The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-11-15
CONVICT CAMP SCANDAL.
Superintendent and Prisoners Al
legged to Have Engaged i'm Drunk


Dublin, Ga. Nov. 14.-Quite a sensa-
tion has developed in the county cnain
gang of Laurens county. Saturday
night last the superintendent of the
gang and two of the convicts got
drunk and became involved in a gen.
eral row. One of the convicts, a white
man named j. w. Register, was Sc
verely beaten by another white con-
vict named A. A. Pullen. The row oc-
CURED at the camp on the bank of the
river where the convicts have been at
work on the extension of the river
bridge. Register has been carried to
the pauper farm for treatment, where
he will probably have to stay for a
week OF more. He was badly bruised
about the face and neck and though
not dangerously hurt is in a painful
condition.
Saturday night last it is said that
Pullen and Register received by ex-
press jug of whisky. The superin-
tendent of the gang also received
Jug. He was off duty at the time, hav-
ing been relieved by the County Com
missioners until Jan. l. The superin-
tendent went to the camp and all hands
proceeded to get drunk. 1t is not know
now the row occurred or for what
cause. Pullen is very large man, and
Register small one. The superintend-
ent, 1t is said, got in one of the tents
and shot it full of holes.
For some rea son the guards at the
convict camp endeavored to keep the
matter secret. Sunday County Physi-
clan George Chapman, hearing a rum
or concerning disturbance at the
camp, called there and made some in
quirles concerning the matter. He was
told that everything was in good con-
oltlon. He missed Register and asked
concerning him. The guard in charge
INFORMED him that Register was not
YET awake and that being Sunday, he
was allowing him to sleep longer than
usual. The next day Register was so
Inuch worse that it became necessary
70 call IN a physician, and DR.. Chan
man was sent for. The facts concern
ing the drunken carousal of the CON
victs then came to light, though the
matter was kent o,1ist nnt;I s,. .iIe
day. '0S'ei-
Pullen was a few weeks ago sent
TO the gang for twelve months in 1ian
OF the payment of fine of $500 for the
nIesal sale OF whisky. Register is on
the gang under three sentencas--one
Tor nine months and two for three
months each. Recently the county
commissioners agreed to allow him to
~ Fto anu De renewed of further
service on the gang, but this privilege
VIII be now Withdrawn. Pulllen has
peen allowed to go without shackles.
put to-day an order was issued that
they be again put back on him
Inc grand jury which is now in ses-
sion VIII doubtless investigate thor
oughly the matter. 1t Is said that the
superintendent and all of the guards
will be discharged.
Messrs. William Kea, A. R. Arnau
and J. NJ. Blackshear of the Board of
county Commissioners, have been en-
powered to employ civil engineer to
survey all of the roads of Laurens
county and make plat of them. It is
probable that the engineer who is Civ
en- the contract will also be employed
to superintend the construction of the
roads of the county under the new
road system. 1t is the intention of the
commissioners to employ no one but
a f1rst-class man. In a few years
Laurens county will have some of the
finest roads of any county in the state.