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

Commissioner Dorsett thought that every
thing about the whole convics system
should be brought to light
There were several objections 10 anything
more than what concerned Schuman Is
camp being touched upon, but Commissioner
DOrSett insisted upon a wider range, and
the question was asked by the Solicitor.
Witness know nothing Of the whipping
of Charles Houston.
Simon Hoser, chief of camp No ., was
sworn. His testimony was adulatory oil
Schumans conduct as a chief, under whom
he had served as a guard before his promo
ton Prisoners We're punished by Whipping
and sometimes by starving. The starving
consisted Of diet of bread ami water
This was never known to last more than
day before the prisoner gave IN. NO prs
oner ever did any whipping. There was no
restriction as 10 number Of lcks convict
should receive If when a guard was whip
ping and it was seen that his temper was
getting the better of him, he was generally
stopped by the other guards.
In reply TO Commissioner Estill the wit
nes said there was no rule as to the coming
and going Of chiefs to town or elsewhere.
He mad been warned to look closer after
his business.
He was asked by the Solicitor about the
gauntlet running. Witness said he had
seen them run Houston for fun.
Commissioner Estill-Who was having the
fun, Houstont
Witness-He got up laughing and did not
seem 10 mind it.
Solicitor uBignon-Don't you know that
a man was run down the line in wheel
| barrow and whipped!
Witness-DO not.
Solicitor duBignon said that he had seen
marks on Houston i'll court himself.
Witness-l saw those same marks eight
years ago.
~ a.
was then sworn. His testimony, in the
main, favored Schuman. He had never
seen him tight but once on the works, and
! then reprilnanded him, and Schuman prom
iSed that it should never occur again. Wit
ness understood, when drunk, SChuman is
too lenient with prisoners.
! In reply to Commissioner Dorsett the
witness said that Schuman was a good
| manager OF his men. Recently he had not
paid as good attention TO his work as he
might have done He could be re-
| placed certainly; Lad never yet
seen any man whose place couldn't
! be filled by some one else. Had not
| heard that Schumans conduct affected the
! efficiency of the camp, but have heard that
when he was drunk he affiliated too freely
with the prisoners. About Christmas Schu-
man got drunk and raised a row at Dieters
| store on the Waters road. He shot off his
pistol, and there was something said about
him stripping and running after a
woman. He did not know whether this was
true of his own knowledge Schuman
| admitted having shot off the pistol and said
he was going to pay all the damage. His
resignation occurred about this time. My
weekly report shows that | found him
! drunk but he was removed probably before
my report was read. He left the camp and
| | paid noGfurther attention to the matter.
| Schuman was afterward reinstated.
In reply to Mr. Saussy he said he heard of
| the occurrence of his freedom with prison
| erS from a prisoner hlmselt-a negro man
named Charley
TO Solicitor duBignon-At the time l saw
! him drunk on Lovers lane a number of the
| guards were away in search of prisoners
| who had escaped.
| Commissioner Estill-That was the time
! Schuman was on frolicE
! WitnesS-Yes. He was in charge of two
| places He was going 10 and fro between
them and got drunk at the store.
Commissioner LawtOn--Did you make
any report of this!
Witness-I made a report of it IN my
weekly report to the Board as / have said
it was probably received after Schuman'S
| removal.
Commissioner Dorsett-That weekly re-
port is required by the committee!
! WitneSS-YeS.
Commissioner Dorsett - What is your
opinion of the character of Schuman when
under the influence of Hquori
Witness know that Schuman is irres-
ponsible like any other man when he is
drunk.
Commissioner Lawton-Do you think his
drinking effected the working of the campo
Witness-That is broad question. |
| think never saw Mr. Schuman tight on his
work at all. l have heard of his being
tight at other times, but did not feel called
upon to pay attention TO il.
Mr.. Meldrim-When you saw him at
Deiter's store did he not tell you he had
| some bad luck in losing prisoners!
WitneSs-Yes. This was the time when
Schumann had charge of two gangs, and he
| had stopped at the store on his way to and
from them.
The next witness was Mrs. Jones.
Mrs. Jones once kept a store on the Lou
isville road, and subsequently, clerked at
another store between five and six miles
from the city. Schumann often stopped
there and took drink, and sometimes had
a bottle filed. Saw SChuman at Mr. Rich's
store three months ago. His convict gang
was nowhere near. He was quite drunk
Don't know how long he stayed at the store,
probably an hour. He behaved badly and
used bad language. His conduct was so
adjoius the store. He had fuss
with negro in the store and ran the negro
out. / think he had been up to his place
five or six miles above. | have seen him
drunk often before and heard of his being
drunk once since i'll the neighborhood. Don't
know anything about his treatment of CON
victS.
Commissioner Estill-How far did you
say it Is to your place!
Witness-Five o. six miles.
Commissioner Estll-I only wanted to
find out how far he was in the habit of go
ing away from his work
Mrs. Mcdonald, sworn-Have known
Schuman about fourteen years. Had seen
Schuman drunk, but not since he was a
convict guard. Didn't know why she was
summoned a. a witness.
Charles Watts, guard in Hessers camp
was next sworn-Was guard in Schuman's
camp OFF and on for three months. lie teS-
titled That Schuman was humane, whipped
with good Judgment and if he did ret
drunk occasionally, it was at night after the
camp had been locked up Even when
drunk he looked afteg the guards rigidlY
Continuing, the witness testified that he
knew nothing of the baby business at the
camp and knew nothing of starvation pun
ishmeut there. He thought Daniels waS~e
man who was trying TO run Schuman
down and get his place, though he would
not say he would not believe him on oath
Tom SulLvan-another guard-testihed
| about as the other guards Commissioner,