The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-31


month of June 1885
Commissioner Casey-Did you report the
matter to the officers,
Witness-I reported it to Capt Dillon.
Heard Of 10 other act OF cruelty. Don't
think convictS can be managed without
force; they are cb,ueperous and have to De
dealt with severely.
Commissioner Estill-Nhere did you see
this man who was 50 badly hurts
WitneSs-At The Isle Of Hope.
Commissioner Estill-Did you say | had
charge of the chain-gang at the timei
Witness-Yes.
Commissioner Estill-Did you ever see me
at the Isle of Hopet
WitnesS-No
Commissioner Estill-It doesn't make any
difference VINO was in charge | am per
fecily willing to take my share Of response
bility. | never heard Of this occurrence
before.
Witness in reply to Commissioner Dor
sett-The occurrence took place in June,
three years ago.
Daniel Sheftall sworn-Could not throw
much light on the general character of
Schuman. Had visited the convict camp
with him; didn't stay there long, when
we went on TO Thunderbolt. He had some
papers he wanted witness to sign. Didn't
drink any that day, for Schuman had
promised him he would not drink He ran
a barroom on the Louisville road and Schu-
man often stopped and took a drink.
Commissioner Estill-Why did he promise
you the day you went to Thunderbot that
he wouldn't drink anything
WitnesS-Because | had to sign the papers
and | was a little afraid he would get tight
Commissioner Estill-He bore, then, the
reputation of a man who would get tight
every chance he goti
Witness-Perhaps he did.
Mr. Irif bn NSTitO ! no
meant to say he did have such reputation,
when the witness qualified his words by say
ing Schuman was a man who often drank,
and any man who drank was liable to get
drunk.
Commissioner Estll-How many men do
you make promise not TO get drunk when
yoA start out with them! You believe Mr.
Schuman is a man who gets drunk very
often and will get drunk if he gets a chance'
Witness-He is a man who drinks; that's
the best way | can answer the question.
Mr. Saussy-How long have you known
him to drinkl
WItness-He has been a drinking man
ever since | knew him.
Elias Burnside sworn: Is ock-keeper on
the canal at the Smile lock. Had seen
Schuman at the lock once when he thought
he was under the influence OF liquor, but he
behaved himself Had seen him in town
once or twice when he thought he was
drunk Never mentioned the fact to any
body and didn't know why he had been
summoned as a witness.
f. Whitaker, changing guard, gave
similar evidence to other guards testimony.
Commi sioner Estlll-I want to be put on
record i'll the matter of a statement that
has been made in testimony that | was in
charge of the chain gang in June, 1888.
Such is not the case, as this paper from the
Clerk proves that the committee of which
Mr.. Casey was chairman was in charge.
Commissioner Casey was not in charge
for | was not in the city.
Chairman Walker Well, we can settle
that afterward
Commissioner Estill-No, l want this
paper to go on record now.
A guard named Schuman was then put
on the stand. He had seen Schuman drink
| ing on Sunday, but never in week days.
Commissioner Estill--What relation are
you to Capt. Schuman.
WitneSs-NOne. sir
Commissioner Estill--Were you the Schu-
man who was drunk at Dleter's store when
all that fuss was kicked up!
Witness-I was not
Commissioner Estill-The reason | ask
the question is that W. f. SChuman wrote
me a letter stating that you were the man
who got drunk at Dieter's store.
Witness was not the man.
Here w. +. Schuman, who was seated by
his counsel, spoke up and denied sending
any such letter.
Commissioner EstiII-You brought it to
my Office yourself
w. F. Schuman-I did not
Mr. Meldrim wanted the documentary
evidence produced.
Commissioner EStill-I have not the letter
with me-
Mr.. Meldrin-Can you not send for it?
is
desk at the MORNING NEWS Office. / will
produce it before this investigation is over
A. &. DeLOach, guard, gave some more
guard testimony. Schuman bore a reputa-
ton Of a man who was sober in the dis
charge of his duty.
c. c. Bingham, a railroad policeman,
! formerly guard at the camp, sworn-Had
known Schuman to be drunk in camp twice
at intervals of six months. He would be
drunk at night and sober tine next morning,
attending to his duties. Heard reports
about Schuman and women, but knew
nothing of own knowledge. The women
were locked up every night, Schuman and
witness slept in the same shanty at the
camp. Don't know who circulated reports
about Schuman and "Chuckyn Bacon.
Commissioner Dorsett-Were any other
| guards spoken of III connection with women
when you were there!
Witness-No.
Commissioner Dorsett-What iJ your
opinion of Daniels.
Witness know very little about him.
Commissioner Dorsett-Do you know of
! any babies being born on the chain-gangg
| Witness-One when | first went there
! "ChuckyN Bacon was the reputed mother
| Solicitor duBignon--Were you out at the
chain-gang recently.
/ Witness-Yes 1t was shortly after Col
! Inns was whipped.
Solicitor duBignon-Do you know any
thing of female convict named Rebecca
! w. Woods who was sent to Charleston after
her sentence expired!
WitnesS-I do not.
After the witness came down Clerk Dill
! lon, of the Commissioners, produced the
records Of the court, which showed that III
June, 1851 the Chain-gang COMMITTEES con
sisted of Commissioners Casey and Lawton.
The examination was resumed by the in
PRODUCTION Of j. f. Tietien whose faith in
! Schuman was so great that he was on
bond for his good behavior for $500 given
to the County Commissioners. He would
not go on such bond for Daniels did not
think him good man.
George Deter sworn. Could tell nothing
| about the fuss Schumau had in his store.
| lie had two stores and was at tho
| lower one when tho fuss
happened, saw Schuman about
| it afterward who claimed
! ba boA Ero,l a ,,;.to1 ,ur ".