Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-05
MIR. SMITHS COMPLAINT.
Penitentiary Physician WestmOreland
ReplIes to the Letter

Penitentiary Physician WestmOreland
Replies to the Letter.
In his communication to the Athens,
Georgia Bonner Waterman, explaining
his losses in farming, Hon. James Nj.
Smith, of Oglethorpe, uses the following
language;
In June, 1885. lost 81, 600 in a fight with the
Governor and peuitenuary official to disprove
false charges brought against me by these
oWclals and 10 prevent them from making
political capital for themselves at the expense
of my honor and good name. In the above
$4,000 Is not included my own time, which In
that particular time of the year was worth q
great deal II could have used IL in looking
after my legitimate business; hence charge
$1,000 cash loss in IA fight with opium
eaters, drunkards, political 2splrants and
eaters OF public hash. might have settled
this case with some less expense by boOthck-
ing, fawnng and surrenderng principle.
DR.. Willis II. Westmoreland, principal
physician Of the penitentiary, says
mir. Smith is mad because he has been
brought to taw with his cOnvicts. When
visited the camps. / found that his bar
racks We're insufficient, unhealthy and
unsafe. l therefore ordered him to build
new barracks, which he did after great
remonstrance. | found that his convicts
were being badly treated, and INSULT
GENTLY fed, and kept on improper food.
There was scurVy in his camp, which IL
simply impossible where proper food is
given. | reported these facts to the Gov
ernor, as was my sworn duty. The Gov
ernor thereupOn ordered MIR. Smith TO APP
pear before him. Mr.. smith secured
a postponement Of the hearing Of
his case. did not oppose
this as my only object was to
secure a correction or the existing evils.
Before the time for the hearing arrived,
Mr.. Smith represented that he had made
improvements and corrected the trouble.
l paid visit to the camp and found that
this was true, and the Governor there
upon laid the case aslde. / cannot see
how this cost Mr.. Smith $4,000. lie was
represented before the Governor by Judge
Erwin and Mr.. Russell, and as no argu-
ment was had, ] do not see how he could
have been out $4,000"
"He states that his loss is $1,000"
81 suppose he may charge up the money
he spent IN improving the camp. Ii 80,
this should be charged humanity rather
than to litigation. The truth is, Mr..
Smith found that the conYicts were not
paying him on the farm as he had expect
ed, and he determined to reduce expenses.
This meant pinching the conyicts, and it
is against pinching the cOnvicts that we
are bound TO protest, and against which
pay on Mr.. Smiths farm. that gives him
no license to underfeed them. 1t would
have been much pleasanter for me to get
along quietly with all the lessees, but
where | have seen an outrage on HUMANE
ty, cruelty, inefficient buildings, INSULT
cient or improper food, ! have reported
the same 10 the Governor. The records
will show whether the present admins
tration Of the penitentiary is not better
than it has been, and on this record we
are willing to rest"
HAS there been any difficulty between
you and Mr.. Smith latelyT"
Nothing, except that / have ordered
him to build hospital, which he has
promised to do next month. His present
| hospital is inefficient, and Will be so de-
cided by any impartial men who look at
/ It,. l have simply called his attention to
! TINS fact, and instructed him that he
must have a better one. The difficulty
| with Mr.. Smith is that he considers every
| complaint lodged against the treatment
! OF the cOnVicts as personal matter
! against himself. If he will treat the con
victs humanelY, give them good quarters
and proper focd, he will have no further
! trouble. / am perfectly Indifferent L
! him. In making my official reports
| never consider the lessee. 1t is simply
! the convicts and their quarters that
! look after. If Mr.. Smith will be humane
his temper will improve, and if he Insists
on being cruel he will probably get mad
! der than ne is now"
'Mr. Smith has been very cOnspicu-
! GUS" DR.. W estmOreland went on, I'm the
| newspapers, with what he calls his
! trouble. His trouble is simply this, he
/ has determined that he will not treat his
! conviets humanely, and we are deter
! mined he snail, Ifbe would improve his
/ camps, feed his prisoners, and meet the
| Governor frankly when complaints are
made, he would have no trouble. But he
| rejects every suggestion, pOstpOnes every
| reform. lodges the Governor, and relies
on bullying mis- way through. Instead Of
! doing right, he bullies and abuses. Now
we propose to stop him. Col. Towers is
not in the city to-day, ana we cannot get
certain papers that we need. AS soon rs
he returns, we will make full statement,
that will show the public exactly what
the trouble is"