The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-20

u
permitting the convicts TO go publicly un-
attended and unguarded outside the walls
OF the work-house, has been greatly abused.
Conyicts, whether committed for felonics
or msdemcanors, are frequently seen on
the streets and public roads, going about
without any guard attending them, with
no badge OF servitude upon them TO indi-
cate that they are convicts, and in the ap.
parent enjoyment OF all the rights and
privileges OF free citizen. Those convicted
OF the highest oiIenses and under the
longest sentences, are sometimes made
TRUSTEES and permitted TO 60 about free, and
when they are not ostensibly performing
any service for the work house. The idea
OF confinement for crime seems thus TO be
lost sight OF. Not only is punishment
thereby reduced to the minimum or
avoided and the design Of the law thwart-
ed, but II is one OF the most fruitful sources
of the escapes of prisoners.
The law does not authorize any such use
OF the prisoners or any such latitude OF
freedom as is granted TO them by making
them TRUSTEES, and We deem IL of high i'm
portance that the loose and reckless system
now in vogue OF appointing TRUSTEES and
permitting them TO 90 outside OF the work.
tirely, or, II tolerated nj ALL IL should be
done under the stringent rules and regula-
tons, adopted by the county court, as
would make TRUSTEES only OF those convict
cd OF the lighter oiienses, and as would ef-
fectually prevent their escape.
II is shown also that the number OF
prisoners who have escaped from the
work-house since the present superin-
1883, up to April ], period OF three
months, was eleven, when the average
number confined during said period was
ffty-six. OF these, the prisoners convicted
OF felonies and aggravated misdemeanors
who had the longest terms 10 serve. seem
10 have been unfortunate, and to have
had rs little difficulty in making their es-
capes as those convicted OF triiling Of
lenses The local number OF escapes
amounts TO an average Of 20 per cent. on
the average number confined In the work
house during the last three months.
Tho superintendent Of the work-house
IL primarily responsible for these escapes,
and the evil TO tho public is great and
should be stopped. We have found sew
eral indictments against the supcrintend-
cnt, X. NJ. Mason, for permitting these
escapes.
We observed that high fence sur
rounded the work-house proper, and a
prisoner cannot escape thercfrom unless
the gate Is open or he scales the fence by
q ladder. We found upon our recent visit
10 tho work-house a ladder very con-
yenient and suitable for this purpose
placed against the fence behind the
kitchen where the barbed wires joined the
building, and the wires had been cut for
easy ingrcss or cgress m the ease might be.
We called the attention OF Squire Mason
10 this fact, and asked why Il was allowed;
he replied that II was taken away every
night, but on investigation by some Of the
Jury, they were satisfied that this was not
80, ~ the ladder had not been removed
for weeks or months. the ground showing
no signs Of removal and the grass having
grown up thckly around the foot Of the
ladder, where II rested on the earth. II
was very improper and careless to have
had II no located within tho reach OF pris-
onem. II appears also from the proof be-
fore us that while legally II is the duty Of
the superintendent 10 keep all conyicts
closely confined in the work.house, or 10
work them outside Of IL only upon Hucb
public work, or under such contracts ~
the county court NAV specifically pre-
scribe; and while he " prohibited by law
from being interested, directly or indirect
ly In any contracts made touching the
| labor Of such convicts; yot In violation II
this plain law, the present superintendent
II. NJ Mason, took from the work house
! In the month Of March four convicts con.
| fined there for crime, and placed them,
unattended and unguardcd ON his own
plantation. In Shelby county, near White
station, viz, Julius MclAnc, Emma Me
Gowan, I'd Cohen, and Augustus Hill,
where they continued Ia work, In various
services, for his private gain, ON his pri-
yate plantation, Tor n period Of about two
months, and until this investigation he
gan, when they were removed thccfrom
by an order OF your honor During these
two months, whom these oonyicis were
working ON the superintendent private
farm for his personal benefit their names
appeared ON the work. house books NJ being
| in the work house and the county was
regularly charged with food, etc, M II
they were still confined there. For this
gross delinquency In duty Of the supcrin-
tcndcnt We have found indictments against
him.
II IA further In evidence before Ms that
certain conyicts, lsome before their time
was out, and others after their time was
out. but when they were ignorant 81 the
fact, by some arrangement between Esq.
X. NJ. Mason, the superintendent Of the
workhouse, aud Esq. ID. q. slaughter, the
chairman OF the county court, and his son,
James slaughter, Ihavc left the work-hous
and have been put 10 work on plantation
In fayctte county, Tenn, belonging 10 the
said James Slaughter, in plain violation o.
law.
Thus on or about the ed day Of fcbru.
AIRY, 1888, two convicts, John Prcwctt and
Lewis Young were discharged from III,
work.housc by the order OF the crimina
court. The said u. q. slaughter and hii
son, James Slaughter. and the supcrin
tendent of the workhonse, according 10 III,
evidence before us, went 10 these parties
when confined at tho workhousc nj tina
time, and keeping them In ignorance oI
the fact that they had been discharged an,
were free, told them 20 work out the bal
ancc Of their time upon the said plantation
al said Slaughter, instead Of al.thc work
house, TO which Prcwett and louni
agreed. They were then taken 20 thu
Slaughter plantation In Fayeite county
for about two months, for the personal gail
Of said slaughter, being told that their sen
: fences were not yet out. They received NJ
! pay for the time they worked there io
said Slaughter, and believed they wen
working out their sentences. This impo
sition and slavery, enforced ty false pre-
tcnscs upon These ignorant people, was II
legal, aud deserves the scycrcst rcbuke.
We have presented indictments agains