The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-31
HE Was TREATED BADLY.
Result Of The Grand Jury'S IRVeStiga-
tiOl in Bulge'S Case.

His Arrest Said to Have Been Accord
ing to Law, But His Treatment at
the Camp Conference.-The Grand
Jury Says a Whipping Boss Should
Be Appointed by the commissioners.
The Jury Regretted 1t Gould Not GO
Further Than Express Its Disap-
prevail in the Case.
The grand jury Of the city court com
pleted its investigation of the Bunge case
yesterday and returned a special present
ment in regard to the matter. None Of
the officials concerned in the case were
censured, but recommendations were
made that the system of working con-
victs and Furnishing them at the camps be
improved.
The grand jury stated that it had ex-.
amined a large number of witnesses in
regard to the case of George Bunge, who
was sentenced TO serve a term Of three
months on the changing for yagrancy,
among whom were county officials having
charge of the camp, the county physician,
guards of the camp, ex-gUards and eX-
convicts. Every effort was made to get at
the facts, not only of this case, but re
lating to the general management Of the
convicts.
HIS ARREST ALL RIGHT.
The grand jury was satisfied that the
arrest of Bunge was regular and in ac-
cordance with law, and that the rule Of
the court with regard TO providing in
terpreters was not violated in this case.
1t was found that Bunge, though not of
robust physique, was put TO work shov-
cling and wheeling dirt. cleaning bitches,
etc, that this work proving too heavy for
him, he was put on the top Of the bank;
that when his movements did not suit the
guards he was whipped with a raw
hide, receiving from ten to twenty-five
strikes ana that this occurred at least
twice
Bunge claimed that it was necessary to
trade his watch "a cheap silver one, but
an heir-loom) to secure acceptable food.
HIS FEET IN BAD CONDITION.
The condition of his feet, when exam
ined by the grand jury March lG, was
found TO be such as its Judgment would
incapacitate him for work. This it is
stated was not so much from abrasion of
the skin by the shackles. as
is thought to have caused the bad sores.
All the guards testified had they known
Of this they would have sent HIM TO the
hospital Bunge testihes on the other
hand that they did know of this and that
he made application for admission to the
hospital, The presentmcnts state that
his lack of knowledge of the English
language may have been the cause of his
inability to make himself understood.
While recognizing that proper discipline
must be maintained at the camps, the
grand jurors condemn the promiscuOus
whipping which is practiced in the county.
They are stopped by law from adopting
any other course than expressing in EN-
phatic terms their condemnation.
WANT A WHIPPING BOSS APPOINTED.
The presentments state that the law of
1891 allows any manager. guard or super
intendenJ of the camp, in the failure of
the authorities to appoint a whipping
boss, to whip prisoner. This law, it is
stated is not limited but any ofense, real
or imaginary, can be punished in this
way. There is no report or record re-
quired, and no limit as to the number of
stripes or the instrument to be used.
such dangerous latitude must lead to
abuses of power, and we are surprised
that trouble of even graver nature than
TINS has not grown out OF the practice
1.-The remedy is the appointment by the
| commissioners of whipping boss, to be
governed by proper restrictions"
WOULD LIKE TO GO FURTHER.
The grand jurors regretted the fact that
they could not go further in this case than
to express their 'disapproval and con
demnaJion of the suffering and indigni-
ties unnecessarily put upon this young
man. whose mlsfortunes, friendlessness,
inability to speak cur language and to per-
,s1v 4 i,
appealed 10 the humanity of those who
had authority over him"
In the matter of rations the grand
jurors thought them TO be sufficient in
/ quantity, if properly prepared, equally
distributed and of good quality.
/ The matter of Bunge's remittance from
| a friend in New Jersey of $40 was next
/ taken up. 1t was stated that he elected
1 to pay the fine rather than serve his other
month at the camp. There is no au.
/ thority or law by which any portion of a
/ fine can be remitted The whole of it
/ must be paid or the whole time served
unless the convict in question is pardoned
/ by the governor.
The grand jury recommended that the
whole of this fine De refunded to Bunre
to assist him in paying the medical bills
/ made necessary by the condition of his
feet.
1t is also recommended that greater
care be exercised in the assignment of
work and in the treatment of prisoners,
that justice may be tempered with
mercy Those matter growing out of the
case to which the grand jury wished to
call the special attention of the county
commissioners will be treated in the gen.
eral presentments at the close of the
term.
Since this is the outcome of the investi-
cation Of the grand jury, it is not known
what action those who have interested