Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-06-02

An Investigation Ordered = The
Testimony at the Cor0nerss Inquest
"A Divided jury The Verdict.

An Investigation Of0eTe0 - Ane
Testimony at the CorOnerss Inquest
"A Divided jury The Verdict.
Yesterday morning it became known that
the body Of John Andrews, colored con-
Wet, had been brought to the city on Tues
day evening from the camp at Cuyler
swamp, and was carried to the jail. There
were several reports in reference to his
death, but inquiry developed the following
particulars:
Andrews, who it will be remembered was
| lately tried in the Superior Court on the
charge of murder, having killed one Alfred
Shellmsn in a barroom on BRYAN street,
| and who was acquitted, went on an excur-
sion in the early part of May last and occa-
stoned considerable rumpus on the steamer.
| Several of the colored parties who were
| threatened and assaulted by Andrews made
complaint to Magistrate Molina. Warrants
were issued against him, and he was arrest
ed and turned over to the City Court
On the 10Th of May he was arraigned for
trial in the City Court, and was found
| guilty in three different cases, and was SEN
| fenced by Judge Harden to $25 fine and three
months on the chain-gang in each case. He
| bore the reputation Of being desperate
man, and had been in numerous difficulties
| He was sent to join the brigade in Cuyler
swamp, and after two weeks stay there was
brought back to the city corpse. His
| character as q desperate was well known,
aud 1t was thought that wholesome servi-
tude on the chain-gang would benefit
! him, as it was not known that
his hands were too tender for manual labor.
The manner of his death and his conduct
previous to his demise may begleaned from
the testimony taken by the Coroner, aud
| which we publish In full. Ifthere has been
unnecessary cruelty or harsh treatment In
| the case the law should severely punish the
offender, and although the Coroner's jury
have under the evidence considered It their
duty to make a very serious charge
against one of the convict guard,
we deem this not the time to
make full comment upon the matter.
more thorough investigation
will be had before the grand jury of the
Superior Court of the county, and possibly
trial before a jury will be the result.
Hence it were gratuitous to express any ex
| parte opinion, and while deprecating and
| censuring any unnecessarily harsh treatment
| towards the unfortunate creatures whose
passions and frailties lead them to convict
| camps, we deem it unwise to say aught that
might prejudice or bias public opinion.
AS soon as Col. q. G. Casey, one OF the
County Commissioners, who has taken a
/
victs at the swamp, was apprised
of the DEATH he ordered the body
| to be brought to the city, and, notify
| ing the Coroner, requested that an inquest
| be held and post mortem examination be
made, in order that everything in connec-
ton Herewith might be learned. The con-
Wet system is under the supervision of the
County Commissioners, and we are sure
that IL there are any evils they will be
| promptly remedied.
THE INVESTIGATION.
Upon being notified, Coroner Sheftall, with
his usual promptness, secured a jury and
proceeded to the jail, where the body of
| the deceased was lying, and all the wit
nesses being summoned, the inquest was
opened. In view of the interest manifested
in the case we append herewith a copy OF
the testimony In full:
TESTIMONY.
Charles Logan, sworn and testified: About
| IL O'Clock yesterday morning, May S1st, /
was at work at the convict camp; saw one
of the guards whipping John Andrews; he
was tied, lying on the ground, still chained.
The name Of the guard who did the whip
ping is Sam Hesser; in my opinion l think
the deceased received about one hundred
ticks. l went up the hill about four or five
times, and each time the whipping was GO
ing on. The deceased was held during the
whipping by one Ed. Houston, also a con-
Wet. The distance over the hill was about
seventy yards; each way and each time
noticed that the whipping was
| being continued. L have been at the con-
Wet camp about one month, during which
time never noticed the deceased have any
difficulty with the guards. | believe it was
on May 31st that deceased received whip
| ping; very frequently the prisoners are
knocked down with hickory stick. l have
been knocked down several times myself,
as the Jumps on my head at the present
| time will show.
Cross examined: / saw the guards whip
John Andrews; did not notice any signs
of blood on him; after the whipping he was
too feeble to do any work; he died about
ten minutes after receiving the whipping.
The witness here exhibited some scars
on his person, which he asserted were the
result of whippings he had received at the
camp.l was whipped because the wheel
barrow turned over the deceased cried out
loudly while being whipped. The strap
seemed to be piece of harness about two
fingers wide and half an inch thick; the
strap will cut wherever it strikes.
Henry Whitehead, sworn and testified
have been on the chain-gang about six
months. Witness did not identify the strap
shown as the one used for whipping the
prisoners. There was another, something
like hitching trace. The strap shown was
the one Mr.. Friend generally carried, and
was not the one the whipping was done
with. l have seen two or three men logged
| since have been on the chain-gang. Charles
Houston told me that the deceased received
one hundred and ten cuts with the lash. The
Chief asked how many cuts he got, and the
above answer was given, whereupon the
Chief replied at was all right" The de-
ceased was tied at the time OF the whipping.
| Charles Houston told me this on my bunk
| freely on his own account, without my ask
| ing him to do so; the deceased, think, en-
deavored to do his work. l have often
noticed the guards cutting the men during
the time they work. The strap ] allude to
is about two fingers wide and one finger
thick, and had some wire at the end run
ming lengthwise. Houston told me this,
and also did Jerry Wright and John
| Brown.
Charles Houston, sworn and testified
On Monday, S0th of May, John Andrews
was sick; the guard told him to proceed and
do the best he could; the deceased replied
| he would do so, but about an hour later he
| again fell, and said he could not work any
more; the deceased was told to roll his wheel
barrow aside; deceased replied to s. Hesser
that he (Hesser) Thought 1t all right to
have men out there at the camp to kill
! them" at the same time he said, "G-d
d-n you, will get even with you" On
| Tuesday morning. about 10.30 o'clock An