The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-07-29
WASNOT CRUELTY TREATED
Thompson Fails TO Make Out Case
Before the Commissioners.


Were When They Did Not-An Said
They Were Well Treated on the
GanE-The Finding Exonerates the
Guards.
A complete and thorough investigation
was made yesterday by the county com
missioners of the charges preferred by
the ex-convict, Charles Thompson, that
he was brutally and cruelty treated and
beaten while on the gang by the convict
guards
There were present all of the commits
sioners, except Commissioner Carson, the
committee on chain-gang from the city
court, grand jury, consisting of Mr. Glenn
ent Saussy, foreman, and Messrs. j. w.
Conner, d. B. Morgan, John Riley and +.
j. Kennedy; Foreman A. r. Fawcett of
the superior court grand jury and Mai. r.
A. Blandford, the county engineer.
The investigation showed beyond a
doubt that the negro had been whipped,
and it also showed that he had refused to
do the work assigned him. There was a
number of scars on his legs and other
parts of his body, but they were no more
severe in the opinion of the commissioners
than would be caused by the ordinary
punishment administered by the chain
gang guards in such fragrant cases.
THoMPsoN's STATEMENT.
Charles Thompson, the negro who pre-
ferred the charges, was the first witness
sworn and he was questioned by the
county attorney, Mr.. J. r. Saussy.
Thompson said he was arrested for sit
ting down on the street and sleeping at
Taylor and East Broad streets and that
he was fined s. or sentenced to five days
on the gang, but that he was kept on the
gang ten DAYS. This was proven false by
the commitment which was exhibited in
evidence and which plainly stated ten
days.
He was taken out to the gang Saturday
July IA, but did not go to work until the
Monday following He said that Foster
gave him twenty-five lashes before he
started to work Monday Davis gave him
another whipping about $50 o'clock
About 10. 30 O'Clock, " he said, MIR
Foster whipped me the third time, giving
me eighteen or twenty cuts. Davis gave
me twelve cuts about II o'clock. ] didn't
understand the work and / complained to
Capt Hughes Tuesday and asked for
clothing, which he refused me.
When / asked what ] was whipped for
Wednesday ] was told by Capt. Hughes
that was a bully in town and he was
2:30 o'clock Davis put me across log and
gave me thirty-two lashes In the after
noon Foster gave me eighteen lashes
while holding his gun on me Tuesday
Foster gave me five whiDpings and Davis
four. They came so thick and fast
couldn't keep count of them. Foster
whipped me four times Wednesday morn
ing, one time having boy hold my head
down. Capt Hughes gave me three
whippings in the afternoon of Wednesday,
was transferred TO Fosters gang and he
gave me three more decent whipping, and
as l couldn't work any more he had me
transferred to the poor farm. MIR VIM
berly whipped me once while was there,
but that was my fault, as | left gate
open. MIR. Wimberly examined the cuts
on me, and told Capt. Hughes l was no
good, as had been too badly beaten up"
THOMPSON WAS STRIPPED.
MIR. A. r. Fawcett said, as foreman of
the superior court grand jury, he would
like to see Thompson stripped.
Thompson took off all his clothes and
exhibited his back to the grand jury and
commissioners The doors were closed to
keep out the gaze of the large crowd of
negroes that had assembled.
Scars. whip marks, and sores were
found on Thompson's legs, arms and one
on his shoulder. There were none on
A. bhNh- ANAG NtIt seventeen
abrasions of the SKIN, as counted
by DIR. T. j. Charlton, most
all of which, he said, were caused by
the whip and Others might have been
caused in that way and augmented by
SCRATCHING One was on tho shoulder.
one on the arm and the others on his
legs There were sores on the lower
part Of his legs caused by the shackles.
WHAT THE GUARDS SAID ABOUT IT.
Guard Rufus l.. Foster was the first to
testify on the other side. He said he had
whipped Thompson first Monday morning
when the negro first refused to work
The negro said he couldn't do the work
the guard had assigned to him.
He was not whipped before he went to
work" Guard Foster said, Il whipped
him with an ordinary dray whip provided
Tor the purpose. ! whipped him once
also Tuesday morning, giving him ten or
tfteen lashes. Still he wouldn't work.
lie was not disposed to work did not
punish him again until Wednesday, when
/ gave him either two or three whippings.
giving him ten or twelve cuts each time.
Either Wednesday or Thursday Capt.
Hughes whipped him, giving him about
fifteen cuts. The statement that Thomp-
sons head was held by one of the men is
false Neither was he ever put across a
log. / gave him one whipping Thursday.
and after that day he was relieved from
the canal and sent to the poor farm. |
saw no one whip him a that time or af-
terward.n
Guard J. B. Davis said he whipped
Thompson twice on Monday in the
forenoon and once in the afternoon
giving him about fifteen cuts each time.
The negro refused 10 work and he had to
administer the punishment He said he
didn't whip him at all after that time,
nor did he see anyone else whip him.
WHAT CAPT. HUGHES SAID.
Capt Roland Hughes, chief of the
guards, was next called. He said he did
not know that Thompson was punished
until Tuesday. He was informed that
the negro was very trihing, and on Thurs
day lie, himself, whipped him, giving
HIM eighteen or twenty lashes The
negro was laying across the dyke when
whipped by the captain Capt Hughes
said he told Foster once TO whip him. He
said Thompson was sent TO the farm be-
cause he said he knew how to pillow. He
denied making any such statement TO
Wimberly as Thompson charged Mr.
Clement Saussy asked the witness several
questions 10 show that il was customary
10 whip cOnvicts and make them work.
Robert j. Win berly, foreman OF the
farm, said he had never made any exami-
nation OF Thompson. The negro, he said
appeared 10 limp, but IL might have been
on account Of the sores from the shackles.
The negro told him he had been badly
tod