Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1884-09-18
SHOCKING TREATMENT.


hontuchy tonflcth AhNefu hnd hentdu
unti Two Of Them Die.
ST. LOUIS September l5.--A special from
Lexington, KY, says: The Coroners jury
finished lis inquest into the death Of John
o'DrIen and James Smith, the two conylcis
alleged 10 have been killed Mt the convict
camp at the watcr works reservoir The
testimony revealed terrible state Of affairs
at the camp and the most lnhuman treat
ment Of the conylcts by their keepers. Dr%
/ Buckner and Scott who held a post MOI.
tenn on the bodies, testified that O'Bhen
showed bruises upon both sides OF the chest
and upon the back ard scrotum. The
bruises were not sufficient to have killed q
well man, but would certainly be serious 10
a sick one aud haston his death. The negro
Smiths body showed no signs Of mlstreat
ment except confusion upon the head,
which was not considered fatal. The doc
tors thought that Smith had pleurlsy and
that Mother o 'Ilrlen nor Smith were In con.
ditlon TO work. The bodies OF the men
were In an advanced stage Of deeon,posr
ton, therefore the autopsy was not as salts
factory as Il might otherwise have been.
A SAD STORY
Green Parker, convict, whose time ex.
plred Friday, testified that w. B. Conner
whipped 0'Brien severely three or four
times Tuesday with a lcather strap, because
he would not work, 0'Bren protesting all
the time that he was sick and could not
work. Half an hour after the first whip
ping Conner went to where 0'Brlen was sit
ting IN the sun and felt his pulse. lie then
said; There Is nothing the matter with
you," and knocked him down and kicked
him In the slle several times. J. }.
Quinn, guard, also kicked O'Brlen sew
eml times. 0'Brien got on his knees and
begged for mercy saying he would work II |
he could, but was too sick. "lf you have |
no pity for me, he pleaded, have pity ON
my poor wife and children" Conner |
cursed him and said, Odd d-n You, III |
kill you, instead Of thinking about helln
About this time Quinn knocked the
negro (Smith) down, and tried TO get some
OF the convict carriers 10 run their
carts over both Smith and 0Brien, who lay |
senseless on the ground. Smith rose and In
a dazed manner
AIiE,pTED TO srAGGEn AWAY,
and Quian called upon the other guanis 70
shoot him. 0'Brien and Smith we're then
taken TO their quarters, and died within aa
hour O'Brien never spoke after he was
knocked down the last time. Twenty-Five
Dr thirty conyicts were examined, and
hey all told the same story and
Parker's statement. Captain
Of the firm Of Mason Il Co.,
Who are working the convicts, was present.
ind told eaeh Of the conyiets to tell the
whole truth, without fear, and he would
protect theln, and they testified unre.
eryedly.
BEATEN,
According 10 the testimony, the convicts
IRE treated very brutally, and are not al
owed to slt down from four a. N. TO seven
}. M, being compelled TO stand while eat
ng their meals Of corn bread and bacon.
several Of the conycts made proiiers Of
heir bodies, showing where they had been
ashed mercilessly, as The still tester
ne wounds evidenced. They testified that
be guards have habit OF Handwriting
prisoners and whipping them with lash
through which tacks are stuck. The Cor
ners Jury found a verdict that John
)'Brien came to his death at the hands OF
Y B. Conner and J. J. Quinn, aud James
miih at tie hands of J. J. Quinn. Conner
) In jail under the charge of murder, but
lulnn left the country last Thursday Cap
ain cambridge has telegraphed in
Il directions 10 have him arrested and
rought to Justice. cambridge ok | ,
resses great astonishment at the reyela
ions made to the coroner's jury. His con
dence in Conner has been so great that he
as not given the camp his personal super
islon, but has remained at his headquarters
i Winchester.
TALK or LYNcnING.
Great excitement prevails and there is talk
organizing mob to take Conner out Of the
III and hang him, and to 90 to the convict
mp and furnish all the conyicts with
lain clothes and turn them loose but better
lunsel is likely to prevail The 'congcts,
lree or four hundred IN number, were
rought here several months ago 10 con.
ruct the reservoir of the new water works
J Mason q Co., the contractors who are I
SO lessees Of the Kentucky penitentlary, g
I'd a majority Of the citizens have objected
II all along. Money has been raised tc
ny O'Bren new coffin and shroud, and
s body will be taken from the convict /
trying ground and reinterred in the Catho. }
: cemetery. 0'Brien's family reside In D
ew York city. He had been sent up from C.
2dueah FOR two years for forgery. a
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