The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1896-05-11
LESSEES ARE FINED.
Governor Atkinson Renders His Decision
in the Case.
FULL TEXT OF THE ORDER
Showing What Companies Were Fined
and for What Camps-Peniten-
tiary Rules Were Broken.

Fines aggregating 81. 800 have been assess
ed by Governor Atkinson against the con-
Met lessees as the result Of the recent hiSh
court Investigation
The governor rendered his decision Mon
day. 1t assesses $3.50 against penltehtla-
~ company No /; $500 against penitenu Try
company No. ,; and $500 against penltealld-
ny company No 3-these for cohdltioas as
found at Barlow ard Cole City camps.
fine of $3.50 Is assessed against penitentlary
company No. for msmanagement OF the
convicts under the control of James NJ
Smith.
The order was passed Monday. after
col sultation with Attorney General Terrell.
While il does not state, it is understood
that the principal offenses Of which the
lessees were found guity--the ofenses he
ing, of course, committed by their agents
were working convicts on Sunday FAILURE
to properly post the rules of the penitcntla-
ry department failure to report whippinSs
to the department, and the improper man
agement and control by subletting. In sew
eral cases it was shown that ohenses were
committed by subessees; that the lessees
refused to respond to the demands Of the
state officials to properly clothe cohVic'S
leased to them. the lessees depending upon
the sublessees to do this. The state, now
ever. knows only the original lesse''s
While the fines are imposed for violations
OF the rules Of the department. the charges
II the legislative committee in their sensa-
tional features were not sustained.
The Governors Order.
The full text of the governors order is as
follows
Atlanta, May Ath, 1896. In re proceedings
against Georgia penitentlary Companies
Nos. l. and 3.
while the evidence introduced at this
hearing shows that there have been such
violations of the lease contracts so far as
the same relate to the rules and regula-
tons for the control and management of
the convicts as might authorize the eXecu-
tive TO cancel the original lease contracts
or abolish certain camps and Vacate the
lease contracts SO far as they apply 10
certain members or stockholders IN the
three Georgia penitentiary companies II IS
deemed to be to the best interest or the
state to hold in reserve these questions
for further orders in this case. and prior
to the further consideration Of same TO
impose fines. aggresating $500, mentioned
below. 1t is therefore
'Ordered. first. That fine OF $3.50. to oe
pad into the state treasury, be and the
same is hereby imposed upon Georgia PEN
itentiary Company No. for the violations
of the rules and regulations for the con-
troll of the convicts and for the improper
management OF the ConNicts under us con-
troll at Cole City and Barlow camps. ana
in default of this fine beirg paid 10y the
18th day Of July. 1896 the governor will
consider the question as to whether the
said camps viii be abolished, or the lease
contract of said penitentiary company no
l be Cancelled.
"Second. That a fine of $500. 10 be paid
into the state treasury. be and the same IS
hereby imposed upon Georgia PenitentiarS
Company No. , on account of the violations
of said rules ana regulations at the Colo
CITY aud Barlow camps, and the improper
management of it's convicts. which are
with the Dade Coal Company, "a member
or stakeholder of penitentiary company
No . at the said camp. and in default
OF this fine being paid by the 18th day of
July 1896. the governor viii consider the
question as 10 whether the said camps
will be abolished. or the lease vacated so
far as may relate TO said Dade Coal Com
panv or the lease contract wholly can
celed a. 10 Georgia Penuentiary Compa-
ny No. ..
Third That a fine OF $500. 10 be paid
into the state treasury. lie and the same is
hereby imposed upon Georgia Penitentiary
COMPANY No. 3 on account of the violations
of said rules and regulations at the Cole
city and Barlow camps and the improper
management OF it's convicts with the Dadc
Coal Company. "A member or stakeholder
i'm penitentiary company No. >, at the said
camps and in default of this fine being
paid bv the 18th day OF July 1896. the
governor viii consider the question as to
whether the said camps will be abolished,
or the lease vacated 50 far as may relate
to the Dade Coal Company. or the lease
contract wholly Cancelled as 10 Georgia Pen
itentiary Company No. ,.
Fourth That a fine Of $3.50, 10 be paid
into the state treasury, be aud the same IS
hereby imposed upon Georgia Penitentiay
Company No. on account of the violations
Of said rules and regulations and the inn
proper management OF it's convicts with
James W. Smith, Il member or stakeholder
in company No. g. and i'm default of this
fine being paid by the 18th day Of July
1896. the governor viii consider the question
as TO whether the camps of James NJ
Smith VIII be- abolished or the lease va
Gated 50 far as may relate To said smith
or The lease contract cancelled as 70 Georgia
Pcnitcutiay Company No 3.
ordered. That IL the said penitent.arN
companies respectively or either by them
selves. or by those in charge Of the special
camps respectively as aforesaid. fail TO
pay the fine or fines imposed upon said
companies respectively. such further order
or orders VIII bc made the governor
may deem proper in the premises respect
ing the abolition of any or all of said
camps The cancellation Of the lease con-
tracts. the vacating any of said leases as
to any stakeholder in either of said peni-
Tertiary companies. the surrender and re-
letting OF the couvicts. or any other matter
- thing connected with the subject, and
u At these proceedings stand adjourned an
til the governor deems it proper to pass
such further or orders
There Have Been Others.
There have been number OF other iHves-
legations Of like character with his during
the past few years
Under Governor McDanicls aGmnistra-
ton. in 1855, Lockctts camp, in DorSherty
county was abolished the result of an
investigation. a year later a camp in Tay-
Tor county was abolished in the same way.
In 1887, Governor Gordon abolished the
Bcrdurant and Joplin camps IN Columbia
county. In the fall of the same year there
was general investigation of the peniten-
tiary which attracted much attention. Gov
crnor Northen's action IN administering a
me of $500 upon the lessee for permitting
Lord Beresford TO have undue liberties
VIII be remembered, and there have been
a large number of minor Investigations. So
u IS no new thing. Indeed they are Incl
dents TO the system. During the past fif-
teen months there have been imposed upon
the loSSeeS fines aggregating 5000. Since