The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-04-30
The Dead Convict, Joseph Will
sOM-The Facts OF the Case.

The Dead Convict, Joseph Will
sOn-The Facts or the Case.
At the March term of the Circuit Court for
Augusta county, joseph Wilson (colored was
tried for burglary, and attempted rape on
white woman OF this county. He was tried by
an intelligent jury, found guilty, and his pun
ishment fixed at two years in the Penitentiary.
He was taken to Richmond, and thence imme-
diately sent to the work of Messrs. Mason,
Gooch & Hoge, on the Valley Railroad. in the
vicinity Of Greenville, who have cont ract un-
der law with the authorities of the State prison,
for certain number of prisoners as laborers.
A few days after he had reached the camp, and
shortly after being punished by the CIV erseer OF
the work, for negligence, he died suddenly
Before learning the full particulars Of the death
Of Wilson, we published the mere an nounce-
ment of the sudden death. Various and highly
colored rumors as to the cause of the death
We're set afloat the truth Of none OF which
could we ascertain without giving the matter
more attention than we then had time to de
vote to it. @
The Washington Republican Of the 18th con-
tains communication dated at Staunton on
the l4th inst, and signed by w. Ell. Scott,
which gives very preiudiced statement OF the
case, draws some very erroneous conclusions.
On reading the article, we determined to get at
the truth of the matter. To that end we had
an interview with two of the principal witness
es VIII gave evidence before the jury Of inquest,
and with the magistrate who officiated as coro-
ner on the occasion. Mr.. j. B. Smith and Col
J. D. Lilley, two highly respected and intelli-
gent citizens, were the witnesses, and w. +.
| Smith, Esq, a gentleman OF unimpeacflable
reputation, the acting coroner. The facts as
detailed to us are these: On the morning OF
the Sd Of April, one of the witnesses was con-
versing with Wilson, when he complained OF a
pain in his back. The overseer remarked to
him, that the physician had sent him out as
well, and he had to work, or he would be made
to. At dinner time, he said the pain had gone
into his legs, and as he reached to get his plate
OF vituals, fell, bruising the back part Of his
head against projecting plank orlog. 1t was
believed that he was feigning sickness, as he
had manifested a very perverse spirit ever since
he had come upon the work. After dinner, he
was still indisposed to work, and the overses.r,
Mr.. Loving: struck him several times with
small hickory switch. Perssting that he was
sick, the regularly employed physician, DR..
Strother, was sent for, and gave it as his opir-
ion that there was nothing serious the matter
with him. He was again ordered to work, but
hesitating, he was struck several times again
with the switch The motion Of the arm indi-
Gated more of tap than a lick. He was then
brought up and struck with leather strap,
on the legs between the knee joint and hip, his
breast leaning over key, but he was not tied.
So ssoon as the punishment commenced, he
started to roll to get out of the way Of the strap,
and went down the embankment. He was Or
dered up, and two other convicts directed to
bring him up. About this time, while an effort
was being made to get him out OF the trench,
DR.. Gilkeson came along, and was asked to eA-
anime him. He did so, and expressed the opin-
ion that he was very sick, and prescribed slim
ulants. Shortly after this, Wilson died. An
inquest examination revealed no abrasion OF
the skin. and no marks whatever. We did not
learn to what cause the physicians assigned the
death, but heard it said that it was probably
the result of congestive CHILL
1 Mr.. w. F. Smith brought the proceedings OF
the jury of inquest to the county Clerks Office
for recordation. 1t was thought proper to
transmit them to the State authorities, then if
so directed, they could be sent back and placed
on record here.
| These are the facts of the case-as we have
learned them directly from gentlemen who
witnessed the whole affair, and whose integri-
ty Is above suspicion.
Messrs. Mason & Hoge, to whom the com
munication particularly alludes as the contrac-
tors, are gentlemen of high character, and al
though they have for years worked the convicts
on public improvements, have never been char
ged with cruelty or unkindness to them. We
do not believe they would knowingly tolerate
anything of the kind on their works. Apart
from the inhumanity feature Of it,their
own interest would suggest considerable kind
ness, so far as their Instructions from the pris-
on authorities would allow.
The communication in the Republican is
written in fretful spirit, and misstates facts.
In the first place it says that Mason q Hoge,
had at one time been overseers themselves
This is not so. In the next place, it assumes
that only colored convicts are hired to work on
public Improvements. This is an error. Both
white and colored arc disposed Of in this way,
and it is optional with the contractors which
they will take. Messrs. NJ. & II. prefer the
colored, while several years ago, Messrs. Burn
ham & Gordon, selected the whites, and worked
on the Chesapeake & Ohio road, over 100 Of
them. White convicts are also worked in the
a,,arries about Richmond, on the same condi-
tons that colored convicts are worked. We
are informed also that the regulations Of the
State prison allow the infection of stripes to the
amount of 80 when it is found necessary to en-
force discipline with both white and black.
If we could consult merely the emotions OF
humanity, much Of the harshness OF prison dis
ciDline would be modified. But we must con-
slider crime in it's relation to society ITO com
munitv at large, and attach to it such penal
ties and harlships as will make the violation OF
law the antecedent of punishment and suffer-
ING. and thus by rigid adherence to well set
tied rules governing culprits, prevent the COM
mission of criminal offences. Did we discover
any discrimination in the application OF the
law in the trial of an accused or the enforce
ment Of prison rules after conviction. between
whites and blacks, we certainly should prompt