The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-03-24
DIED UNDER THE LASH.
Cruelties Practiced in the Arkansas Pris
on fen-Conyicts Whipped to Death.

Cruelties Practiced in the Arkansas Pris-
on fen-Convicts Whipped to Death.
FORT SMITH, Ark, March l3.-Stariling
developments have just been brought to
light at Coal Hill, one of the mining
towns where the mines are worked by
convict labor. The coroner's jury is in
vestlgating the case of Charles Williams.
Warden Gatford hindered the investiga-
ton in every way in his power but the
facts of such horrible brutality were re-
vealed that he was compelled to seek
safety in flight, as it appears that pun
lshment was the cause of Williams
death. The shoulders of the convict
had been completely stripped of its
cuticle by the deadly lash. The skull
near the right temple was fractured, the
result 1t Is supposed, of a kick The
right side OF the body contained a series
OF bruises, being tie imprints of boots
The testimony gwen by witnesses and
the examination of the body showed
that the man had received about 400
lashes, any ten of which would have
been considered severe punishment.
Witnesses testified that about a week
ago Gattord permitted two negro con-
ylcts, Nose Harney and Marsh Bailey,
to engage IN desperate fight. The re-
suit is too shocking to admit Of any ex-
tended description. The lower part of
Harney's spinal column was broken by
a terrible kick that Bailey gave him, and
he was kicked in the head and in the
stomach Harney was not killed out
right, but died last Friday after week
OF fearful suffering. Other similar cases
have come to light.
During the investigation ]. B. Walker,
a guard at the camp, was put upon the
stand. He was asked If a convict WAS not
chained to a post last summer and
whipped to death. The witness sad
he had not been summoned to testify in
that case and refused to give any evil
dence about it. The belief at Coal Hill
Is that last summer a convict was
chained to post, soundly lashed
and left there two hours. When
the warden returned he gave him
another whipping. When the chains
were taken Oft the convict he was dead.
Another man at that time was warden of
the camp. After he resigned Gafford
was appointed his successor, and the lat
ter held the position about three
months There are ten or twelve new
graves IN the camp yard and no one
seems to know anything about them, as
no lnquests were held on the bodies
buried there.
Among the other charges preferred
against the managers of the camp is
that the colored convicts were COM
PEELED to work during the winter with
out shoes. Coal Hill is in a Prohibition
community, but a trusty convict was in
dlcted not long ago by the grand jury
for selling liquor and was acquitted be-
cause he was a convict.
The coroner arrived in Little Rock to-
day and Informed Gov Hughes of the
result of the investigation at Coal Hill
and at his request his excelency Of
fered a reward of $500 ior the arrest and
delivery of Gafiord to the sheriff of
Johnson County. The condition of af-
fairs at the camp appeared to the gov
ernor to be in such bad shane that he
called special meeting of the peniten-
uary commissioners, and it was nearly
10 O clock when the meeting adjourned,