The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-25
Investigation of Georgia Con- .Vict System Brings Out
 Many Sensations
SICK PRISONERS MADE
 ID WORK IN THE CAMPS
1rt.ree Sessions of Committee Held Daily and Testimony Is Revoltlng. Georgia Legislature Will
 Change the System.

Atlanta, July A.-Startling develophen's were brought out at today's sesAoh oi the legislative Investigating committee into the conduct of the state prison ooaro and the convict lease system u. D' Strong. a merchant of Macon, formerly convict. testified that men were lined mn at the prison farm and sold like mules. cio,, and infirm men, he stated, shipped in one day from convict lease camp were shipped out the next day III change to another lessee. Robert L. nou- gers of Atlanta told of the cruel whippihs of Joe Frisby, a young white ooS' ioi eseaping from a camp, where the "l'- ness said he was held Illegally seh- sational charge was made against Juase George r. Gober of Cobb county py the witness. who testified that during re- cess of court he had visited Frisby In tail received his confession and pro- nounced sentence upon him.
 J. W Roberts, formerly deputy WAT den at the state farm. told how convicts were employed in. competition with lree lahor in Milledgeville, when they could have been used on the state farm.
 I< R Foster, formerly in charge Of the nrison farm. told of the wrapping ot Mamie De Christ, and her forced em- ,1oyment at manual labor in the fields.
 Three sessions of the committee are oe- ing held daily, and much evidence snow ing cruelty to convicts is being brought out.
 Witnesses Testify.
 A number of witnesses who aiieeeo convicts have been brutally hogged at inc convict camps and others who claim inhuman treatment in number Of other ways has been practiced have been sum moned before the committee.
 J. A. Cochran, a former convict ana now a contractor in this city, deciafeo that one negro was beaten to death al the states prison in Milledgeville several wears ago for no offense other than that he was i'll and could not work He tesu- fled on the witness stand that at one brick works near this city the convict labor was dogged unmercifully. He also de- clared that the men were compelled to do an unreasonable amount Of work. U. n Wortham and Arthur w. Moore, for merly employed at the brick works, cor roborated Cochran's evidence. Moore de- clared the number of f1oggings at this particular camp was from 200 to 300 month. instead of from 25 to 30 as re- ported by one of the officers in charge Of the conyicts Cochran charged on the witness stand that unusual cruelty was nracticed by Superintendent Foster and Captain Slater the latter whipping boss at Milledgeville, and by Captain Casey in charge of the camp at the Chattahoo- chee brick works, where he was sent. The hearings will continue several weeks.
 Change In System.
 The house of the Georgia legislature, in committee of the whole today. favorably reported to the house what is known as the Holder substitute, which provides for the termination of the convict lease sys- tenn in this state after December 31, 1911. In the meantime the bill provides for the leasing of convicts not worked on the county roads, for one year at time, a separation of the races, and stpulates that the net revenue derived from the leasing of convicts for the next two years shall go to fund for establishing per- manent penitentiary.
 The house devoted the whole day to consideration of the bill, which was fla vorably reported only after numerous amendments had been defeated.
 The bill will be voted on by the house Monday, and it's passage then is pre- dicted.