The Hickman courier., 1878-07-05
Kate SoutIern's Camp.

Mrs. Kate Southern, husband and
child have gone into quarters in the
Georgia penitentisry. On the way
south from the mountains OF Pickens
county to Macon they we're greeted with
great popular demOnstra tiOns. Il was g
triumphal train that carried them. At
Atlanta, especislly, the curiosity was
intense enough to keep the city awake
all night waiting for the train TO arrive.
The people assembled in and around the
depot as thick as they could stand, and
as far as they could see the building
Kate southern Was quiet. melancholy
and interesting Her husband was at
her side, and the baby smiling in her
arms She was surprised at the popular
stir her case had made, and was little
inclined to be communicative. The
penitentiary cOnvicts of Georgia are
divided into three or four companies, or
colonies, in different parts of the state,
and are hired out for labor under guard.
They are employed on railroads and
other pubic works, on farms, etc, and
the women are placed at domestic
service. Kate Southern has been as
signed to Captain Jack Smiths camp, in
Baldwin county. and it Is stated that
the popular sympathy for her has ex-
tended to her iailer. She is permitted
10 have her child with her and will be
favored with light duties. Bob Southern,
her husband, who appears to nave been
made q man by the terrible family
troubles and the ordeal through which
the wife has passed, from the scaffoid 10
his ten years Imprisonment communication,
will get work somewhere near ms wife,
and has obtained permission to live with
her during the term of her impTison>
meul. This is an ususual privilege, and
Kate Southern IS happy. Her sister,
AmOrelli HOmbrick who was convicted
as as an sccomplice in the killing, Is also
in Captain Smiths convict brigade. So
there is a happy family party in this
penitentiaTy camp. Bob Southern is
also under indictment for participation
in the crime, If crime it was, but as he
has gone into voluntary exile with his
wi.e and child, it is thought there will
be no prosecution of mis- case. The TAM
lily were reduced TO poverty by their
troubles st law, and this fact becoming
known, liberal subscriptions of money
were made for Kate at different points on
the way to the camp. The representa-
tive people and the papers are full OF eX-
pressions of sympathy. One writes,
Brave Kate Southern; anOtner ar-
raigns Governor Colquitt before the bar
of public opinion for "condemning this
noble woman to a punishment that Is
worse than death" He demands for her
81 fun pardon. Another says; every
true husband in Georgia should admire
Mrs. Kate Southern-the woman who
knew her rights and had the courage to
maintain them" Some go so far as TO
say that Kate Southern's crime would
have made hero of man, and cite in
stances which substantsite the assertion.
This sentiment is becoming widespread
in the State, and the ladies in all the
cities are taking the lead in circulating
petitions for full pardon. and are giving
the case this color-thaU the law has un-
reasonably punished woman when
man would have come out of similar
trouble with freedom and eclat. Under
pressure of the continued, and still in
creasing excitement, it is confdentially
expected that the governor will soon
extend to Kate Southern full pardon
and release. Then, and not till then,
will the moral sense Of Georgia be salts
fed