River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-03-27

say that Guifridi treated Pimonti wrong
about his wages; that he brought him out
from New York to Augusta, and, after prom
Using to increase his wages, discharged
him with probably balance due; and that,
writhing under the sense of wrong, In
strange land, half-starved and helpless, he
threw himself upon the man that had
wronged him. He was sentenced to ten
years hard labor in the penitentiary.
And now comes the strange part of the
story. He became very violent at receiving
his sentence, and declared that he would die
before he would work. Upon reaching the
camp he refused to take hold of the plckax.
Under the discipline of the camp, he was
stripped, tied up, and whipped. He laughed
and cursed in broken English as the cruel
lash cut into the flesh, and when the whip
ping was over said, ''Whip some more; me
want more" He was whipped again until
the superintendent, seeing that he was ex-
hausted, ordered him down. He was whipp
ed again the next day and the next, but
never would he touch the pickax. His back
was lacerated, and it must have been torture
every time the lash touched him, but he
never WINGED. He cursed his keepers, and
laughed at their efforts to conquer him.
About this time it was discovered that he had
not eaten mouthful since he was brought
to the camp, and that under the effects of
whipping and starvation he was very near to
death. MIR. Twiggs, the engineer, went to
see him, and asked him why he would not
eat. He said he would never eat again until
he was given a new trial. He seemed thor
oughly convinced that he had been unjustly
treated, and that if he could get new trial
he would be cleared. He said, "Niggar
stole money,-four years,-me ten years.
why?" abiding to negro who had been
sentenced when he was. He was so weak
that he could hardly stand up. MIR. Twiggs
asked him If it didn't hurt him to do with
ont food. 'Hurt first three days; very nice
now; nothing hurt mes To Mr.. Twiggs'
horror, he then staggered to the fire, and,
picking up some live Goals, held them in the
palm of his hand, and, turning towards
Twiggs, said: "Can you do that? Nothing
hurt me-" MIR. Twiggs says the smoke from
the burning fl ssh rose from Pimonti's hand,
but he did not vince. When the Goals had
blsckened he threw them to guard, saying :
'EYou get plenty dem when You go down
stairs" Mr.. Twigg, asked him if he wanted
to die, why he didn't run and let the guard
shoot him. He said: "Den me go down
sta rs.'' but if you don't eat on will die!''
''Yes; but no killee myself. Judge killee me.
Christ go to Jerusalem when knew Jews kill
him. Judge he Jews. He kill me-" AT
last Mr.. Twiggs promised TO write to the
Governor, asking for new trial, and asked
Pimonti to eat something. mo" he said,
.'me write, me live five, six day, no eating
''But you may be dead before the Governor
can reply?" Then you write Governor and
tell him man dead-take no more trouble. "
At length after show ng him a letter to the
Governor, the stubborn fellow was persuaded
to take something to eat. He was then al
most literally dying, and presented shock
ing spectacle. He has not worked at all,
and when ordered to do so, simply says
'sBring strap" His case excites great inter
est, as the stubbornness with which he acts
induces the belief that there may be extenu-
ating circumstances. The Italian minister
has written to Gov. Colquitt about the case
and asked that the man be given new
trial, promising that a capable interpreter
shall be present to see that the prisoner has a
fair showing, and can have his story under
stood. A purse is being raised among the
Italians of Georgia and Carolina for his
benefit. The Governor is looking over the
papers in his case.