San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-02-21
TIE INDIGNATION MEETING.
The Citizens Assemble and Protest
Loudly Against Peniten-
tiary Brutality.

the ulblTltb court TOOm 10 pfOttsi hkhiubt
the action OF one w. NJ. Winters, n pen
girl convict, Rosa Schmidt, through the
streets chained by the neck to q buck
negro, and TO petition the governor for
executive clemency. The meeting WAS
one OF the most cosmopolitan character,
and all were enthusiastic In their action
10 attain the ends for which the meet
ing assembled.
Mr.. Henry Dienowity called 1t
20 order. and Col. II. Il. Andrews was
elected chairman. Mr.. 4. L. Claudon
was also elected secretary.
Col. Andrews in taking his seat,
thanked the meeting for the honor done
him. He regretted that the incident
that called The meeting had blotohed the
fair fame Of the city and degraded
American manhood. Criminals should
be punished, but they should have mercy
and decency. The girl technically erred.
and her conviction was necessary and
good result, for IL showed the law vas
respected here, but in the execution OF
the sentence leniency and charity we're
due, but she had been outrageOusly
treated. He condemned the action and
called for such condemnation as would
prevent a repetition OF such a horrible
scene In Texas that they met to condemn.
the officers of the court had done their
duty and now they united In the cry for
mercy, but he cautioned his bearers to
act with calm elaboration doing moth
ing rsshly or Ill advisedly.
City Attorney Bergstrom, being CALL
ed for, condemned the action as every
true Texan did. Women were treated
with Difference In the south and Texas
was no exception to the rule. The pie
ture Of Rosa Schmidt loaded down with
chains and yOked TO negro, WAS too
horrible for contemplation. and out
rsgeous under any circumstances but at
her tender years, shaekles were unnec-
Unnecessary. The law had been vindioa-
ted and now was the season for mercy.
lie urged the girl be pardOned and the
brute Winters be Immediately dismissed.
(Cheers
Col. Andrews then read a telegram
from the sheriff Of McLennan expressing
approval OF the objects Of the meeting.
In response to the calls, District At
torney Paschal appeared and wanted to
know whether the meeting proposed to
condemn the trial officers or to censure
the brutality of the penitentiary agent.
Voices: The bsrbsrism, the brutality.)
II the latter was the object, he was in
accord with 1t and would say three days
after the conviction Of Rosa Schmidt he
petitioned for her pardon, and when he
heard OF this outrage, he wrote strong
letter to Governor Ross, which he would
read II they desired 1t. Voices: Read 1t,
read it, He then read long letter de.
failing the Incident and calling for the
girls pardon. This letter, he said, was
endorsed by George II. Dasbiel, Nat
Lewis and Judge Noonan. who limited
that the man should be suitably
dealt with. He concluded by say
ing that the press had In no way
II fluenced his action and that he had
reason TO believe the girl WAS psrdoned.
Sheriff Lewis in response to calls ex-
planned that he had nothing whatever
to DO with the removal of convicts and
was absent at the time. II he had have
BEEN here, snd seen the degrading sight,
he would have demonstrated and II that
were Intellectual he would have held the
girl and telegrsphed the governor for
Instructions.
Captain SchraH wSs next called and
admitted being one Of the prime organ
iZers OF the meeting. He was no orator
but when. the spirit moved him (laugh-
teri he could talk. He detailed the case
and inferred that the girl was convicted
through the incompetency Of the coun-
sel
Mr.. Virgil B. Duval. (who was the
girls counseD rose and was received
with mingled boots and Kisses. He per-
sisted, however, In talking, and at last
succeeded in getting a hearing. He de-
tailed the course Of the defence and said
that the county officers had first refused
to sign petition for the girls pardon
until after he had been to Austin, saw
the governor, aud was told the sigma
lures of Judge Noonan and District At
torney Paschal We're necessary before
the pardon could be granted. He limited
that the zeal OF the officials came very
late, that he had something to say OF
county jail management, and concluded
by saying that Captain Schramm's
speech was sufficient defence to the
charges Of incOmpetency made against
him.
Resolutions were then introduced BY
DR.. NJ. K. Taylor and Capt Schramm.
These apparently did not suit the major
ity, and Mr.. Oscar BergstrOm wanted to
refer them to q committee OF five to
amend them In better language and to
remove an implied condemnation of the
local officers. Mr.. TheO. Banks also
wanted to incorporate an amendment
condemniDg the penitentiary system,
but it was evident the meeting desired
to adjourn and Capt. Schramm's resO-
luton passed with whoop after the
condemnation on the local officers had
been removed:
Resolved, That We, the citizens OF San
Antonio, In mass meeting assembled, do
hereby give vent to our utmost express
sion of indignation in regard TO the bru-
tai treatment sustained by Rosa Schmidt
az the hands of tho penitentiRry con-
tractors agent, w. NJ. Winters.
Resolved. That we, the citi.
zens Of San Antonio, thinking that Rosa
Schmidt, convicted to the penitentisry
for two years for the signing OF her EN-
plOyer's name to check for the
sum OF $40 for the purpose (as alleged)
OF 8pprOpriating said money to her own
use-in consideration Of her age (she be-
ing only II years old) and 10 further
consideration of her total Ignorance as
to the knowledge OF the crime that she
had committed, evidence OF which Is
given by the Immediate signing OF a Pc
tition for pardon to the governor by the
judge, the distric. attorney and the en-
fire jury who convicted hei, has already
suffered sufficiently for said crime COM
mitted, not alone by her sentence to the
penitentiary, but more so by the revolt
ing treatment of said penitentiary con-
tractors agent, by claiming the said
Rosa Schmidt by the neck together with
negro and other criminal convlcts and
parading them through the streets 10 q
constant trot in order to keep up with
the balance OF the chained gang, she
quiyering under the shame perpetrsted
upon her and her tears creating feel
ing OF rage to the bystsnders and OBJ
servers OF this shameful spectacle.
Resolved, That the governor OF this