The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-08-25
COULDN'T USE PHONE
REV. j. A. SMITH DENIED PRIVI-
LEGE AT POOR FARM.
GUARD WOULDN'T ADMIT HIM.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR
A PERMIT.

Minister Visited Farm to See Emma
DeLoach-If She Shows Amy Real
Desire to Lead Better Life He WIZ
Try to Secure Home for Her, Pos
sibIy in Atlanta Crittenten Home.
VIII Report to County Commits
sioners To-day Treatment He Re-
ceived at Farm-DeLOach Woman
Notorious Even Among the Police.
There is a possibility that Emma De-
Loach may be given a chance to re-
form. Several persons who have inter-
ested themselves in the woman will
first see if there is any desire on her
part to lead a better life if given a
chance, and 1t they discover any such
desire they will then appeal to the prop
er authorities for the the womans re-
lease from the chain gang and try to
secure for the unfortunate creature a
home in some other city, possibly in
the Crittenton Home in Atlanta.
An effort to see the woman was made
yesterday by Rev. J. A. Smith, pastor
of Epworth Methodist Church, the
prime mover in the matter of giving
the woman a chance to reform, but
he met with a rebuff on the part of
F. E. Harvey, who was in charge of
the Poor Farm, that will cause Mr.
Smith to make report to the County
Commissioners to-day. .
Rev Mr.. Smith first tried to see the
DeLoach woman in the Jail, but find
ing that she had been taken to the
Poor Farm he went there. He was re-
fused admission to the place, because
he didn't have a permit. He then ask
ed that he be allowed TO telephone one
of the county commissioners, who Mr..
Smith explained to Harvey, he was
satisfied would grant the permission he
asked, but the use of the telephone also
was refused.
AS Harvey had not himself seen Mr..
Smith the latter thought there might
be some mistake and so wrote the
keeper the following letter: Dear Sir:
BY request l am here for a few mo-
ments conversation with a prisoner
brought out here yesterday. AS
minister of the gospel 1 have always
been accorded this courtesy. If you
will allow me the use of your telephone
l will get a permit at once"
The response to this note, Mr.. Smith
states was: MY orders are impera-
tive. / can allow no one inside this en-
closure without a permit signed by Mr..
w. F. Chaplin, superintendent of pub
lie works of the county, or by the
county commissioners No telephone
communication Is allowed. Respect
fully, P. +. Harvey"
1t is true, said Mr.. Smith, In dis
cussing the matter later, that l have
never before visited the Chatham
county poor farm, but under similar
conditions / have visited others wher-
ever l have been engaged in church
work, and l have never before been
refused admission to the farm or COM
munication with a prisoner. 1t is
barely possible that Mr.. Harvey may
be in the right, but I think that his
orders must leave him sufficient dis
cretionary powers to have covered my
case. l will report the matter to the
commissioners to-day, however, and if
necessary get a permit from them to
visit the farm and see the woman.
Emma De Loach has figured often
in police circles, and has, in fact, spent
the greater part of the last year or
two on the gang. She had been off
but short time, when, a week ago
yesterday, she was arrested on the
charge of miscegenation. She was tried
in the City Court Friday and was sem
fenced to pay a fine of $500 or spend
the next year on the gang.