The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-07-15
SUFFERING IN THE STOCKADE.
An Odlcial Report at Last on Majo,
80. TWlggs' Camp.

have the honor to report that in obedi-
enco to your communication Of the 18th
inst, proceeded with DR.. Pope, physi-
clan ofthe Penitentiary, on that day to
visit the convict camp Of Major A. J.
Twiggs on the Savannah Valley Railroad,
in Abbevillo County. On reaching Able
Vile c. II. that evening, had converse
tion with the gentlemen named by Col. j.
G. Haskell in his communication, and
was shown note from gentleman in
the ncighborhood, stating that the con-
vict, reported to havo been so severely
whipped had died on Sunday morning,
the 14th inst. Mr.. NJ. l.. Bonham, Jr.,
acting for Solicitor Orr, on this infor-
nation instructed the Coroner to 60 to
the camp and hold an inquest. The
body was exhumed and the inquest
held in my presence on Thursday morn
ing. and attnch hereto a copy Of the
finding of the jury, together with the
certificates Of the two physicians who
were sworn and testified. AS will be
seen by the certificates, it was found
on investigation that Simon Daniels,
the man who had died on Sunday, died
from natural causes. DR.. Pope viewed
the body also and concurrcd in the
opinion Of the other physicians. l
found, however, that one man, Henry
Porter by name, had been most cruelty
beaten, and requested the Coroner to
take the entire jury to tho camp and
make personal examination Of his
case, which he kindly did, and for my
self | must say that have never in my
life seon human being more brutally
beaten. Besides Henry Porter, Frank
Smiley was the only man who had
been severely beaten. although four
others showed slight scars. All the
convicts claimed that their whipping
had been inflicted by one A. w. Jack
son, who had been left in charge Of the
camp in the absence Of Mr.. G. N. Car
roll. the regular oversecr, and am cred
IDLY informed and believe that the said
A. W. Jackson is responsible for Ill of
this cruel treatment. have, therefore,
sworn out warrant for his arrest. In
justice to Mr.. Carroll, who was in
charge Of tho camp when we arrived,
| would say that he was anxious that
the inquest should be held, not only on
the body Of Daniels, but on all Of the
others who had been recently buried.
would also state that Dr. Tassart told
me that Mr.. Carroll was uniformly kind
to the convicts and never sent them
out to work until reported fit for duty
by him. and he (Dr. TrggarD had vis-
tied the camp every day since they had
been there except about four days. All
Of the convicts at the camp and also
those recently returned to the Pcniten-
tiary regard Mr.. Carroll as their friend.
and speak in high terms Of his kind
ness, although Mr.. Carroll. himself, ad-
mits that he worked them more than
the ten hours per day allowed by law.
These convicts are not working nnder
the recent Act Of the Legislature, and
therefore the guards arc not Of my ap-
pointment. but since my return / have
notified Mr.. Carroll that he must com.
ply with Section 2,73O Of the Revised
Ssetut a., governing the hours ;of labor,
&c., and have sent him copy Of the
section. Whiio there cautioned him
that he was marching his hands too far
to their work, (between two and one
half and three miles.) He explained
by saying that lie could not get sufi-
cient supply Of pure water for the con-
victs any nearer to the work, and fur
ther said that in about a weeks time he
would finish the work he was now on
and would move nearer to the stockadc.
i would call your attention to the re-
port of the physician, DR.. Pope, for the
statement Of the physical condition oi
the convicts. found that they had
plenty Of food (brcad, meat and peas,
but scarcity Of fresh vegetables
They had also sufficient clothing and
blankets, although the blankets needed
washing; and there was scarcity o
straw, which Mr.. Carroll promised te
have corrected within a few days.
found nine graves at the camp. the date
Of death having been reported at thi.
office as follows, the four last since
left Columbia to make the inspection
May 9, l8, 1s, 20, 80, June 10. 10, .11nnt
13. DR.. Taggart has promised to- Sent
a certificate setting forth the Cause o
death in each case, and have directed
the Coroner to hold an inquest on tn
body of Henry Porter in case Of hi
death. l also found that there ha.
been two escapes for this year, one o,
the 18th Of May and one on the 9th o
June. MI. Carroll informed me that h
had discharged Jackson immediatel,
on his return to the camp, and while h
IL A.,