The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-15
The Righteous Sentence ola Bolivar
County Magistrate.
Men With Mashed Fin yers Worked
Till Amputation.
A Chapter OF Horrors Which WIN Open
the Eyes OF tho People-The
Convict Lease system
Must Go.

The people Of Mississippi are again con-
irontcd with the odous convict lease
problem, and this time II comes in
shape that will admit Of no evasion or
denial. Heretofore rumos Of cruel, bar
-hgrous and inhuman treatment OF con
yicts have occasionally found their way
into print, and after serving M matter Of
comment and wonder ioF the space OF n
week or ten days, have been dismissed as
eXtravagant romanccs printed for the pur-
pose Of creating a prejudice against a sys-
TEN which had been devised by ingenious
minds ~ q wise measure OF economic gov
eminent, liable to abuse, but sound in
principle aud humane enough ia practice,
II surrounded by proper safeguards. The
very remoiCnCss OF the scene OF reported
outragcs gave them the color of romance.
the human mind being 10Th 10 credit
tales OF wanlon cruelty and icndisb
ierocty 10 helpless victims, and rejecting
all evidence Of such deeds as unreliable
unless supported by ocular proof. What
the eye sccth the mind will believe has
been the rule in reading Of outrageous
treatment Of conyicis, aud, ~ heretofore
the people had not been eye witnesses To
the deeds complained Of, the narrative
touched their imaginations but never
stirred their hearts. But now the situation
Is different; the question ispIcscnied under
changed aspect and under conditions
that blind man might respond TO- though
the scales before his eyes were Of three ply
thickness and each ply composed Of self
interest interviewer with State pride. The
convict lease question has been presented
TO the people Of Bolivar County in q shape
that s,aggers them and sets their blood
boiling with indignation and their hearts
thrilling with unuitcmblc pity Tor the
creatures who, though separated from
them by wall Of crime, are yet moi be-
You'd the pale OF human sympathy and
Christian compassion.
Scenes have recently been enacted in
tina, county which have stirred the hearts
OF is people TO tho core, aud
TnE ourcRY CO.. NDigNArioN
which followed will find an echo In the
generous hearts Of H. chiyalrous sons and
dyincly gifted women. Tho Roscdalc in.
cldcnt which TuE APrrtL isabout 10 place
on record will mark the rise Of wave OF
outraged public sentiment which will
swell and swell until breaches such resist
less proportions that the convict lease sys-
tom Of Mississippi and Of Tennessee will
be swept to tic boitoinless pit, whore II
was conceived.
Tm ArrEAL need make no apology for
entering upon matter not strictly ger.
name 10 Tennessee interests II has ire
qucnty been Hnccfcd at ns mcddIcsomc
for discussing matters Of moment 10 Mis-
hissipians and ita defense, II defense were
needed. has been that its large circulation
in Mississippi, circulation larger than
that Of ans paper published In that State
or elsewhere. demands that Il give rca-
sonablc share oi iis space 10 Mississippi
matters oi vital public concern. Ia tie
prcacnt case the obligation IN enhanced by
the fact that the statute Book Of Tennessee
Is disgraccd 10y the snmc 0di0us convict
lease system NJ that which governs IN Mis-
sissippi. and upon that system and oil Of
its features TINS ArPrAL bias declared open,
ceasclcss and unrclcnting war
with this much by way Of preface, TuE
ArrrAL herewith presents the result Of an
investigation made by q trusted member
OF Us staff
Information came from several sources
that the conyicls az work on the Bolivar
loop Line connecting Lamont with Rose.
dale In Bolivar County, Miss, were sub
icclcd 10 cruel, inhuman and harbarous
treatment. This was followed by news
that seven Of the best citizens OF Bolivar
Coun,y had made complaint 10 the Gov.
srnor OF cruel treatment Of conycis IN a
elcgram Of which the following 10 q copy:
BosfbALE Miss. Dec. G ISIS
3ov Robi iowry. Jackson, M.s.
The conyicls at work on the loop Line
II the Louisville, New Orleans x Texas