The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-10-24
THEIR REPORT SUBMITTED
Commissioners Send Report to State
Board Of Charities.
They Say That Superintendent Sa,cartn
Should be Commended for His
Treatment OF Convict< Instead OF
Censuring NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Has
Been I'm Progress Since Ocsobrr arsi
Many Witnesses Were Exnmined

sAHu3 WITNESSES were Exnmined-
The board Of county commissioners
met in special session yesterday End
prepared their report to the state
board of charities. the same being oas-
ed on Investigations made By them OF
the conditions prevailing At the con-
vict camps In New Hanover county.
The investigation was brought about
by the report Of the grand Jury for
the term of court which convened on
September 25, in which report certain
recommendations were made. Fully n
week was consumed by the commits
sioners in the examination OF Wit
nesses.
The report Is made by the county
commissioner 10 the state board of
charities is as follows:
Wilmington, y. e, Oct Is, 1905.
State Board Of Charities, Raleigh. y. G.
Gentlemen-ln reference To your.
OF September 18th we. ON day of re.
ceipt, u being in session. turned IL
over TO the grand jury and requested
an investigation and on their reporT.
This board proceeded ut once to inves-
ugate fuIly, all charges made or inn
plfed, and now beg 10 submit our find
ings, together with Il copy OF the grand
1urys report. N stenographic report
or all evidence during cur investiga-
ton.
n physical examination was made by
Doctors Akerman, Green, Wood. Nc
MILAN or every person confined at the
camp and their report is included In
papers transmitted herewith.
We summoned Mr.. Preston Cum
ming and all persons named by him
that could be found, 10 come before us
and give such information rs they had.
AS you will observe by Mr.. Cummings
testimony, he knew nothing of his own
knowledge, his entire evidence was
based on statements made To him by
ex-convicts.
Mr.. Cumming and representatives OF
the local press were invited and cid
visit Ii camp with us to hold the in
investigation and were requested to ask
any questions they deemed tit.
Mr.. X. NJ. Wescott, local representa-
tive of your board requested to he al
lowed to testify at this investigation In
regard TO recent inspection made by
him and other members OF tie local
committee, representing your board,
which testimony is part OF this report.
Our investigation overs not only the
charges of cruelty but also the condi-
ton of quarters n quantity of food,
clothing furnished and medical treat
ment; said investigation covered a p<.-
riod of ten days, during which time
We examined more than sixty wit
neSses, their testimony making 132
typewriter pages, most of it steno-
graphically reported, and all certified
as being a true record of all questions
and
After hearing the evidence, we read
and scrutiniZed the same carefully with
the aid and advice of able counsel.
The evidence satisfies us that Super
intendent Shearin has discharged his
duties faithfully, mercifully and well,
and that he has in no instance acted Sc
verely and cruelty towards any con-
Wet nor has he permitted any of his
subordinates TO wantonly or cruelty
punish or correct them. IL any such
were ever cruelty punished.
The evidence does not inculpate
Superintendent Sheartn but on the con-
trary ~vindicates him and shows that he
is an efficient and humane official, one
worthy of co~mmendation and not de-
serving of reprimand.
So far as charges against Foreman
Hocut are concerned. we find that un-
less the evidence Of forty or fifty wit
nesses, some of whom are neither con-
victs, ex-convicts nor employees, Is to
be outweighed by the evidence Of six
or seven convicts and e~x-convicts
whose credibility no once could youch
for and whose characters are admit
tedly bad, then we can see no reason
to believe that Foreman Hocut has
been guilty Of any conduct that would
justify his suspension or discharge.
The evidence does show that the con-
victs were whipped, but only in cases
when punishment was necessary to en-
force proper obedience To prison rules
and discipline, or to compel the pris-
oners to perform the duties To he per-
Torrance of which they were sentenc-
ed. and such punishment was never in
excess of what the law would recogn-
nize as necessary and humane.
Respectfully submitted,
ID. McEACHERN,
Chairman.
wM. F. ROBERTSON.