The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-08-16


The law enjoins upon him the duty @
watching those who hire convicts,
preventing oppression and enforcing
the rule that they shall be humanely
treated, carefully attended by physi-
clans and not required to labor more
than ten hours day, nor on Sundays
and holidays. Sections 566 and 569,
Vol. 2, Rev. Stats. Of 1893.
The plain intent of the law is that
he shall not hire them himself, direct
ly or Indirectly, or be personally in
terested in the amount of work done.
The net proceeds being his the ten
dency would be to give Watson the
best labor, work it over time and re-
port as much lost time as possible.
Having run under this contract for the
years 1893, 1894, 1895, he had his
debt reduced as result from sl7. 900
to SD, 900. (See Exhibit H.. Then
he took a contract from Watson (Ex.
H) whereby exclusive control was re-
turned to him, but the convicts were
hired to Mr.. Watson, (see Ex. g. and
no bond was taken from Watson.
This was plainly done to mislead the
board of directors. as he frankly ad
mits that they would not have hired
them to him. Thus he became the
master, the contractor, in fact, with
Watson as stalking horse. All the
profits Injured to his benefit.
Instead Of paying the State for the
convict hire for 1896 he took worth
less note Of his foreman, one Rags
dale, aud endorsed it as superinten-
dent Of the penitentiary, borrowed the
money on it and returned it as cash
received. The note has never been
paid, and the bank threatens the
penitentiary with suit for it. The
same thing occurred in 1897, with
another Ragsdale note, and in 1898 no
pretence Of payment has been made.
The net proceeds of the farming oper-
ations for 1896 and 1897 were paid to
Mr.. Watson on Mr.. Meals debt to
him, except 81, ,465. .85, for which Mr..
Neal gave Watson receipt as super
intendent, and which was not turned
in to the treasury, but which is cover
ed by one of the Ragsdale notes.. The
State has been left out for the entire
three years, and in 1898 neither Wat
son nor the State has been paid any
thing.
In November, 1895, Mr.. Neal col
lected Of W. Q. Hammond $500 on
convict hire, which he kept and used.
In December, 1895, he collected from
Cooley & Fowler $500 convict hire,
which he also used. In February,
1897, he collected from those two
firms over 81 300, and deposited to his
own credit and used $539.95 Of the
same. He collected from j. j. Fret
we'll s387.17 for oats (Ex. M) and fail
ed to pay it in. He gave checs to
the bookkeeper for $l72 to balance
his account for cash in hand, and
there was nothing in bank to pay it,
and it has not been paid. He took a
note Of W. W. Russell for 5000 for
his own accommodation, and endorsed
it as superintendent of the peniten-
tiary, and placed it in bank, and it has
never been paid. The bank is after
the penitentiary for the money, and
Mr.. Neal admits that be is liable
therefor. He collected $740 stable
rent, which was unauthorized, but
which, he claims. was allowed by the
board Of directors, which they deny,
and which appears to have been ap-
proved in the prison pay roll. He
has gotten supplies from the peniten-
tiary, for which he has not paid,
amounting to s638.29. His family
washing has not been paid for and he
got carload Of cotton seed to plant,
which he should pay for.
All these matters, taken with his
presents Of State property to his
friends, and his having his superin
tendent, Ragsdale, to furnish the COWS
to the penitentiary at big profit,
which profits Mr.. Neal got, his keep
ing open house for his friends at the
penitentiary at the States expense,
stamp him as being utterly deficient
in the faculty of Distinguishing be-
tween what is his and what is the
States, accompanied with remarka-
BILE faculty Of being generous with the
States assets and especially to him
self.
We hold that both w. A. Neal and
j. B. Watson are liable for the con-
L.. e.. ooo,;oke 80 bo ,rorI-, II 49,