Wilmington journal., 1875-08-06
County com M issIoners.

County Com m issI Oners.
The Board of County Commission
ers met yesterday at o'clock, pursu
ant to adjournment. Present, Chain.
man Wilson, Commissioners Wagner
Morris, Van Amringe and Nixon.
The following changes were made
in the Inspectors of Elt ction:
THIRD WARD.-J. &. Sc, Tt was SUBJ
stituted in place of james Dry.
FOURTH WARD. - Walter Furlong
was substituted in place of Nathaniel
jacob.
The following resolution was passed
WHEREAS, 1t is ascert tanned that
| several parties have not complied with
the law in giving in their property for
taxation,
Ordered, That the Chairman of the
Board be authorized to subpoena such
| parties to appear before the Board
with their books and papers.
The Committee ON Work House SUBJ
mltted the following report
WILMINGTON, N. c.,
August I'd, 1875.
Othe Honorable Chairman and Board
Of County Commissioners Of Nea0
Hanover County:
GENTLEMEN: We have the honor to
make the following report, viz: Dur
ing the last month reports having cir
culated in the community, and said
reports having reas shed us, that the
prisoners at the Work House were
most barbariously and unhumanely
treated, We repaired Immediately to
the Work Heuse, and fo,End, on exam
lnation, that the contractors had re-
ceived from the State Penitentiary
thirty con victs, seven of which had
escaped, and one had been killed in
attempting to escape. We also exam
ined all The prisoners present. We
found, ON close examination, that the
prisoners had been and were fed ON
good and substantial food, and that
they were we'll worked; the person
clean, but the punishm mt was very
much lnhuman-in fact, too much SO
to be allowed in a civilized communi-
ty. Your committee being so much
impressed with the treatment, they
employed DIR. J. F. King, leading
ply siclan of this city, to examine the
condition of the convlcts now III the
Work House, whose report was pre-
sented at the last meeting. We also
obtained the names of the persons
who circulated the original reports,
aud summoned them befole us. The
following named persons appeared and
made the annexed statements under
oath-the othersn failed to appear, and
We have been liable to get up with
them thus far. The following are the
statements, viz:
William Daniels: "I have 1T diff
ferent times heard the prisoners
mourning and groaning as if in the
greatest agony. 1 am farming just
across the creek, the creek being
about fifty or seventy-fve yards wide.
L have not seen the prisoners, but on
ly hear them as if in great distress. 1t
is a general talk about the neigLbor-
hood that the prisoners are unmerci-
fully treated when punished.
Mack Daniels: II am farming just
across the creek from the Work House
and just above VIM. Daniels. L have
heard nearly every day (Sundays in
cluded) the prisoners mourning and
groaning as If in the greatest distress.
The creek is about fifty or seventy
yards wide. The general report of
the people in the neighborhood is
that the prisoners are numerically
treated"
Cato Daniels: 81 am farming
on the mills tract, just
across the creek from the Work
House, the creek being about fifty or
seventy five yards. L have heard the
prisoners at the Work House at diff
ferent times mourning and groaning,
as if in the greatest agony. 1t is a
general report around the neighbor
hood that the prisoners at the Work |
House is being murdered by the inchs.
Henry Daniels: L farm on the |
Mills" Tract. just across the creek |
from the Work House, on the same |
land as William and MackDaniels' l
have heard the prisoners at different |
times mourning and groaning as if |
l have not seen anything |
myself, only heard it,
After hearing the foregoing testi-
mony, we have concluded that the |
punishment was too severe, and as
some discipline is necessary, we here
decide to leave it to the Board, and if |
the contractors depart from the pun
Ishment laid down by the Board, that
their contract be amended, and they
be discharged.
Very respectfully,