Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1885-08-15
"D1N'T GIVE ME AWAY"
5a,s = Voice irons Crew Lake
Convict Camps.

SUNMONrp BrfOEr ilIV.
The letter Of Ei,t,irt Attorney
Iolor, announced rs published in IN
Aicyanl,Ia. la. paper # Yesterday.
. have revived the interest heretofore
man'f"~tcd IN the Crew Lake convict
cain?,.
I III, able S.gtc Nttoipry, from
whom the people expect 81 much, It
* inferred from Il telegram 10 the
Picavuur Of the ith inst.,) has al
mos, ahan1ln.,! IL. hope f obtain
im@ am Investigation into the ALLEGED
inhumauitv CHARGED against the
/ Pen;tcntirry lrosccs and their maia-
GER: at Crew Lake camps, because
torsooth NJ. Frank J. Fisher, Of this
city, and Mr. james Riley, Of Calves
ton, TcX.. have not responded t. his
request that the appear before the
EIchland parish Grand Jury N Sept.
and make the necessary charges
against the accuscd lcssces Of tie
/ Louisiana State Ponitenti;.ry.
M]or Toler is too haaty IN the
matter As far as Mr.. Fisher is con-
cerncd, we havc it from his lips, his
interest Ill the l..it;". is aroused, and
for 10 other reason than to coutrl-
Lute to the relief of poor, degraded
and suffering humanity, he has lie
tcrmined 10 attend the meeting OF
the RIriland parish court; has writ
ten Mayor Tolcr 10 that effect, tpCA
the receipt Of the Picayune here,
containing the telegram above alluded
to. he aeaiu wrote Major Toler and
reiterates his intention to be prcs9't.
There is 40 question but what Nr.
Riley will attend and prosecute the
case.
III allu ling to Mr.. Fisher, the Post
said. few days since, that III what
ever direction his testimony might
be cast it would carry the weight OF
conviction with it.
This gentleman has been intel-
) viewed in REGARD to his visit to the
, camps. Il will be remembered that
he accompanied young Riley Wien
lie went III search of his brother
5 remains. Mr.. Fisher has read .he
, reported investigation Of the Mon
roe newspapers Of the affair, and Is
not at all surprised at the result oi
l their description Cf the camps.
lie does not impu9n the motives
Of the press one iota; but he knows
= - well as they tie alacrity witt
Which things brighten around these
convict camps when a newspaper
: man i, about. The questions ho
) would propound to the editors O
= the B,.Iict;n and Telegraph are Il,
E follows: Were you invited to inspect
. the camp? Was the day set wEc.
c YOU should come? At what time die
+ YOU reach Crew Lake, and when die
. YOU leave the camps?
s Mr.. Fisher will never forget th'
c almonition he received from poo
e specimen OF shattered manhood
Il when he whispered i'll his Cal. Don
= give me away Don't tell anybody
: told YOU; they'd Kill me if you did:
Il Nor can he ever forget the determine
: ton of another convict there wht
said: When my time is out, Cos
s helping me, | intend to devote III.
h life to visiting every COMMUNITY i
Il the State to denouncc their horri,
" crimes, far worse than slavery"
"a During Mr.. Fishers visit to Grey
5 Lake he timed the working hours
e at 10 minutes to ) O'Clock il tn
Il morning the men were hard at wori
IS but one hour was allowed for dinner
d and they only stopped when tn
e heavy canopy Of heaven rrevente
4. their further labOrs.
II How many have been laid to res
5, under the silent trees, God know
II 1t is asserted thai some have cnvie
d them their fate, saving anything Wa
k preferable to their life Of inquistorl'
IF torture. Mr.. Fisher, however, cOun
lie ed twenty-five lew dug graves, III
ir row. seven more across the rallroa
ii track. and was told "the woods wei
II full of them"
a. How easy a matter to seal wit
rs secrecy forever the mouths Of col
tradiction? Beyond the pale of lay
it the convict is neger heard, should L
le prove so defiant as to brave the ang'
rs OF his keeper.
e. This is the class Of evidence Maj
~ Toler should have before him, and v
v beg to assure that Official lie can ha'
i. it for the asking. Let him persey er
le "and generations yet unborn will II