The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-24
SERIOUS CHARGES REPORTED.
COUNTY CHANGING MATTERS
MAY BE INVESTIGATED.


Been to Consider Charges That a
14-Ycar Old Girl WAS Assaulted by
White Men at the Convict Camps
The Commissioners Have Very Lit
tie to Say About the Matter-Chnir-
man Dale Says There Was No
Meeting and He Knows Nothing
of ANY atiOn-COmmissiOn-
er Chaplin Says No Charges Have
Been Filed with the Board, But
some of Them Have Been Looking
Into Certain Reports That Have
Been Circulated.
Reports Of serious charges against GER
tain employees connected with the chain
gang forces led yesterday morning, to a
conference between three of the board of
county commissioners, Messrs. J. j. Dale
chairman, and w +. Chaplin and Will
lam Kehoe Dr. T. b. Chisholm, the
county physician, was also present at the
conference.
None of these gentlemen would talk
about the matter but they did not deny
that their conference related to the mat
ter stated. Reports of serious outrages
at the convict camps have become quite
frequent of late. and they appear to be
of such a nature as to demand an inyesti-
cation by the proper authorities.
Notably among these charges is that
made by Lula Floyd young
mulatto girl, IA years old, who
was a prisoner at one of the camps
who claims to have been assaulted
by white men at the camp, and it is said
her condition was quite serious. This girls
friends, or some one interested in the case,
went to the justice court of Justice G. z.
Bevans yesterday and endeavored to Sc
cure a warrant against one Of the men
against whom the charge is made, but
Justice Bevans did not issue the warrant,
for what reason is not known One of the
county commissioners stated, 1t is said,
that the conference was with reference
to the condition of a certain convict, and
there appears to be no doubt that the
certain convict is the one mentioned.
Chairman J. ]. Dale was asked about
the matter, and replied:
1--WE have had no meeting at all. Moth
ing, absolutely nothing has been done.
do not know that We will have any meet
ing at all until the latter part of next
week, when we win meet to appoint the
election managers There has been no in
vestigatlon and there will be none that /
know of. l don't even know what you al
lude to-"
Mr.. ]. A. G. Carson, vice-chairman of
the board, was not present at the confer
ence. He has, however, made some inqui-
ries into the matter and when asked about
it said:
while 1 was not at the conference, L
have been informed by one of the com
missioners of certain outrages said to have
been committed at the convict camps l
am not in position, however, to go into
any details concerning them. From what
have learned, however, the matter is one
that ought to be investigated at once and
l would not be surprised If 1t should come
before the board within a day or two.
Commissioner William Kehoe was seen
and asked about the reported outrages.
He said that the reports were no surprise
to him, but he declined TO discuss the mat
ter for publication.
81 made up my mind several months
ago that County Engineer Day
ton was an unfit man for the
place" he said, however. "and offered
q resolution in the board for an investiga-
ton. This resolution was voted down,
my vote being the only one in the afIirma-
tive. Messrs. Carson and Chaplin voted
against the motion and Mr.. Dale being in
the chair did not vote. l believed then
that Mr. Dayton was an unfit man to be
in charge Of the convicts and 1 have not
changed my opinion since"
Mr.. Kehoe would not say whether he
thought there would be an investigation
or not. After the manner in which he
had been defeated in the matter several
months ago he did not feel that he was
called upon to prefer charges against any
one connected with the convict camps,
he said. If any of the other
commissioners wished to prefer
charges he would make no objec-
tons. Mr.. Kehoe seemed surprised when
asked If he had attended a conference
with Chairman Dale and Mr.. Carson at
the court house yesterday morning to con-
slider this matter, but did not deny that
there had been such a conference.
Commissioner Chaplin was seen at his
house last night. He did not care to dis
euss the matter, but admitted that the
county commissioners had under consid-
Grafton certain reports concerning the
conduct of some Of the county employees.
No charges had been filed with the
board, he said, and all they knew was
simply street rumor, which had come to
them. The reports were of such a seri-
GUS character, however, that he thought
they merited some attention, and a visit
was made to the camp by three of the
girl, who had made the charges, was
brought before them and questioned. To
the commissioners she made very serious
charges against some of the men. which,
if proven, would be sufficient to cause
their dismissal from their position, and
might even be carried further.
The girl was sentenced to twelve months
on the gang about three months ago for
stealing a ring. She has a dark copper
complexion and is fairly good looking.
Although so young, 1t was very evident
that she had had considerable experience
in the ways of shady side of the world.
Mr.. Chaplin said it was doubtful IL the
charges made could be proven.
Mr.. Chaplin was asked if there would
be an investigation by the board, and
said that he could not say. This would
depend upon further developments, he
said.
When asked about the reports concerning
the convict camps DR., T. B. Chisholm
the county physician, declined to discuss
them. He appeared to think there had beer
little more talk than there was any ne
cessity for, though he did not say 1t was
unfounded.
1t is understood from authentic sources
however, that DR.. Chisholm looked into tn,
matter of the alleged outrageous treat