The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-01-22
WHAT CAPTAIN ALLEN SAYS.


la connection with this matter the
following taken from the Spartanburg
Herald Of Sunday last, will prove in-
teresticg reading:
"In view Of the charges made BY Dl.
rector Willoughby against Superinteud-
ens Neal, and the fact that he gave Cap
tain E. C. Allen as authority for some
of ais charges, The Herald interviewed
Captain Allen yesterday and found that
be knew a great deal more than Mr..
Willougbby told.
"Cap plain Allen was for long time
captain Of the guards and is thoroughly
familiar with the workings Of the peni-
Tertiary. If called before the investi-
eating committee. be could give light
on several dark spots, which at present
cannot be mentioned in the papers.
"'Whas do you think Of the charges
of extravaganza and bad manage
meut ?" asked The Herald.
The penitentiary has been badly
managed ever since Colonel Talbert left
it. The first year of Neal's regime,
With the contracts Talbert had made.
Neal made good showing, but he has
DOT made dollar since could mep-
ton great many instances of bad
management, but the main criticism |
have is the fact that he wonld send con-
victs to his own farm in Anderson, to
his brother-i in-law, Russell, and to his
cousins. when convicts were needed on
the State farms, and the farms the State
worked on shares hac to hire day labor
while he let out coavicts to private
parties. This is great abuse-this
bring convcts to individuals, which
Colonel Lipscomb tried to get rid of
aud Colonel Talbert did abolish, but
Mr.. Neal has started it afresh. Colonel
Neal works convicts on his farm in An.
derson, lets his brother-in-law have
them and other relations. | asked for
more help on the DeSaussure farm.
The directors ordered the couvicts sent
to ne, but have letter from Colonel
Neal saying the corvicts | asked for
would 20 to Russell and Fretwell at
Anderson.
".As to the charge Of extrava-
gance,' says Captain Allen, i know
this In his report for 1894, page 80,
an item which reads to 'supdry per-
sous,' for freight, wood, cows. beef.
etc., 1.141'51.' Part Of 'is Mr..
Neal got himself for COW. an io-
dividnal to himself as supet.-.eudent at
higher price than the directors au
thorized, so am told.
g Yes, Superiuteud dent Neal and |
could cot agree, but am not the only
mau vino could not get along with him.
His first book.keeper. Glenn, quit be-.
cause Neal wanted him to yield up $25
per month of bis salary. He then got
Burroughs, bis relative, who gave him
$50 month of bis salary for five or
six months, aud then s25 month.
He brought an old negro there to drive
the penitentiary carriage and the pay
roll shows him to draw SIS month.
AS matter Of fact, the negro get 81.
the So going to Mr.. Neal under the
preteuse Of board, which the peniten.
tiary furnished.
81 do not know anything about the
peas Mr. Willoughby says Neal shipped
to his own farm. but l do know that
about this time I was buying peas for
the DeSaussure farm.
".As to shoes, $500 pairs we're
paid for when only 1000 convicts we're
to use them. can only say that the
convicts I had only got one pair a year.
Neal told lne to take The shoes from the
hoe hands and give them to the plough
hands 10 ploughiug in bottoms aud
new grounds barefoot was pretty tough.
Captain Allen said he knew great
deal more yhioh be would tell if forced.
sL