The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-20
FAVORABLE TO The LEsSEEs.
THE PRINCIPAL KEEPER AND HIS
ASSISTANT ON THE STAND.

The Negro Subjected TO the Experi-
mental DuckinE at Atlanta Never
in DRnger-The Principal Keeper
His Visits to the Camps Has
Always Found Everything In Good
Condition.
Atlanta, Ca. Feb. 19.-Principal Keeper
Turner and Assistant Keeper Moore OF
the penitenttary department gave testl-
mony that was strongly favorable to the
lessees in the convict investigation to-
day.
The persons who witnessed a ducking
yesterday, at the request Of the lessees,
were the first witnesses A negro was
found, they said. who was willing to un-
dergo the operation for a dollar. and
they testified that the treatment, as they
saw 1t administered. was not dangerous.
Principal Keeper Turner. when he took
the stand, stated that he has visited all
the camps in the state twice. On his visits
Mr.. Turner found things in good condi-
tion, especially as to the food and cloth
ing Of the convicts. Their sleeping quar-
ters were reasonably clean. He took pains
on his visits never to apprise the camp
officials Of his coming. For this reason
he knew that they were not patched up
and whitewashed for his examination.
The convicts, as a rule, have been dis
tributed among the different camps ac-
cording as they represented stock in the
penitentiary companies. In some cases
the lessees did not want their pro rata
of conVicts, and Mr.. Turner stated he
thought II was not wrong to give these
cOnVicts to other lessees who wanted
them. Mr.. Turner said he had always
found all OF the lessees willing to obey
all of his directions and TO adopt every
suggestion for the beneht OF the convicts
When questioned about the Cole City
camp, he said he noticed that the convicts
were very fond OF Capt. Cox, and espe-
cially Of his son, Ed Cox.
In regard TO socks, the principal keeper
stated that he never looked for any In
his visits to the camps. He had heard
no complaints about socks. but after the
House and Senate reports, an order was
issued requiring the lessees to furnish
them.
Mr.. Turner before leaving the stand
said that he felt that IN Justice to him
self, he ought 10 make some statement.
lie said that the duties of his position
required his daily presence in the office
ana that 1t was practically impossible
for him to visit the camps oftener than
he did; that he was forced TO rely on his
assistants and grand jury reports for in
formation about the camps.
Jake Moore has been assistant keeper
OF the penitentiary for sixteen years, and
previously he had been sheriff and deputy
that he had visited the camps monthly
and had never notified the camp officials
that he was coming He had always
found the men well fed and clothed. He
thought the condition of the sleeping
apartments at Cole City was good. He
thought the camp, which is In charge OF
Ed Cox, Jr., is one OF the best in the state.
The riot at the Dade mines last year
was mentioned by Mr.. Moore. He said
he found some of the guns made by the
convcts and used In the insurrection. He
found packages OF dynamite also. A box
OF convict weapons was handed hGx.
Moore by Attorney Smith. AS he TOOK
the different articles from the box Mr..
Moore explained the weapons themselves
and how they came into his possession.
The convicts had made them for the
purpose OF routing the guards, which
showed that they were desperate men
and needed firm II not severe treatment
When asked by Judge Hopkins how the
convicts in the camps, compared with the
average OF their race outside Of the pen
itentiary, Mr.. Moore said: IT have found
that the men In the penitentiary are bet
ter housed, clothed, fed, and preached to-