The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1903-02-19

convict TO shut up his d-n mouth
Exhausted conyicts were put on mules
two at time because they were
shackled together and could not be
separated When c0nyicts would give
out the guards would curse them. A
guard named Busbee told convict
who fell on his face in the mud: "D-n
you, get up. I am not going 10 carry
you" When near Marion all who were
able to get of the mules were lined up
to be counted. The witness saw four
or five couples OF shackled men fall
by the wayside One man apparently
had fit and was put in wagon.
Near town several fell and were urged
on by the guards and in some cases
unshackled men helped them. The mud
came above the convicts' knees. Each
man carried his blanket. One convict
dropped Bible and Guard Busbee
cursed him for carrying plunder."
The witness had never seen q worse
day TO move convicts than the one ou
which the trip to Marion was made.
Ten miles from town the men waded
a stream over shoe-mouth deep. The
sick men were given water twice on
the way, but no milk or medicine.
When begging for water a guard said:
"D--n you shut up; that won't do you
any good" A negro fell and while on
his all-fours tipped his cap and said,
pitifully, Boss, | can't go any furth
err Guard Busbee replied: Cd d--n
yon, get up. | am not going to carry
you. We are in smelling distance of
the town" A convict went to cross a
fence and fell and brushed against a
guard, who said: Cd d-n you;
stay off me. I'll shoot hi out Of you,"
and made q demonstration with his
gun. One man was laid in car at the
Marion depot and the witness heard
1t said: Our little negro is dead"
Some Of the convicts after reaching
the car cut their muddy pants legs off
and threw them out of the window. II
takes a day Of hard driving to come
from Spruce Pine to Marion A pedes-
trian can almost keep up with load
ed wagon. The convicts were given
coffee, some corn bread and a little
meat. There was complaint that the
bread had been frozen and the meat
was cold. The stream waded was about
six feet wide, while Toe river is 100
yards wide.
A good deal of other testimony was
given in the same line. The testimony
III feDutLal 1OllOWS IN part:
w. f. Grassland, of Richmond. a di-
rector of the penitentiary, said the
, board decided that the cOnvicts should
be taken from the cold climate as
human act. The State board, guarded
and had absolute control of the con-
victs.
! J. G. Hackett, of Wilkesboro, another
| prison director, stated that the con-
victS were removed as q protection to
their health. They were allowed to stay
| until January goth on condition that
| they be worked only in good weather.
| The matter Of removal was left entire
| ly to Superintendent Mann. The wit
! ness thought the convicts could not
have been taken through Tennessee
! for the reason that North Carolina
! would have lost jurisdiction over them.
! Mr.. Mann said the Governor told him
not to carry the cOnvicts through Ten
neSsee.
The board made an order that no
convict can be whipped by guard. and
the supervisors must make reports on
each case, giving the charge, etc.
Mann read letters to Geo L. Carter,
a railroad contractor showing the un-
Willingness of the penitentiary board
to allow the cOnvictS to remain on the
north side of the mountains during the
winter, II having died at Lashley's s
camp, II of pneumonia, the previous
year, and informing him that unless
the men were moved to the south side
Of the ridge they would be withdrawn
from the work. After a conference be-
tween the board and Carter's represen-
tative it was agreed that the contract
terminate on January Goth. Mann came
here and arranged for the removal OF
the cOnvicts, for transportation and
comfortable cars. At Spruce Pine he
found the contractor and finally agreed
to have 100 of the hardest convicts on
the work. Mann instructed him to see
that the sick men were taken care Of
and also that plenty Of coffee was pro-
vided. He provided 5000 in cash tc
meet any emergency, and authorized
the purchase of whiskey for the con-
victs on their arrival here. If it had
been practicable to have carried the
men wholly by rail it would not have
cost the State cent. The Governo,
advised against letting the convicts &C
beyond the borders of the State, and he
took this as an order. No sick men
died en- route to Raleigh One man has
died since making the trip, from re-
Gently developed illness; two sick men
are still living, although they may not
recover. He had no contract to pay $50
day for cars as has been reported. He
did not examine the clothes of the
convicts at Spruce Pine, but was con.
fident the men were well provided for
The convIcts left Marion on the morn.
ing Of the 22nd, and arrived at Raleigh
at IL o'clock that night. The delay o1
the train was caused by a wreck. A
record of every whipping and death is
Immediately reported to the superin.
tendent.
THE KILLING OF DAVIS.
He knew nothing of a killing a
Lashley's camp. but there was a mar
killed at McIver's camp, a white mar
named C. NJ. Davis, who refused Il
work. Two men were ordered to TAX,
him in building. He stabbed one o
them and dashed out, throwing rocl
at another. He paid NO attention to or
ders to step, and was shot dead b.
order OF Supervisor McIver. Davis hat
told company that he intended to xii
his supervisor with his pick.
Superintendent Mann also read
number Of letters to Supervisors Lash
ley aud McIveY, urging the prope
conduct Of the camps, and the protec
!, tion Of the men. He is sure the con
victs are fed better than nine-tenths o
. the laboring people who work TO
themselves. With reference to the sic
men brought over last fall. letter