The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-27
1--WE IIGAI ton
Still GOES ON:
Lee Camp Soldiers Home Under a a.
Steady Fire.
SIMILARITY OF The TESTIMONY.
Veterans Continue 10 Complain OF Food
and Clothing, aud tho Theft of
SUGAR Is Charged Witnesses
Exami3cd. i;
,muittee,

The Joint Investigating Commute
rhich as looking into tho management
of the Soldiers Home. held another meet
ing yesterday afternoon in the Senate
Chamber.
Mr.. George 1vey, an inmate Of the
Home. was the sirst witness. Examined
as to whether he had seen awning
stolen and carried from the Home wit
ness said he knew nothing OF MS own
knowledge. except in the case of Foster.
who had stolen sugar 41e had seen
NEGROES carrying baskets from the Home.
but knew NOT what they contained.
Mr.. James Z. Heath was then put on
the stand. The Testimony of MI. Heath
Was substantially the same as that given
nv Mr. lyey. Captain Bigger had al
ways treated him we'll The cooking at
the Home was generally bad
Mr. James Guest. OF Henrico. was next
examined. lie said he had seen baskets
being carried from the Home, but could
not say what they contained. Ale con
t;idered the diet -.wretched; lived al
most exclusively on bread and molasses.
Food was so bad last spring and summer,
witness thought ne would staIEe- lie
said the fare u. the Home had improved
since the assembling OF the Legislature.
TOOK TIE SUGAR
MT. john Va liiSE NoNANS-
q crate navy, WAS then examined. ne
stated that a man by the name OF Eos
Ter had stolen 2l5 pounds OF sugar an
the course OF two years, and Tor th!S INC
only punishment inflicted was that roster
was moved into other quarters. WI,
ness never knew anyone else 10 steai
from the Home. He said he had no
complaint TO make of the diet, except
that The cooking was bad. In answer
10 question by Mr.. Pollock. witness said
commandan treated him kindly.
Mr.. III. b. Owens was the next witness
lie had seen Foster carrying DaSkelS
ont of the grounds. Had also seen ser
wants talting baskets out The cook vas
caught stealing, but not discharged un-
III very recently-nearly three years after
the theft was committed. Witness sald
ne was ..horribly'' fed at the Home. He
said Captain Bigger's table was fur-
nished like that OF the jefferson HOTEL
He said he never had AWNING 10 uo
with the commandment, and, therefore. did
not know how he treated the men. Said
the fare had Improved since the as
senbling OF the Legislature. He SAID
he never ate any meat, but that on last
Saturday a number of the men We're
made sick from eating bad meat.
Thomas H G. Poulson. OF Accomac,
was then examined. He knew nothing
of supplies having been taken from the
Home. He never ate any meat or fish.
THE adiutant and commandant always
treated him well. The clothing furnished
was .:shoddy." Witness said he could
buy a suit of better clothing for 1926 than
those furnished the inmates; had never
drawn what he called a decent suit OF
clothing.
FOOD WAS BAD.
Mr.. Frank McGhee was the next wit
ness His testimony was corrobora-s
don of that Of Mr.. Poulson, in regard TO
All matters, except that Of food, which
he said was mot fit for a penitenuary
convict
General appearance of the men. said
the Witness was very shabby. Did not
think the uniforms could cost more than
81 each. He said the adjutant treated the
men well; hut he could not say so much
for the commandment, whom he said
treated the inmates very roughly; said
the commentaries fare was far superior
to that of the inmates. In answer TO
question by Mr.. Newhouse. witness stated
that the inmates had only two meals a
day. while the commandant had three.
Mr.. Jennings, of Shenandoah, was next
examined. lie did not know of any sup
plies having been taken. except in the
case of Foster. the inmate, who stole the
sugar. Had seen servants so out with
bundles and baskets. but did not know
what they contained. He said the food
and coeldng We're bad. The adjutant ana
commandant had usually treated him
we'll. hut there had been exceptions to
the rule.
Mr.. J. W. Gentry, Of Richmond city.
next took the stand. lie had seen parties
taking out bundles and baskets. but of
his own knowledge, he could not say
what they contained. Witness corrobo-
rated the testimony Of other wit
nesses as to food and clothing: said Cap
tain Bigger and the adjutant usually
treated the men we'll.
Captain Dashiell. who had before been
examined. was recalled He told what he
knew about Fosters stealing the sugar;
witness had watched Foster carrying :he
Baskets. but had lost track of him when
Cary street was reached. After a few
moments executive session. the COM
anittee rose to sit again upon cali of
Chairman Opie.