The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-02-17
CASE FOR PRISON
BEFORE COMMITTEE
Superintendent Mann Offers
RebuttaI testimony.
BLAME ON INDIVIDUALS
Committee Saws i. is Sat'sf d That Sufficient
Food Was Furnish; d--case for
Prison Well Hardi.d
Yesterday.

iA'EftAAtl
ton of the charges Of cruelty against
,hr management Of the State Peniten-
tiary YVES offered by superintendent Mann
at the session of the legislative investi-
eating committee yesterday afternoon,
and the entire corps of guards and stew
ards in charge of the prisoners on their
march from Spruce Pin to Marion We're
introduced, with the result that denials
were offered to almost every statement
offered by the prosecution at Marion this
week. That the roads were in bad con-
clifton and that there We're u number of
men who claimed to be exhausted was
admitted, but the inhunane treatment
was denied.
IN important feature OF the session
yesterday was the announcement by the
committee that they are satisfied that
the food furnished the mon was album
daut, and that this point will not be
considered in their report, at any rate
they told Superintendent Mann tia he
need not submit a statement of the ra-
ticGs furnished and announced their sat
i~sisc.ion on this score.
On the other hand the committee paid
very especial attention to the testimony
showing that coffee was not given the
ocnyicts ct supper at Marion or for
breakfast enroUte the next morning and
tie fault for this was placed upon him.
SELF by the camp steward. In addition to
this the committee made especial inquiry
into the failure OF the man sent forward
to arrange cars, to have the cars heated
before TIE arrival of the cOnyicts. Appar-
entity the investigation is narrowing down
to a point whore the subordinates who
were at fault are being singled out. This
is not what the committee says but the
stravs fly that way.
1t IS stated by a member of the COM,
mittee that the report to the Legisla-
tur" viii not be ready before the last
of next week.
The committee met at $50 O'Clock in
the office OF superintendent Mann ano
Immediately the Introduction of wit
ntsses for the defense began. Superin-
tenGcnt Mann conducted his own eXami-
L~ations, invariably asking the witness his
present occupation and then turning the
witness over 20 the committee. Each
member Of the committee took part in
lLtorrogatins the witnesses.
r. b. Levister was the first witness
introduced by superintendent Mann. He
testified that the march was not an eX-
tr~aOrdInarily hard one. At Toe river
the men walked across above the ford.
He was with the %ConFicts when they
crossed the river. The ice was sound.
The water was one inch deep. siushing
slightly under feet. He saw no men
without shoes. but made no Investigation.
was not in the wagon With sick when
they reached Marion. He said there
Was no fire in the ears when. the c~onvicts
got in, but. ears were heated we'll that
night. He was riding a mule across the
mountains but the mule threw him.
When they reached the mountain he had
Ia set off and lead the mule as did Capt.
Lashley lead his horse and buggy. He
said that when he got out of the sick
wagon two men got in his place. 1t was
l. o'clock when they started on the
twcIve-mile march to Marion after din
LOT, and it was about 5 o'clock when
they reached Marion. Said he saw no
cruelty on the part of guards.
4 young man named Wiserlen had two
Sick c~onvicts on his wagon. He said
these two appeared very tired and as he
took them out they appeared completely
exhausted. Wiseman made the men get
cut and drove the team to Marion. The
DAY. he said, was fair and not cold.
Can't. Lashley told him to give the mon
some Whiskcy, and out Of 159 there were
five who declined to drink. He said it
was a reasonable size drink, about one
finger. At Connolly Springs one quart
o. milk was bought in addition to What
they had for the sick. He did not know
how many men gave out on the march
There We're eight who started in the
wagon and these remained there all the
time. He did not see the convict who
fell on his knees saying he could go nc
further. Boiled meat and biscuit com
lrIscd the supper. At dinner they hat
coffee. More than two-thirds of the con
'Icts We're shackled.
j. c Livcsay. a guard. was next heard
he made the trip from Spruce Pine tc
@lEhcr ground on the sick wagon" He
ajd not curse convicts or hear anyone
do SO, Sick men were given medicine
and whisEcy by hospital steward er
route. He was relieved at dinner hour
He helped take the sick men last fal
on a similar trip with thirty-thrce men
Messrs. Howard, Jeffries and Livesa.
wore IN charge. They had three wagons
and it was fifteen minutes in Marion be
1"Fo they got on train and ne hear
III" offer from citizens to help men OIL
train. He saw no citizens.
Mr.. Morton asked if he saw any mel
TAN out Of wagon into the mud and Nj
IAF"s2y said be saw none. This wa
IN" first trip. These questions wer'
asked because testimony OF Marion ha'
-h'on 10 that effect.
Hc Vas also On the trip January 21s
nut did not sec the sick men put G.
'hf car Afterwards he saw them an
one or two couldn't get up. IT had bee
testified that one appeared to be dca(
'1i witness said he didn't look an
"''a" than when the trip began" Re
t"idihE the convicts' clothes and shoe
H' said all had good shoes. good clothc
'HH extra socks. He said they change
'L"'r socks after they got on the trair
IN answer to Mr.. Pharr he said one c
'.' sick wagons was stopped near til
Ia'form at The Marion depot and TIL
,."'FN oil in tho mud but he saw no con
''.'S tan on their faces in the mud whe
getting out of wagons.
~ r Harrell, a guard. who tcstifo
D.@l. SAID he got to Capt. Lashley's cam
'Ha day before the move. He left Mario