The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-11-10
AS WE'LL AS EVIDENCE BEFORE
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE.
SOME NEW FACTS AS TO SECRET SESSION
Only the Charge Of Responsibility for Convicts
Being Frozen Was Considered, and This
Only in the Light of the Evidence Sub
mitted by the Committee of The
Board, Never Yet Made
Public,

There has been persistent rumor
for sometime that the board of directors
of the State prison in the secret session
at which they vindicated Supervisor
ISummerell considered no charge except
THAT convicts had been frozen on North
hampton farm, and took note of no evil
ldence save that which had been elected
| by the special committee Of the board
appointed to investigate Snmmerell's
conduct Chairman e. l.. Travis, of the
Executive Committee of the board. was
Iseen yesterday in regard to the matter
is athe report that the board of direc-
TORS considered but the one charge
against Supervisor Summerell, that CON
victs were frozen while under his care,
and that only the evidence taken by the
Especial committee of the board. true?''
he was asked.
"Yes, such was the case" he replied.
The special committee appointed by the
board was directed to investigate merely
the charge that Summerell was respon-
Northampton farm, and the board
took cognizance of no other evil
dence than that submitted by
it's special committee and of course
of no charge except that ON which the
evidence bore. ! think, however, that
the evidence submitted was such as to
Justify Summerell's dismissal"
1t is plain according to this that the
hoard did not consider at all the charge
of brutality in the whipping of convicts
which almost completely overshadowed
the charge of freezing in the evidence
before the legislative investigating COM
mittee There was no room in that for
excusing Summerell on the ground of
mistakes" To say Summerell hit Il
convict on the head with a whip handle
las big as the fore arm in fit of absent
mindedness or that he had one beaten
by three men in succession under a
sense of mistaken philanthropy would
have been a bit too strong for public
credulity. Therefore these small mat
tiers were politely ignored, and a majority
of the board eontented itself with de-
clearing that Summerell sent the men out
under the impression that it was IA warm
and genial day.
The members of the board of directors
fthe State prison were named by the
Legislature The same body appointed
committee composed of three of its
ableSt members to investigate the man
agement of the State prison and farms.
What they found was a matter of conn
mon notoriety. The members of the
board were advised of it, at least such
was their duty. The State prison, its
i IL. -
mitted to their care by the same law
that authorized their appointment. 1t
is their duty to see that 1T is properly
managed and is free from scandal and
abuse Yet they thought so little, ap-
parently, of the committee of the Leg
islature that they did not even investi-
gate the enormities it had laid bare in
its investigation, confined themselves to
minor charge and apologized for it as
al mistake. Here is a sample of the evil
dence with regard to the charge they
did investigate that under the rule adopt
cd they did not consider at all-the evil
dence of Summerell himself before the
legislative committee.
Chairman Brown "What is your
opinion as to where these men frozeY
Lewis Summerell: "Well, I'll tell it
as near right as / can let the drop fall
where she will. Some of them might
have been frostbitten at my farm, but
most of them before they came"
GLOW many were frost-bitten at your
farm?"
-Four or five, ! think"
Don't you think it wrong and decided
ly cruel to send out convicts in such con-
dition in bitter cold weather.
"They are sent here and / have no
right to let them lie up. II they are not
put to work | am held responsible for
their idleness."
"Would you not rather take the re-
sponsibility than to put men out in such
weather.
1T was worse than | thought. |
should be more careful"
Was the weather too severe to
work."
Yes, sir, for eight days l did not
take them OUT
"Then you admit the weather was too
severe for work."
Yes, but l could not keep men in