Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-16
ON THE LAW.
METHOD OF BRINGING CONvICTs
TO PRISON CRITICISED.
EXPLANATION FROM MAJOR LYNN.
He Defends the Act, Which Has Re-
suited In Great Saving to the stnte.
cuned Together.
cuned Together.

The Roanoke World. in a recent edition,
contained an editorial animadverting the
bill passed by the last Legislature regu-
lating the removal Of convicts to the
peniteutlary. The World says:
"Only a few days ago a guard from the
State prison was in this city after prison
ers sentenced 10 the penitentiary. He
arrived here with one negro, and from
our city jail he took two other negroes
and one white man. Upon reaching the
train the four unfortunates were taken
into the second-class car. and there the
white man was handcuffed to one Of the
negroes. and the entire group chained
together.
Surely the men who voted for this
law did not expect such a state OF affairs
IN exist? 1t is true the prisoners were
on the same level as to crime, but that
does not change their color. It was just
as embarrassing for that fellow TO ride
to Richmond beside a negro as 1t would
be for any free citizen.
"Can # be that Virginia has gotten so
civiliy? The old law might have
been more expensive. but. 20 say the
least. 70 beats the one now in force. If we
are 10 Judge from what we see and near
in this connection. Virginia people
never intended that those who commit
crime should be treated as brutes. The
courts infict no such punishments, and
no one man Is above the courts. In the
first place. the sheriffs should have this
privilege. AID we favor ii being restored
to them"
MAJOR HYMNS EXPLANATION,
Major Lynn was seen last night. and
IN the above connection said that the ar
ticle evidently referred TO the transfer
ence Of four prisoners three from ROa-
noke and one from BOtetourt last week.
one OF the men was white. the other
three colored The guard had been
warned by the iailer that the white man
was a dangerous man. and told that he
would probably make an attempt to es-
cape. Further than this. Major Lynn
said the bringing of felons TO the States
prison was not a circumstance into which
sentiment could be allowed 10 enter. and
II was hardly likely 20 injure the reputa-
tious of the prisoners. whatever company
thev might find themselves I'm. Strict
orders have been given to the guards
that all prisoners must be put I'm irons
for the Journey, and when more than one
Is TO be brought they must be hand
cuffed together The orders are also i'm
perative that II an attempt to escape is
made the prisoner shall be shot down.
so fl is i'm the interest of the safety of
the other passengers on the train that the
men should be made as secure as pos
sible.
The guard who was sent after the four
prisoners from Roanoke and BOtetOurt
Is a native Of Roanoke county, named
Morgan. and Major Lynn said he was
surprised that any objection should have
been raised against him.
SHERIFFS DID so, TOO.
The sheriffs always used to link white
and colored prisoners together said
Major Lynn, when they were charged
with the duty of conveying them to the
states prison. He thought the obJec-
ton rose chiefly from the opposition OF
sheriffs to the new law, which had
touched their pockets TO no inconslder-
able extent.
1t could hardly be expected he con-
tinued that i'm carrying out this law ne
should be able TO please the few such
sheriffs as had used the old law both for
their pleasure and profit and had thus
brought It into such repute that the ne
cessity for a change was apparent. The
article. he thought. was inspired by the
same person who issued a circular let
ter TO all the sheriffs in the State, call
ing a meeting at Roanoke. for the
purpose of forming an organization
of these gentlemen. out Of the 10
sheriffs and sergeants and the hundreds
of their deputies seventeen met IN
solemn conclave, elected themselves ofh-
GERS. districted the State. and resolved
10 pledge the incoming Legislature to the
defeat of superintendent Lynn, and the
repeal of the bill for bringing in prisoners
under his direction. If the taxpayers
are anxious to see the old order Of things
restored. which cost the State so heavily,
Major Lynn continued, it is within the
mower of the Legislature, Of course, TO
do So Under the present law actual eX-
penses only are charged for this work,
which is done by experienced men, whose
business IL Is 10 handle convicts, ana
has proved a saving Of largely over ~
per cent.
Major Lynn further said that he did not
seek the Job as it made work and re-
snonsibilitv for him that he did not get
"a pennv for. but that he would carry out
the shirt Of the law in good faith. There
is necessity" he said, "fOr economy in
the administration Of our State affairs
II we are to meet our obligations. there
can be no question. and. so far as the
nenitentiarv is concerned. It will be run
upon purely business principles as long
as / am honored with the office of SUI