The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-03-14
A TALE OF BRUTALITY.
IA Prison Warden with a Very
Savage Nature.
BEATEN TO DEATH.
Tho Result of tho Investigation In
Tennessee-sensational Develop
neutrality-suspicious. Graves.
The Flight of fGaGord.

ST. LOUIS, March 13.-Last Tuesday
and Wednesday the coroner's jury begar
an investigation at Coal Hill, Ark, o
the cause OF the death of convict, ont
Charles Williams. Warden GafFord
hindered the investigation in every way
in his power, but the facts Of such hor-
rible brutality were revealed that he was
compelled to seek safety in flight, as it
appears that punishment Vas the ecause
Of Williams death. The shouldeBo OF the
convict had been completely stripped OF
its flesh, cut by the deadly lash, the
skull near the righttemplewas fractured,
the result, it is supposed, of a kick, The
right side of the body contained u series
Of bruises, being the imprints of boots.
In the back, in the vicinity of the kid
neys, there was a bruise about six in
ches square, IN evidence of the further
application OF the boot. The testimony
given by witnesses and the examination
Of the body, showed that the man had
received 400 lashes, any ten OF which
would have been considered severe pun
ishment
This was not all the testimony obtain
ed by the coroner's jury concerning the
cruelties practiced in the Coal Hill
camp. Witnesses testified that about
week ago GatFord permitted two negro
convicts, Nose Harney and Marsh
Bailey, to engage in desperate fight.
The result is too shocking to admit OF
any extended description. The lower
part OF Harney's spinal column was
broken by terrible kick that Bailey
gave him, and by the same means he
crushed into u jelly the genital organs OF
his antagonist, who lay upon the ground
writhing in pain. He was kicked in the
head and in the stomach, one-fOurth of
which punishment twassutficientt to cause
his death. Harney was not killed out.
right, but died last Friday after q week
OF fearful suffering. Another case of
brutal treatment was that Of Nose Elder
n white convict, who recently died at
the camp. It was over the body Of this
man the Warden refused to permit the
coroner to hold an investigation.
His remains were buried in a marsh
about one.quarter OF q mile. from the
camp. An examination OF his body re.
vealGd thirty-four sears, which caused
the prisoner great suterings, but not
sufficient OF itself TO have caused death.
During the investigation J. B. Walker,
a guard ut the camp, was put upon the
stand. He was asked il convict was
not chained to q post last summer and
whipped TO death, The witness said he
had not been summoned to testify in that
case and refused to give any evidence
about it.
Tie belief Of Coal Hill isthat last sum-
mer convict was chained to Il post,
soundly lashcd and left there two hours.
When the Warden returned he gave
him another whipping, When the
chains were taken Off the convict he was
dead, Another man was at that time
warden of tho camp, After he resigned
Gatford was appointed hissuccessor, and
the latter held the position about three
months. There are ten or twelve new
graves in the camp yard, and no one
seems 10 know anything about them, as
no inGuests were held on the bodies
hurled there. -.----s.
Among the other charges preferred
against the managers 0i the camp is that
the colered Convicts were often COM
PEELED to work during the, winter With
ont shoes;
Coal I'LL Ia In q prohibition oommun,
ity, but q trustee was indicted mot
long'ago by the grand jury for selling
liquor, and was acquitted because he
was u convict, : ~
The coroner arrived insLittle ,Rockto.
day and informed Governor Hughes Of
the result Of the investigation at Coal
Hill, and at his request, His Exceiiency
offered reward OF 5000 for the arrest
and delivery OF Gafford to the Sheriff Of
johnson county, The condition OF
aflIlrs at the camp appeared to the
Governor to be in such bad shape that
he called special meeting Of the Peni'
tentiary Commissioners, and 1t was
nearly 10 o'clock when the meeting
adjourned. .i4 ~