The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-06-15

Castle Hayne farm we found that dunk
en- men were employed as stewards, and
the physician in charge of this farm was
not only Incompetent, but addicted TO the
habit of drunkenness, and was utterly
unfit for the care of these unfortunate
people.
The books and accounts of the different
branches of the institution were kept IN
such manner as to make possible almost
any amount of loss to to the state by
dishonesty and misrepresentation OF FUNDS
without detection, and we found it almost
impossible to follow out many questiona-
BILE transactions; to have done so would
have necessitated the summoning OF wit
nesses from every section of the state
as we'll as adjoining States, and would
have required a great deal of time and
expense.
g. Treatment of Convicts. Many
charges of cruelty and mistreatment of
the convicts have been called to the at
tention of the committee, both by the
public press and private individuals. ana
this subject was made the object of spe-
cial investigation We found that at some
Of the camps there was no reason for
complaint while at others the neglect sad
cruelty was such as to startle any civil
lied community. There is abundant evil
dence to show that Castle Hayne camp
was sadly neglected from sanitary
standpoint: that nearly fifty per cent. Of
the conyicts there were the victims of
an epidemic of fever resulting from this
condition; that they were allowed to he
come covered with vermin; and that in
this deporable condition they were trans
ferred in mid winter to the extreme
northeastern portion of our State and
put TO work in weather as severe as is
ever known in North Carolina, with the
result that several of the convicts had
their hands frozen, some of them to
the extent that amputation was neces-
sary, while others were released from
prison with their hands manned for life
One of the number. who was n consump-
tive, was forced, when found to be unable
TO work. to sit down in the field without
fire. blanket or other protection from the
cold, fer three hours, waiting for the
squad to go to camp, and when carried
to his quarters only lived for a few days
The evidence shows that arother convict
was severely beaten in the field until
death occurred in a few minutes. Several
other persons were so severely beaten
with straps and cudgels that they We're
disabled for days, and the committee ex-
amined the persons of convicts who will
undoubtedly carry the marks OF the lash
through their lives. This matter was I'M
der consideration some of the employees
Of the prison felt that they wanted to
counterfeit some Of the impressions made
by witnesses, and asked for the examina-
ten of a number of witnesses. with the
benefit of an attorney. The committee
YIo I inc oil
for making such denfense as they saw
fit and number of witnesses were eX-
amined and their evidence recorded.
AS a result of this Investigation this
committee is convinced that there is
something lacking in our penitentiary
system, and we recommend the revision
of the laws governing this institution.
so that. in some way. the convicts of the
State may be governed without the ne
cessity of such cruel treatment After
an examination of the prison laws of
some of the other States we commend to
your consideration the laws governing
the Indiana State prison, especially their
parol system, and we think that with
proper revision their system would be
a decided Improvement over that now in
use in our State prison.
We are of the opinion that this insti-
tuition can be made self-sustainng, but
this result will not be obtained so long
as its patronage is used for political pur-
poses. We would recommend first the
working of all the convicts on the public
roads and other public works; if this
cannot be done we are of the opinion that
the present system of working them on
the farms is the best disposition that can
be made of them.
Respectfully submitted,
J. A. BROWN,
s. NJ. GATTIS
G.. p. PATTERSON.
Committee.