The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-07-29

he got plenty to eat and was always
/ treated well.
Hector Bush was summoned at Thomp-
sons request, but he knew nothing about
the case.
Bristow Hunter said he had seen
Thompson on the gang, but did not recol-
| lect having seen him whipped. There
| were so many men whipped he said that
| he had taken no notice of it. He had heard
Of his complaining to other men. He had
/ received one whipping, but said he was
| treated well and had no cause TO COM
plain except that this whipping was
given him uniustly, as his foot was sore
| and he could not get out Of his bunk quick
| enough.
Henry johnson, another negrs of three
months standing, said he knew Thomp-
son. He said Thompson was not punished
any more than any Of the other convicts.
/ He said they were all whipped when they
did not work. The men are not i'll treated,
/ he said, and get no more than they de-
serve when they don't work.
TIME TO PUT STOP TO IT.
DR. Charlton said it was time TO put a
| stop to all these reports and rumOrs. II
! there was any more inves tigating TO be
| done the time TO do it was at hand. A
/ report should be drawn uD, he said, and
each one should sign it, or dissent, if he
| so desired.
Mr. Fawcett suggested that a report be
! drawn up and signed by the county COM
| missioners, and then submitted to the
! two grand juries which are now in ses-
| sion. He was satisfied that the two grand
! luries would ratify it
Chairman Dale agreed with DR.. Charl-
| ton that it was time to stop all rumors
| and reports that were without founda-
| ton.
DR. Charlton said that such reports
made the men insubordinate, as they
thought that the guards might be afraid
to whip them, for fear of an investiga-
| ton.
WAS NOT CRUELTY TREATED.
| Mr. j. r. Saussy then drew up the find
| ing Of the board as follows:
! At meeting Of the commissioners OF Chat
! ham county, held on the 2sth day OF July, 1894,
| Tor the investigation Of the complaints Of
| Charles Thompson OF cruel treatment and cX-
| cessive whipping while he was a convict by
| the convict guard, at which meeting there
| were also present committees OF the grand
| luries of the superior and city courts, pa
| tent hearing was siven to the statement Of
! Charles Thompson. made under oath. and the
chief OF chaingang No. ], Capt. Hughesi the
| keeper OF the farm Mr.. Win berry. and three
of the guards, Rufus NJ Foster, j. Is. Davis
and William Saddler, examined
In addition to these Witnesses the follow
| ing convicts were examined, their names
having been furnished by Thompson. the
complainant William Miller, Hector Bush.
| l3riSton Hunter and Henry Johnson. Tho
evidence submitted satisfied the examining
board. that Charles Thompson refused and
neglected to do the work which was required
OF him ana that corporal punishment was
necessary to make him work. That his &C
count of his punishment was exaggerated
and untrue. That the punishment was neither
excessive nor undeservCd but was admins
tered in accordance with the proper discharge
of the duties OF the guard
The complainant was stripped and exam
ined before the board. There were some ex-
cortationS OF his flesh on his thighs, but not
more than would result from a whipping ad-
ministered under the regulations Of the chain
gang.
The witnesses called by the compla inant
denied any Knowledge OF the whipping, and
those who were working in the same locality
when the punishment was alleged to be in
! itcted denied any knowledge OF the whip
ping and admitted that IL there had been
whipping as often and as severe as sworn to
| by the complainant it could not have es-
capped their notice
The board therefore finds that the com
plant has not been sustained, and that the
convict was properly punished for his dere-
LECTION of duty.
J.J DALE, C. C. c.
WILLIAM kEHOE, c. G. G.
THOMAS J. CHARLTON, G. @ G.
w. f. CHAPLIN, c, C. c.
The finding exonerates the guards from
any blame, and shows that the negro's
| charges were undoubtedly very much eX-
aggerated. II will be submitted to the
| grand juries Of the two courts for their
action.
A noticeable feature about the investi-
cation was the presence of several Ger
mans, who were still mindful of the
Bunge case, in which they were so deeply
| interested, but in which no proof of cruel
| treatment was brought out, as far as
could be found by the grand Jury.