The Savannah morning news., 1903-08-11
MAMIE DECRIS TALKS
.y.pDEN ALLAGOOD WILL NOT
SHOW STRAPS HE USED.
ADAMS DENIES COMPLETELY.
sAYs WOMAN RECEIVED LASHES
THROUGH CLOTHING.


Governor Commissioners Wire
DR.. Adams for All Facts in Case.
Everybody Connected With Affair
ordered Examined-Senate APP
points Investigating Committee.
Four RESOLUTIONS of Similar Tenor
Introduced in House.
Mlledgeville, Ga, Aug. 10.-A brief
interview was secured to-day with
Mamie DeCris. The interview was OBJ
tanned after much circumlocution on
the part of the Allagoods Mrs. ALA
good returned with the statement that
Miss DeCris did not wish to be seen.
Mamie DeCris appeared in the usual
prison stripes. A private interview
was denied, so Miss DeCris had to
make her statement in the presence of
Capt. and Mrs. Alagood, the lady on
whose account was given and the man
who gave the whipping. Allagood
was asked to show the strap used,
but, refused.
Miss DeCris why were you whip
ped" was asked.
Il was whipped because 1 talked
rudely to Mrs. Allagood and did not
move when spoken to-"
Was your language vulgar or pro-
fane?"
NO 1 never use such language"
The question that she and Mrs. ALA
good We're discussing could not be as
certained. She would make no ex-
preston as to the severity of the pun
ishment, but said she was sorry for
her conduct, and regretted that she
had been punished. She repeated sew
eral times that she had never written
aay letters to any one about DR..
Adams or signed his name to any
letters.
Adams Statement.
Dr. Adams. surgeon at the Farm,
made the. following statement: Ma
ME DeCris has never written any note
TO me or any note pertaining to me
that 1 have ever heard of. When 1
first entered on my duties as physi-
clan it was proposed that she attend
to the hospital. She stated that she
would be glad to become trained
nurse, but that she could not bring
herself to handle the negro patients.
"On Sunday, the 2Sth of June, Capt.
Alagood told me that he intended to
whip her. and recited his reasons for
so doing. 1 expressed no opinion as to
the wisdom of Furnishing her, but sim
ply gave my professional opinion as to
her physical condition. She was laid
across a bed and struck twenty-eight
ticks over her clothing, not on her
skin I wish it distinctly stated that
this whipping of Miss DeCris had no
personal significance, so far as 1 am
concerned.
investigation Ordered.
Atlanta, Aug. 10.-There will be both
executive and Legislative investigation
of the whipping of Mamie DeCris, the
Diamond Queen, at the State Prison
Farm. The Prison Commission has
taken the matter up at the direction of
the Governor. The Senate has passed
a resolution providing for an investi-
cation committee. and the House will
pass a similar resolution tomorrow.
The Prison Commission to-day wired
Surgeon Adams at the farm for all the
facts in connection with the case. but
had not heard from. him up to to-
night. On the arrival in the city of
Chairman ]. S. Turner of the commits
sion tonight, he at once sent Warden
Jake Moore to Milledgeville, accompa-
MED by stenographer with directions
to examine everybody connected with
the affair, and to bring back a full re-
port of the details of the whipping as
soon as possible.
All blame AIIagOOd.
All reports in connection with the
case to the present time put the bur-
Gen of the blame upon Capt. Allagood,
assistant superintendent of the farm,
and the man who administered the
whipping. 1t is freely suggested
around the Capitol that if the evidence
establishes the truth of these reports
ne will probably have to go.
mis- morning the Senate passed
resolution by Senator McMichael pro-
Vldlng for a Joint committee of two
from the Senate and three from the
Prison Commission to make a prompt
report to the House and Senate, with
Such recommendation as it deemed
proper. There was no dissenting vote
IN the House -four resolutions were
Introduced, one being by Messrs. Har-
uen and Stovall of Chatham, provid-
ing Tor the appointment of a joint
committee to get the facts as to the
mental and physical condition of Ma
me DeCris, the work she is required
20 40, and the punishment inflicted
IRON the Prison Commission and re-
tort them at once. One of the resolu-
1lohs called for the discharge of the
eSponsible farm officers and the re-
lease from custody of the woman.
To Investigate system.
Another by Mr.. Fielder from Bibb
provided for a joint committee to sit
uuilng vacatian and to investigate the
nuie penitentiary system, particular
y With regard to the punishment of
"plhen and the working of white and
esro women together at the farm and
20 report to the next session. All of
sueSe resolutions were referred to a
SPeclal committee of seven, of which
, uI. Hall Of Bib was chairman, ana
"s committee reported this afternoon
resolution in substance like that of
,srs. Stovall and Harden.
Ut Hail made a minority report en-
4l lng the substance Of the Fielder
,7Ilution. The House will not act un-
w io-morrow. There is much indlgna-
Loh among the members of the Begis-
t,uie, and regret s expressed that
w. nave not a longer time within
-'ah 10 act.