Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-01
A COUNCIL OF WAR.
STATE OFFICIALS DISCUSS THE BRlCE-
VILE SITUATION.

Governor Buchanan Will. Investigate
Efforts to Capture the Ringleaders-
How the Convicts We're Leased-The
Law on Releasing Prisoners.
NASHVILLE Oct. 3.-[Special THE
number of convicts released at Briceville
was 1853 and at Coal Creek 142 The Gov
ernor's Office presented an animated ap-
pearance throughout the day. The Gov
ernor and other State officials, constituting
the State Board of Prison Inspectors, were
in conference, and callers, interested in one
way or another in the affair, were numerous
Among those who called was General
j. L. Weakley, Inspector General of
the National Guards of Tennessee, Colonel
Jack Spur, of the First Regiment, who
was awaiting instructions in case the mill
tary should should be called out; Warden
Blevins and and Deputy Warden Patton, Of
the main prison; Colonel A. s. Colyar, who
came as counsel for DR.. William Morrow,
sub-lessee of the convicts who were working
at Briceville for the Tennessee Coal and
Mining Company, and Mr.. Nat Baxter, Jr,
and Colonel j. L. Gaines, of the Tennessee
Coal, Iron and Railroad Company, the
direct lessees of all convict labor of the
State.
The convicts working at Coal Creek are
sub-let by the lessees to the Knoxville Iron
Company, which operates the Coal Creek
mines. Mr.. Nat Baxter, Jr., and Colonel
j. L. Gaines spoke as though the matter
was one which did not call for much action
on their part, saying that the convicts re-
leased were not working for the Tennessee
Coal, Iron and Railroad Company, but sub
let to Others Mr.. Baxter when asked
whether the lessees would be liable to the
State for payment for convicts released by
a mob during the time they should be at
liberty, said: 81 should think not
Governor Buchanan in the meantime had
Attorney General Pickle come to Nashville
without delay. General Pickle answered,
stating that on account of his attendance
upon the Supreme Court at Knoxville he
would be unable to leave there now. The
Governor said Superintendent Wade went
to Briceville soon after Jndge Sneed, of
Knoxville, delivered his opinion in the
the miners were indignant because imme-
diately after this decision the lessees sent
81 additional convicts. 1t was understood
when the convicts were first taken to Brice-
vile that only 100 woulp be worked in the
mines, but instead about $50 were en-
ployed.
Governor Buchanan finally decided to
leave tomorrow morning for Knoxville,
where he will hold conference with Attor-
ney General Pickle and other careful ad-
visers as to the best course to ,be pursued.
Steps will doubtless be taken to secure the
arrest Of as many of the escaped convicts
as possible. The law passed by the Gen
sral Assembly at its recent extra session on |
The subject of interfering with convicts is
IN substance this: That persons concerned |
IN interfering with or releasing convicts in
ails, prisons, mines or elsewhere shall be |
guilty of a felony, punishable by imprison-
nent in the penitentiary, the principals for
lot less than three nor more than seven }
Years, and the accessories for not less than |
hree nor more than five years.