The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-03-29
. SUMTER. S. c.. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29. 1899.
New Series-V0l. XVIII. No. 35

from fifty to sixty convicts on the farm.
They would average about forty I've
throughout the year. There we're six
guards. Besides them be and his
family consisting OF three persons
boarded at the farm. He denied the
report that during hog killing time the
neigbbor Jared sumptuously on spare
ribs. sausages, etc. AS to his son.in-
law getting COW he said he swapped
one with him, out bis son.in-law's COW
died just about the .ime the
peoitentiary cow was taken away.
Mr. F. n. Weston was the next
witness. As to an account against hin
for $50 81 be said it was for $50
bushels Of cats and some hams, which
he paid for. He produced his checks
as receipts. As to coal be said Dr.
Weston had attended some convicts
on sbe absence of Dr.. Pope. He
bought coal for about 81 ton from the
pepiten.iary. Through his brother he
bought five tons, which he paid for.
He bought the hams from Captain
Westfeld. The oats were bought
from Col. Neal. Dr.. Weston stated
that be bought some coal from the
penisentiary aud paid for it. Col
Neal said they had more shan they
needed.
Most OF the day vas spent trying to
account for the oats. brick and meat,
about which the published reports give
such unsatisfactory conclusions The
committee is trying to have explained
the apparent discrepancy in the pork
account, the apparent loss of oats Of the
1898 crop and the wide difference in
brick accounts. The directors seem to
have accepted the reports of the super
insendepts Of the farms and these
reports were misleading and incorrect
this specially as to the oats. and by
publishing the incorrect reports the
summaries would not work out
1t appears that Governors Tillnan,
Evans aud Ellerbe have been running
accounts with the ccmmissary depart
ment of the Pepiteptiary. The
accounts have uos been settled up and
seem not to have been reported to the
Penitentiary as assets, nor has anyone
seemed to worry about their collection.
The bills are uncollected, in fact have
not been asked for. Governor Tillman's 8
unpaid accoant is $57 O6; Gov.
Evans unpaid balance is $1S1 ID. and
Gov. Ellerbe balance is $216 56. of
which amount Sill 80 is charged for
oats. With the exception of the oats
uone of these items have been report
ed to the bookkeeper for charging OF
collection. The charges are mostly
for horse food, and it Tillmau's time
molasses, griss and other articles are
charged.
Capt. Westfeld testified that Tillman
rented about seven or eight acre plat
on which be raised COW and horse food
It was cultivated by convict labor and
ploughed With penitentlary animals No
charge was made no bill was rendered
SO far as he knew. Gov Evans, he
said, did the same thing, as far as be
knew. Gov ElIerbe, it seems, has had
a larger tract. He had the place worked
by convict labor and plougbed by
peni,entiary mules. Capt. Wes,feld
said he had never heard of auy charge
being made or expected for the labor OF
plougbing. 1t was stated that Gov.
Ellerbe had from this Columbia place
sold the peniientisry eight thousand
pounds of peavine bay at So so per
thousand. The oats account of Gov.
Ellerbe was expected to be settled With
q horse which the penitentlary thoughs
of buying Gov. Ellerbe had asked
for his bill and paid most Of it, and
wished to pay the remainder.
Superintendent Cooley. Of the Reed
plantation, testiied that be had uoder
instructions given away three sets OF
Berkshire pigs. one set to Director
Garris. Mr.. Garris stated that he had
asked a month ago 10 settle for the
pigs, but bad been unable to do SO
Mr.. Cooley stated that he had shipped,
cnder instructions, carload of twenty
thousand pounds of cotton seed to
Easiey, for Col. Meals farm: No bill
was ever made for the cotton seed, and
be did DOT expect it to be made.
Mr.. Cooley seems to have taken care
OF lane horses on the Reed plantation
Among the horses cared for was one OF
MissAEi!erbe He charged S13. which
was for bis personal service, be treating
the horse, bus 20 charge was ever made
for feed of horse while on the State
farm
More furniture from the peniteDtiary
workshop was accounted for to day Sen
ator Tillman, Col. D. H TompkiDs and
CONGRESSMAN T,atimer. IL was stated