The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-02-19

ne QaQ QOtQlQS lOT Ilu. "ullc 5lodu-
ing a guard named Sandlin said to a
convict to shut up his d-n mouth. y
Exhausted convicts were put on mules
two at time because they were
shackled together and could not be
separated. When convicts 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. | am not going to carry
YOU" When near Marion all who were
able to get off 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 a fit and was put in a 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 con'ict
dropped q Bible and Guard Busbee
cursed him for carrying plunder.
The witness had never seen a worse
day to move convicts than the one on
which the trip to Marion was made.
Ten miles from town the men waded
u
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
you, 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
guard, who said: Cd d-n you;
stay off me. III 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. 1t
takes q 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 little
meat. There was complaint that the
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
In rebuttal follows in part:
W. E. Grassland, of Richmond, d.
rector OF the penitentiary, said the
l1ot Id hrk xha yfnkc oh
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 a 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.
I'll. board made an order that no
con act 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
camp, IL 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 10th. 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 to
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 Governor
advised against letting the convicts go
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 a re-
Gently developed illness; two sick men
are still living, although they may not
recover. He had no contract to pay $50
a day for cars as has been reported. He
did not examine the clothes Of the
convicts at Spruce Pine. but was con-
ident the men were we'll provided for.
The convicts left Marion on the morn
ing of the 22nd, and arrived at Raleigh
at II o'clock that night. The delay of
the train was caused by wreck. 4
record of every whipping and death is
Immediately reported to the superin-
tendent.
THE KILLING OF DAVIS.