The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-18
THE CONVICT CANT S
MANY EVIDENCES OF MIsMANAGE-
MENT.
GOV. GAMBLER EXERCISED.
NAY SEND SPECIAL MESSAGE TO
LEGISLATURE.

Many stories of Abuse and Misman-
aEcment of MisdemcHnOr COnvicts
Brought 10 Attention of Prison
Commission-some Cases May BE
Investigated ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Case From Bryan COuntS-Turpen-
tine Operator Paid His Way Out
and Returned Home.
Atlante March 17.-Gov. Gambler is
very much wrought up over the accumu-
lating evidences of mismanagement of the
misdemeanor convict camps in many OF
the counties of the state, and it is not
at all unlikely that he will send a spe-
cial message to the Legislature on the
subject at the beginning of the next ses-
sion.
In fact it may be there will be an in
Vestigation in some quarters before the
Legislature meets. This step was taken,
as will be remembered in the case of the
McRee camp in Lowndes county, and it
is very probable that several other inves-
legations will be instituted by the Prison
Commission within the next few weeks.
Stories of abuses and Encouragement
are constantly being brought TO the at
tention of the Prison Commission. 1t is
frequently the case that complaints of
kidnapping come from different sections.
1t is not a month since the Governor had
such case before him. \ negro dis
charged from one convict comp was ar
rested as an alleged escape and put to
work in another camp. Complaint was
made and the Governor wrote TO those in
charge of the offending camp. The result
vas the negro was promptly released and
paid for the time he had worked
Bryan COunty's Queer Case.
The Governor mas just received a letter
with reference to a rather remarkable
case in Bryan county. a negro employed
at a tuFpentine still was arrested by i
bailiff The owner OF the still pursued
the oaili1 and his prisoner with shot
gun He attacked the officer, it is said.
taxing his prisoner away from him. The
stfu owner was tried for assault and bat
terry and fined s1.050 CT sentenced 70 serve
twelve months on the chain-gaug- The
Bryan county convicts are leased TO par
ties in Decatur county Inis man refused
- pay his fine, Il is stated, and went 20
the Decatur county camp II turned out
later that the man was not put TO work a.
al st the convict camp, but was allowed
70 return 70 his home and resume tns
oPsratioa OF his turPentine still Il IS an
6e-ssood the man secured his freedom by
paying the lessee Si0s. the amount which
vas paid % Bryan county for MS services.
some months ago. according 10 an Off
e5al connected with the Prison Commits
sion. 8 white woman in Ware county was
sentenced 10 pay a fine Of 500 or wo
-
She refused TO pay the fine, though II Is
said she had the money. She went 10 the
lessee Of the county convicts, and shortly
afterWsrd returned 10 her home and re-
Suned business Al the old stand. The
lessee stated, II is said that he could IND
no work for a white woman to do, so let
her 60 Ii Is not known whether or not
she paid for her release.
Instances Of this kind are constantly
being brought to the attention of the Cow
ernor and he has given the matter no
little thought of late.
Only a Few Counties Make Reports.
The County Commissioners of every
county are required to make monthly re-
ports with regard to the msdemeanor
convicts to the Prison Commission. Only
about twenty of the 1877 counties send IN
these reports regularly. The other day
Secretary Yancey of the commission sent
out notices ASKING that these reports be
sent in at once. Some few of the coun.
ties responded with the reports others
wrote asking what was wanted and what
kind of report to make, but the major
ity did not answer at all. One county,
Dougherty, went so far as to ask by
what authority the reports We're de-
manded. as much as to say. it was none
of the commissions business.
The question will undoubtedly receive
The attention of the next session of the
Legislature. and it would not be surpris-
ing to see some measure similar to the
Toomer bill enacted into law.