The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-02-08
From the Decatur mIl Magnet. Jan. 2a1

From the Decatur UI) Magnet, Jan. 29I
A committee was lately appointed by the
Shelby county supervisors to examine and inquire
into the condition of the Poor Farm. The com.
mittee was accompanied by the editor of the
Commercial, who draws chastity and revolving
picture of the horrd sights witnessed in that
institution. II has been an abode of woe, famine
and torture, the unfortunate inmates suffering
slow, miserable deaths They were found hud-
died together like beasts in filthy shed, freezing
and starving! During the examination q half
idiot boy was found with black and frozen feet
(mortitcaton had set in) owing 10 the insult
cltncy OF clothing and shelter the snow and
seet beat upon his bed-the blankets were too
short and thin to cover his feet, and they were
frozen! The catalogue of horrors enumerated is
enough to sicken the reader, and make him won-
der il We really live in the humane and enlight-
ened nineteenth century. The stold, brutal wretch
who thus commits these crimes upon his helpless
victims is richly deserving Of the galloWs, and
every believer in righteous retrbution will only
regret that the rack and thumbscrew Of the mid
die ages cannot be revived, SO that the unnatural
monster might be adequately and fty punished.
The following fearful summing up OF charges
we transfer to our columns, in the hope that the
pous and benevolent people of Central Illinois
will perceive that missionary work is of far more
urgent need here in our own midst than among
the cannibals or HOttentots:
The paupers are fed On coarse corn bread fat
pork, and rye coffee no butter, milk nor sugar.
Sick or well, the Giet is the same. Their washing
Is done by crazy pauper, named Eliza Jane Til
ley, who also waits on the table and washes the
dishes. Her filthy practices in performing these
duties are OF such disgusting nature thai decency
cOmpels us TO withhold them. The neighbOrs have
seen her twO-thirds nude standing at the wash-tub
in front of Prices house, and before his family
end the other paupeTs. She has but one ragged
dress-nor have any of the female paupers
change OF clothing. Up 10 short time ago the
male and female paupers have mingled indscrimi-
nately, day and night, in the one shed we spoke
OF. Upon several occasions beastly pauper
named Webster and the idiot girl III ley were dis
Covered A pauper named William John.
son, thin, sickly, emaciated boy, was cruelty
beaten with large stick, few days ago, by the
Keepers vile, upon very tritling prOvocatiOn.
" Blackgusrdism, profanity and rOwdyism is
the daily programme of the Shelby County Poor
" No preacher of the Gospel has ever been
called there, no religious devOtiOns have ever
been held there; the dead are buried without
ceremony there; and, reader, go there, if you
would tnd a hell on earth 90 there, il you
would learn the details OF the most damnable,
blackening shame that ever disgraced any com.
mUnity.
4" A few weeks ago q half.crazed girl named
Lizzie Watkins, died, and in a new shroud which
came down only 70 her knees, was put in a coffin
and caTted down TO the woods, buried beside the
road, and her grave covered with brush. No re-
gious ceremonies were performed, no slab shows
her resting place. and over it and around it Craze
the cattle, and wallOw the hogs, which roam at
large through the forest
- We could disclose many more disgraceful
facts, but forbear for the present.
" The shove is so true that thirteen witnesses
stand ready to substantiate it on OATH"