Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-07-01
Saturday, July |, 1899.

IudG MI. NOIuOu was bOV suhl"oneu
because of any personal information
but because of the fact that he lived
in the neighborhood where the convicts
had been working, and knew OF these
rumors, and also because of the fact
that he is member of the grand jury,
which has had the conduct of the
chaingang under investigation. Mr..
Gordon was not sworn as a witness.
He, however, watched the progress of
the investigation closely.
Mr.. IT. w. Davinney, one of the
chaingang guards, was the next wit
ness sworn. Mr.. Brice explained to
him that he had the privilege of de-
clining to answer any question that
might seem calculated to prejudice bis
own case but he did not take advan-
tage of such privilege. He said that
he had been a guard on the chaingang
for % months.
"During the time you have been
a guard on the York county chaiDgang,
have you ever seen Mr.. Culp under
the influence of whisky?"
II saw him that way last Christmas;
but have never seen him under the
influence of liquor at any other time.
Witness went on to say that at this
time the superintendent was not past
attending to his duties. Had never
known whisky in camp but twice, and
only once while the camp was in
Bethel. Did not mean to say that
there had been no drinking there at
other times; but if so, it was not
within his personal knowledge. Had
never known Superintendent Culp to
drink whisky but two or three times.
There was whisky in camp on the
Saturday night already referred to.
There was a gallon of it. 1t was
brought from North Carolina by
Negro, and belonged to witness, Guard
Mendenhall and a citizen of the vicinity
who was not connected with the chain
gang. 1t was hidden some distance
outside of the camp. Witness drank
some of it, and so did others; but
Superintendent Culp knew nothing of
il until next morning. 1t was the last
Saturday night in Bethel and after
getting permission to spend the night
away, witness put on a substitute
guard and left. He returned about 10
o'clock, and went to sleeep. After
ward, sometime between 10 and II
o'clock, Mendenhall and Mikel came
back and woke bin up under circum.
stances that aroused his Irish. He
wanted to hit Mendenhall with piece
of scantling; but Mikel took it away
from him and insisted upon a fair
fight. He did not like this because
Mendenhall was the larger man ; but
did the best he could. Superintendent
Culp came out in his night clothes
while the fight was going on, and put
stop to it. He knew nothing of the
killing of the bloodhound except what
Mr.. Culp had told him. Mr.. Culp
did not know anything about the
whisky having been sent for that night.
1t was sent for in violation of Mr..
Culp's orders. There was a rule
against the use of whisky in or about
the camp, and this rule was never
violated except on the sly.
Commissioner Wilkerson stated that
he had several points that he wanted
to bring out and asked the following
questions:
Did you ever see any card playing
or gambling of any kind in the camp
on Sunday, since Mr.. Culp has been in
charge?
No, sir.
Did you ever see or know of any
thing of the kind in or around the
camp at any time?
No, sir.
Did you ever know of patting and
dancing among the convicts on Sum-
days?
No, sir.
Any wrestling?
No, sir.
Do you remember of saying at any,
time that Mr.. Culp did not dare to re-
port you or turn you off for anything,
because you knew as much on Mr..
Culp as he knew on you?
No, sir; have never said anything
of the kind.
Did you ever hear of any. of the
other guards making any such state
ment?
No, sir.
What was your business before you
became a guard on the chaingang?
Buggy trimmer.
By Grand Juror Gordon: Did Su-
perintendent Culp rebuke you for or
dering that whisky that night.
Yes, sir.
By Mr.. Brice: You have said that
you are aware that it is against the
rules to bring whisky about the camp.
Why did Mr.. Culp not discharge you?
We went to Mr.. Culp next morning
and told him that we had made friends;
that we were sorry for what we had
done, and offered to hand in our resig-
nations if he desired them. We ex-
pected him to discharge us. He said,
however, that just at that time, on the
eve of moving, he needed experienced
guards, and that since we had made
friends, he would look over it that
time, if we would promise not to bring