Daniel johnson, swo,n.-I saw nothing of the af
fair have been to where the chain gang were 1T
WORK very ofsen but never saW Perrin treat any OF
them improperly.
joseph suqua, sworn.-I was in the coal yar5,
standing IN the platform talking to Ar. Brazea !,
wien | heard son1s ohe hallooins then ran ictu
the street and saw Perrin whipping nnsp who wa.
in the ditch. Perrin then went into Wes,h's coal
yard, with the small end of cowhide wrapped
II u
man was crying Perrin told him if he did not shui
np he wond gst down there and beat him to death
The man TOLD him he could DO SO if he liked but
there was no law for it. " hen go. to the ditch the
man was ahoyeng dirt for life The chain hangiL TO
him. did not n uch like the appearances of Chain
Su Su. rhs ssss around
Peer Doyle {vounteer witness) sworn-In pass
ing along Byrd street, Saturday last, stopped on
the bank of the ditch to see the men work, whsu
some one remarked that the bank was apt to .lp IS
IL w.s of made earth Soon fter Perrin came along
There was then in the pit white man and two ne
groes coon after ABOUT two cart loads of the bank
did cave In, and caught he white mans foot The
man then pulled his sh0s and remarked that that
eulvert would kil SINE tody yet. Perrin replied
with an oath, '1f it does hope ou will be the 1t
one" This wes between the hours of II and |
O'Clock. saw no one whipped aad never heard of
the whipping till Monday morning would ku o,y
ths viii msn If were 10 see him again Here he
Mayor cent to the jail for James okahee, who, on
being brt usht into court was recognised by the
ness az the man he had seen in the pitt
The evidence for the Commonwealth being en-.
ded the following witnesses were called and
sworn for the defence:
A. w. Lambert, sworn Il have been ASSISTING
Perrin In supervising the chain gang for about two
weeks On Saturday last JAMAs sHAHEe, one OF
the conTiets, very disc ohedlent and suen aoo
almost refused to work at all. He wa. then in the
pit, and by some accident ths chain of one of the
-negioss and that attached to him, became entsu
slsd Shshee cursed the negro and told rim id
ougger II he Gid not keep mis- distance he would
split his brains out. spoke 10 shahee but he paid
no utfon to me, and continued to work very slow
When Perrin came slonS told him of Shshs.'s
conduct. Perrin then spoke 10 hhahee, but fodGR
him disposed TO be rebel ious oriered Of the pit
and to follow him. shshee ,tsried, bat on getting
to the gate OF the coal yard ftopped and refused
go any farther Perrin took hold Of him and hahee
began to halloo. could not see what shahee did -
Perrin then ordered him back the pit and on his
refusing to go, atruck him ove the shoulders WI
the tut: end Of a cowhide till he returned heard
shahee tell Perrin if he ever got cut of the chain
gang he W uld be revenged. shahee was not only
disposed to oinsubordinatoa himself but tried to
ate rebellion amcng the other pIiscners | hes' d
him teIthem that they ha1 busines. in the chain
gang-thst there was no law for 1t. bid uot heaI
Shsxee cry murder. Don't believe that PENN
struck him more nan eight ten licks at furthest
The dirt alluded to TOY Doyle, fell into the pit
FRIDAY There were not more than six or eight
ousheis OF IT, When It csvsd in it struck Sta6ee's
spade ana tnpped him. shahee Immediately ex
Claimed, Jesus God, my leg il broke" 1 saw the
occurrence snd told him did not think he urt
snsnee refused 10 Work-sad he had been q soidis!
and was not used to it. Perrin made him set dewr
oy hin for an hour aud talked to hiIn-tod him II
ne had besn soldier, he haa been badly &C
or ae would be more prompt in obeying orders, ano
ttled 10 impress upon him the importance OF duin
what he was told Shshee very REFRACTORY and
II his conduct had been submitted 70, the mnnag
IN .nt OF the prisoners would hav, been very Gifh
coit know 1t was necessary 20 take SEINE steps 10
compel him to discharge his duties bus wha. ste o.
Would have been proper | au I0s able to saw On
SSs.qiosy aser TN fhSuity, s5lns sentieman sen,
shshee dinner, when Perrin tod him to sit down
ana eat It and gave him ample time to co 10 shs.
nee was in the habit Of carryiug his ball and chain
on hs back. Perrin hiss treatod the prjsoners unasr
MIN Kindly, and they very fond Of Tim have
never esen MIN use any vlolspcs to wards them but
ON tne contrary, he has b ssn exceedingly leniept
often Supplying their wants from his oS IA means
samusl y. FORBES, sVcrn Il did not see tie diff
eaty on Saturday last In sttenciug to the Du,IdIop
ef city cuvers have had fire. GU .nt occ .sous TO
Iicc rerrln's nssenent of the chain eapK sno
have never seen anything effonsve or tyrspnical =
de always tries to MAKE them DO their duty hu,
without cruelty unkindness In the rang were
some men who had be en- in my empioy uuder ths
tide water eonn ectoa, at per day and they we re
50 unruiv that had to discharge them. indeed,
look upsn tbs gang as the outlaws of Virginia
have been sstonished TO how kind Perrin was to
the prisoners. have seen him select easy work TO,
the feeble, ana, when they appeared fauguee, have
known him 70 maze them sit Down and rest IL Those
men are to be kept az work. they niuE be kept in
subsection.
wm. u. cambridge, sworn When the chain gang
was 6rst established, they were put TO work 9.h
street, near my house. where had frequent oppor-
tunities Of observing PeTia's management He was
very kind and lenient to the prisoners and have
him N AXE one Of the m who seemed inds posed,
cit down half day. From all that saw. though,
he was too lenent for he bad one very rebecus and
nisoIderly follow under his charge.
Missjah Bates, {Ssperintendsnt of Streets, sworn
Il have frequently observed the management of the
chan eaag. have never seen any exhibition Of cru
city the part of Mr.. Perrin, and believed him
bs a. lenient to the prisoners under him the
turs Of his position would admit Any exhibition OF
destroy tbs effi iency Of the gang have known
prisoners in the Jail to ask To be put in the chain
Eabs Perrin has managed well aed kindly from the
6rst.