The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-10
time, when both guards and steward are

ulne, Wnen Doth guards and steward are
present.
l do not put best convicts in the laundry
Mushroom and on the farm as charged.
lput them where my honest judgment
and common Sense tells me. have now
one-legged man in the laundry and a
one-armed one on the road, and he is good
in handling pick. There are hundreds |
OF countrymen passing the convicts while
at work, and they will not hesitate to give
the emphatic lie TO this trivial and con-
temptible charge.
Now in regard TO using mules and teams
Tor electionering purposes, | will say |
went once into the Sixth and twice into |
the Sixteenth civil district with Squire
Pope accompanying me each time. As to
John Middleton, Judge DuBose having
seen him on the witness stand in some
case, told me that if would recommend
him he would discharge him. which he did
do Not having the means to 90 to his
home in New Orleans, he asked me to aid
him, which | did by making him guard.
| have known him many years and my
confidence in him has not been misplaced.
lie was only convicted OF carrying sailors
knife, which is in common use by
steamboat men. do not allow convicts
to the number of ten or twenty to wander
up and down the road at pleasure. They
never leave the prison without q guard.
AS Tor my management, | consider 1t good,
aud for the truth OF this statement / am
satisfied an inspection in person will prove
il to you. Now, in closing, | deliberately
charge II. b. Pass with being the insti
gator of this whole business simply be-
cause | demonstrated with him for not do
ing his duty, and if have proper con-
coption OF the functions OF my office, the
whole responsibility OF the institution
rests upon me, and | have to see that
every one discharges the duties Of his
place. feel satisfied that had | allowed
ii. B. Pass TO assume authority that does
not attach to the position OF Overseer and
do as he pleased, you would not have
heard the hue and cry that has been
raised against the institution, but every
thing would have been serene and alto
gether lovely with him.
He has been hostile to me, and has used
every means in his power to impair my
usefulness rs superintendent and work in
jury to the county work-house II is also
my belief that be has aided prisoners to
escape. X. Nj. MASON,
Superintendent WOrk-house.
Sworn TO and subscribed 10 before me
this 10th day OF July, 1883.
II. IRnY, il
Mike Lee, night Waterman, testified
that the gate between the dining-room
and Office is closed every evening before
the gang comes from their work. under
stand the stable lot gate was never locked
also that the superintendent does not al
low teamsters the privilege Of wash.house
and dining-room; that teamstcrs are locked
up rs soon MS they eat supper which Is one
hour and half before ringing the bell.
Sworn to July s, 1883, before Squire A.
r. Pope.
Thomas Burk, guard, testiles that he
has been a guard for nearly four years,
and says il is not true that Mason per-
suades convicts TO escape, and that escapes
are not more numerous now than in pre-
vous years As TO John Jones, he swcars
that the former was appointed in Squire
Thomas time, and when Mason took
charge he removed Jones and put him
back among the conyicts lie did allow
few teamslcrs 10 60 TO the cemetery, but
none ever escaped.
I. J. Cole, guard, testifcs that Pope
was recaptured, placed on the teams aud
| then left; that Witherspoon was never
shackled, Mason telling him 10 desert II
he could, as he wanted to test the watch.
fulncss OF the guard. John Jones was Sc
lected as n trusty by Pass. Hence Nicely
was a teamster and left. Dan Sullivan es-
capped from the kitchen about 3 o'clock in
the morning. Pass took the shacklos of
Ben Evans aud made him teamster and
Evans escaped, was rccapturcd in Arkan.
sas, brought back aud again walked of
from the guard, j. n. Mathews, while he
was looking ut him aud talking 10 him.
lie was carrying a pick at the time.
| further state there were three men who
were teamstoB that were allowed TO
90 10 the city Saturday evenings in the
capacity OF TRUSTEES, and allowed 10
20 about an any kind Of work necessary 10
be done, hauling pipe, lumber, etc, on the
road. Mason never allowed cOnyicts 10 90
to the city aud return when they saw it,
Pat Maloney was allowed TO 90 six DAYS
before expiration OF time for good conduct
Mn. Pendcrgrast was discharged by order
of court. As 10 lectures, Mason simply
told me lac must cut of my whisky, M the
other guards were drinking too much and
that he would have 10 stop the whole BUSH
ness. III billiard was taken out by Phil
GWinn 90 assist him in the kitchen, which
is always done. Blucsione escaped
from the road. Witness has been there
two years and there are always
more or less escapes Mason never gave
teamsters privilege OF wash room and din.
ing room. but did permit them TO SIT
In the yard till bell time In presence OF
guards. As well as witness can remember
he did send two convicls 20 capture two
escapes: one returned with his man, the
other did not return, Mathews allowed
Sales TO escape and Mason held back his
salary 10 make good fine and offered. him
the balance, which lac refused. Does not
know whether mules were used for cleo
tioncering expenses, but does know th,
stock Is in fine condition. Has never heard
Mason threaten conyicts with day cell Of
iron pick II they told grand jury or eom
mitlce anything.
; sworn to July ~ before Squire sIrck
. land.
, Il will be noticed that none Of these wit
= ncsscs were examined by the committee
T and that only two Of them made allidayi
, before 'Squirc Strickland. who Is MON
= bor Of the committee, and that all OF thu
! testimony IL by persons who are undo
obligations 20 Mason and In his power
p
, rErraRTD by n combination, proportion
= aud process peculiar 70 itself, Hood
b sarsaplrilla accomplishes cures hithefp