The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-12
TREATMENT OF CONNECTS NJ AT JENNINGS BROS. CAMP
Judge Leigh of Escambia County Reports to Gover- nor Upon Result Of Investigation of
 Statements of McNeil.

dinner" I think the food served by MT. Jennings was nourishing and am- pie in quantity. As to medical atten- tion: l was not under contract to Jen. nings Bros. Had no stated times for visiting the camps or stockade. This was not necessary as there is a daily mail between Manistee and Perdue HilL The distance is about six miles, My books will show that I was called to the stockade on February 9th. March 10th and 31st and April 12th. l also visited the camp on March 17th, without tbeine called. Quite a number of the conytctsa were kept continuously under stfeatment the medicine being sent by the mall boy wher it was not necessary to call. Twas not called to see McNeil' when he cut his foot and suspect that the cut was not so severe as he states for was sent for to see a negro who cut his foot only a short while before McNeil received his cut.
 MT. Jennings showed every solicitude ? to have the acute or curable troubles treated. As to how they are treated by the guards know nothing. Can only say that I saw no evidence of brutality or inhumanity. I carefully examined the body of Will Jones and found no marks of the strap or lash no indications of violence whatever From the history given me I think he died from some form of heart disease. I also examined the body of Randall Davis. Having treated him during his stay at the camps and obtaining the symptoms proceeding his sudden death I unhesitatingly state the cause of death to be cerebral hemorhage.
 (Signed.) c. W. Gilliard. M. D.
 Subscribed and sworn to before me this 7th day of May 1901.
 Justice of the Peace.
 The Warden's Affidavit.
 F.. B. Bush, white, being duly sworn deposes and says. I have been em- ployed as warden at the convict camp of Jennings Bros, at Manistee. Ala. McNeil. I have seer the statement made by him as published in The Montgomery Advertiser of April 27th with reference to the treatment he re- ceived while at said camps. His state ment is wholly false. He was never cruelty or inhumanely treated, was never whipped at any time during his stay at the camp He behaved him. self well while serving out his sen tence and appeared to be we'll satisfied with his treatment and surroundings. He received medical treatment while under disability caused by cutting his foot.
 (Signed.) E. B. Bush.
 sworn to and subscribed before me this the soth day of April. 1901.
 M. F. Brooks,
 .r'... Clerk Circuit Court.
 Convicts Were Whipped.
 J. B. Samuel. white, being duly sworn deposes and says, I have been employed by Jennings Bros, ever since they opened up business at Manistee as woodsman, and have had general oversight of the entire business the whole time said business have been working convicts. I have had ample opportunity to observe the treatment of all the convicts employed at the camps. I have seen some of the convicts whipped and have myself had some of them whipped. I have never allow ed nor have I ever seen any unusual punishment inflicted upon any of them. They were whipped for disobedience and for refusal to 7awork. None of them were ever compelled to work when disabled by sickness or otherwise. They were. and are now, given medi- cal treatment when sick, Dr. Billiard of Perdue Hill being called when need ed. The punisfrnents referred to were inflicted with a leather strap and the most I ever saw given was upon one negro who got seven licks. Mir. W. P. Jennings the manager of the business was very kind to hs men.
 The man Benjamin McNeil who was sent here under the name of John w. Kelly was under my immediate super vision. He cut his foot about the third day after he-arrived at the camps and was never thereafter worked in the woods, but was made a trusty and remained at the stockade where he had considerable liberty and was well treat ed in every respect. Any statements made by him to the contrary are false. (Signed.) J. B. Samuel. sworn to and subscribed before me this the 3Oth day of April, 1901. M. F. Brooks, Clerk Circuit Court. Says McNeil Told Untruth. James Atkins, white, being duly sworn, deposes and says:
 1 have been employed as night war ! den at the convict camp of Jennings | Bros. at Manistee, Monroe County. for the past three weeks.
 | I have read the statement of Benja- min McNeil, as published in The Mont gomey Advertiser of April 27th. All that portion of his statement in regard | to his having been treated inhumanely and as to the inhuman and cruel treat ment of the other convicts is abso- | lutely false.
 I have known Of some of the convicts being whipped, two white men among | the number, but have seen none oi them cruelty or severely punished. | (Signed) James Atkins. sworn to and subscribed before me this, the 30th day of April, 1901. | M F Brooks, l Clerk Circuit Court.
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