The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-02-28
THE FROST BITTEN CoNWCTS.
THE COMMISSIONERS LAY THE
BLAME ON NO PARTICULAR
INDIVIDUAL.

There Was Too Much Conflicting
Evidence-MeSsrs. Dale and Chap
lin Thought Mai. BlandfOrd Re-
sponsibIe, and Messrs. Charlton,
Carson and NehOe Rather Attribu-
ted the Fault to Capt. Hughes-The
Rules Governing the ChniR-Gang
Refuse to Build the skidaVvay
Bridge-DistributiOn OF the $500
From the Savannah benevolent
Association.
The county commissioners, after dis
cussing the evidence in the matter of the
frost-bitten convicts yesterday afternoon,
decided that in view Of the fact that the
evidence was so conflicting they could not
attach the blame to any particular indi-
vidual or individuals, but the matter of
the revision of the rules for the govern
ment Of the chain-gang has been referred
10 the committee, which has that branch
of the county government in charge, witt
instructions to report a new set Of rules
Each of the commissioners had before
him a copy Of the evidence reported in
the case by Stenographer Harrison. Chair
man Dale said he believed the question
was as to who was responsible for the
condition of these negroes, if anybody
Chairman Charlton of the chain-gang
committee opened the discussion, but said
he had hardly anticipated that the matter
would come up at this meeting. Chair
man Dale had made a synopsis of the
testimony which, was read. The testl-
mony showed that twenty-one convicts
had suffered injuries as the result of
working the men in the water during the
cold snap of the latter part of December.
All the features in connection with the
condition Of the men, as brought out by
the testimony, were read.
The synopsis Of the testimony was fol-
lowed with a report by Chairman Dale.
in which he deduced the conclusion that
Maj. r. A. Blandford, the county engi-
neer was entirely at fault in the matter.
He said the cOnvicts were put to work to
sGsh out the old Casey canal on Dec. 2S
by Maj. Blandford's orders, and he further
stated that the rations had been short as
the result of Maj. Blandford's neglect.
He said that Mai. Blandfords authority
in all matters relating to the changing
view of 1t, he held that the responsibility
for the personal injuries Of the men should
and does legally rest on the county engi-
neer
Dr. Charlton said after looking over the
evidence he had come to a different con-
cluston from that of the chairman. Grant
Ing he said, there was a misunders tand-
Ing of the order, he said the men at only
one camp were injured. The man at one
camp admits receiving Instructions to keep
Inc men out of the water, the other de-
MED this. Now, he said, there We're only
eleven men employed in slushing out the
Old Casey canal on the day in question,
but twenty-one had been injured as the
result Of the cold, and he wanted to know
where the others could have been injured,
II this order of Maj. Blandford's was re-
sponsible for it. The men went into the
hospital, not all at once, but from day to
uay, two or three at time, therefore
lhey could not all have been injured at
me same time, nor under the same con-
ditOns
All complaints of ill treatment, he
stated, had come from this one Camp No.
l. While there were none from the other
camps, and the captain of No. had adj
united receiving orders to protect the
men from the county engineer He
thought the circumstances were due
more to carelessness and neglect than
anything else, and he believed them due
10 the failure of Capt. Hughes to pay
proper attention to his duties, and from
TACK OF forethought and judgment in the
manner of working the men.
commissioners Chaplin next read the re-
port ne had prepared on the subject. He
wanted to know why the Hughes boys
had been discharged. True, they appeared
TO nave resigned, he said, but as a matter
OF fact, had been given to understand by
/ I'D hot fhaxr 70 10
held that Maj. Blandford was RESPONSE
Die Tor whatever they might have done,
On the ground that principal is respon-
siole for the acts of his agents He
'hought Maj. Dlandford should be given
dose Of his own medicine, and should
be discharged.
Mr. Carson's idea was that the testimony
mad been so conflicting that it would be
impossible to fix the blame on any par
ocular individual, but he said, however,
mat under the present rules governing the
yohVlct camps, Capt. Hughes could be
neld responsible for the condition of the
men. He suggested that the rules be re-
Nsed to meet all cases and emergencies.
Commissioner Kehoe thought it clearly
SHOWN that the convict guards had ordi-
nary discretion with regard to the dispo-
siuon of the men under such circum-
s1ances, and he thought Hughes should
nave taken advantage Of it.
mus were the commissioners divided,
ana it was very apparent that any amount
y. talk was useless. Messrs. Dale and
11hapIn placed the responsibility on Mai.
DAndford, while Messrs. Charlton. Car.
sUh and kehoe placed it on Hughes or
elsewhere
commissioner Carson offered the follow
ing report and finding and moved it's pas
sage:
IN the matter of the alleged i'll treat
s 5Uent OF convicts at Camp No ! on Dec.
80 1884, the commissioners and ex-officio
Judges of Chatham county, after hearing
SIlu taking into consideration the evil
IN = an the above case, find that owing