Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-10-01
RETURNED TO THE CHAINS
A CONVICT BREAKS CAMP FOR
FEAR OF 4 WHIPPING.

Il. NJ. r-,r,r,f, Prisoner Picked mp by
Desersfxe HauIey and Turned over 70
the offcrrs-The story OF HIS Escape
Tffteen Years q Convict.
on Monday night an escaped negro con-
vict named John johnson. was arrested
bv Detective Hanley and lodged in
fau. Yesterday morninz, at the request
ofthe prisoner. Capt. ". : Bryant, Su-
uerintendent or the convict camp in
Dodge county. was notified that johnson
was in iaiI here and wished him % come
f0r aim. II seems that the prisoner.
after he was picked up bY the detectives,
urOfessed that he had been leading a mis-
cradle life Tor about two months and
said that If be had enough money % pay
bis fare be would have returned q the
camp Capt Bryant answered the letter
- tue sheriff BY taking the train for "a
vaunah. and arrived here yesterday He
called IL the ialI and identified Johnson
who appeared 90 be glad % see him.
reporter ~ the MORNING NEW
called "a Capt. Bryant and found nlm {.
- a large. sQuare-bult. iarge-ieAl .lIru
ard r--0Iure. tut zGrG-uatured looking
person. dressed lL blue SUIT MS lace
and bands were westler-1ealel- ana sra y
49, ~aa--F from beneath a high. full
forehead and an ambush Of heavy 5rows.
while "a thin suit 0f black hair. inclined
= ~ gray. curIed about the crown in a
careless but not disordeTed fashion
ON icing Introduced % the reporter.
Cant. BRYANT remarked that johnson and
his vile. N0llie. were convicted and sen
fenced o. The penitentiary about nfteen
wears ago for being parties . the death Of
5 child iu this county. The woman was
sentenced go imprisonment for lite and
couple had been iu the camp in Dodge
county some two OF three years. the
woman employed II a cook and The man
acting in me capacity S. --trustT-'' BON
being very faithful and generally Well
behaved.
About the middle ~ July. capt. Bryant
vas called away from the camp Tor about
E-y1 weeks. and during bis a1sence one %
z guards threatened % have Johnson
whipped - The Captain upon rs reIurn O..
Ar1-1-- II the guards was also in the
aal.r 90 eursiuE The men. and johnson
HaH said frequently before thar be would
rather - whipped than cursed In fact.
tla 11sl se -f tle colFlcts IN being cursed
prompted Capt Bryant o forbid 81.
H- asked johnson yesterday why be
fzr- -Ee camp II be- liked The life tbere and
was - anxious On return. The prisoner
replied mat the men ceuld get along well
enough HItn hin bat Dnt with the guards.
con SUNDAY morning. July =. he had been
Go as trusty % sharpen his razor in
order On shave some q the guards az the
camp On their return from taking the con-
yicts 81 a bath in nelEnoorng pond
when the recollection Of threat made by
tle guard dav OF TWO previous that be
would have him whipped on the
return u the Captain. inspired him
win 50 much dread that be was tempted
6 steal away. He went % Macon
aud Atlanta. and finally came u Savan-
E4r for The purpose, as be says. Of dellv-
e-inz himself up. when Detective Hanley
arrested him.
TIE reporter asked Capt. Bryant what
I -e would DO with the prisoner On arriving
a-rle camp. and was informed that be
would be restored % his duties as a
-trusty." as be was one Of the
[ h1sr c0uylcts he ever had
charge Of. and would not
Z have ventured % make his escape after
serving ID Of the - years If he had not
| been overcome by the dread Of the prom
/ ised whipping.
Capt Bryant left the city with the pris
| 0ner on the evening tram for Jesup, anc
1 WIll reach Eastman to-day.
The records Of the superior Court since
I I~61 fail % show the crime for which
| Johnson and bis wife were convicted. and
l it's probable that Capt. Bryant was mis-
l informed as 70 the county where the
/ crime was committed.