The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-22

Hadifax, \. c., Sept. 21-(Special)-
Supervisor Summerell, of the Northamp-
ton State farm asked hearing OF ey-
dence i'll his defense by the Investigating
committee. 1t was granted, and two days
have been consumed in the examina ton
of his witnesses.
But now that it is all over, it is to be
doubted if the mans last condition i
not worse that his first. Even on his
cwn testimony Sumnerell stands con-
victed, for his own evidence was in some
respects the most damaging.
/ believe Lewis Slrnmerell told the
truth ON the stand. He showed no dis
position to evade, and he answered with
connlendable readiness and candor every
question that was asked him. In fact
lhis readiness to make answer was so
pronounced as to provoke his attorney
and call forth a reproof.
He said he usually whipped about half
his men; he found this necessary 10
maintain discipline. He had struck joe
Mazon over the head twice with the butt
end of his lash, he said, instead of cnce,
as other witnesses had testified, and in
addition to this he was whipped by two
men. Some convicts were frost bitten
on>his farm last winter, he said, while at
work in the field, and not at Castle
Hayne as other witnesses had been
claiming.
These and many other admissions yeiy
damaging to himself he made, with IN
honesty truly commendable And
have no do1Ibt he was equally honest
when he said he had never been cruel or
mistreated a convict. Tt is, however, all
a matter of definition, and unfort 1ratety
for Summerell. though fortunately for
the convicts his definition of the word
''cruel' is not that commonly accepted
by the people of the State.
The other witnesses examined this
morning in Summerell's belralf were Col.
,inos. W. Mason, Mr.. Geo. F. Burgwyn,
DIR. III. w. Lewis, Ogerseers j. Y. Ham
let, Sam Howell. J. NJ. Floyd and Geo.
A. Pittlnan, and Mr.. NJ H. Clark. They
all gave Sllmnerell good character and
none of them had rmtil recently eyer
heard HIM charged with cruelty Ills
overseers denied positively that he was
cruel. or had ever unnecessarily punished
a convict.
In addition to these witnesses II. l..
Tillery. NJ. w. IiElery and w. A. Pierce
were examined as to the management of
some of the other farms.
The committee completed its work this
afternoon at / o'clock and left for Raj
eigh, where other witnesses are SUM
moned to appear for examination tomor-
row. Among them are Win Richardson
and Pat Crecdle, Of Nash county. Both
of them We're frost bitten while on sum
merell's farm Also there are number
of conyicts and employees im the central
prison THAT may be examined.
SUMMERELL ON THE STAND.
The first witness examined today was
Supervisor Sumnerell himself, lie !'e-
gan by disclaiming any knowledge of
Ben Huntley. the man who is said to
have gone to his farm to be a guard, but
declined to remain ON account of the
cruelty he found existing there
did You ever whip a convict so thai
the clothes would stick to the skim"
SummereH was asked
''No. Not that / recAlect."
He remembered whipping the convict
Britain, hut denied that he whipped
him for talking to Matt or for talking in
the squad. He whipped him. he said,
for tryGnG to run away; that he was
Il right bad man when he first came to
the penitentiary, and laid several plans
TO get out.
AS to the charge that he had whipped
q little negro hoy so severely that he
had to be sent to the hospital he said:
1--WE never had hut two boys-a white
one and black ONE. I've whipped
them with switches. but i'm no other
way. When / sent Gahe Elliott out 70
work in the snow ] didn't know he hat!
consumption.
FROZEN ON THE FARM.
He no longer contended that the men
were frost-bitten at Castle Hayne bnt
acknowledged that they We're frost bit