Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1908-07-24
C0NVICTS IN CAMP ARE
SEEN BY COMMITTEE
Report Made on the Sum.
ter Camp.

Members of the legislative commit
tee appointed to investigate condi
tions in the convict camps of TIL,
State have completed the work as
signed and made their report. Among
the several camps thus inspected by
two of the committee is the misde
meanor camp in Sumter county.
The following testimony thereupor
was given the committee.
IS. A. Wooten said that at the
Sumter county road camp severa
men were i'll with venereal diseases
and at work He said the sleepins
quarters were crowded, and very
filthy, the bedding being black with
accumulated dirt AS to the men, all
of whom were negroes, he said:
They were a dirty. woebegone look
ing set, so far as clothing was con
cerned.
Mr.. Wooten reported he had talk
ed with the overseer, and in going
among the men heard no complaint as
to treatment He did not inspect the
warden's or physicians reports.
He said several men had on
spikes which had made scars on their
feet and ankles, they having beer
punished in this way for attempting
to escape. He considered this pun
ishment unusual and excessive.
AS to the diseases of the men ii
apparently did not incapaeitate them
for work. He said he had weak
stomach, and had let Mr.. Hamilton
make a more detailed investigation.
Sumter county works about fifty
misdemeanor convicts upon it's county
roads, and if camp conditions are
no worse elsewhere than in Sumter
there is no cause for complaint.
The COnVicts Well Treated
Every citizen of Sumter knows
that good care and treatment is ac-
corded the convicts here. They are
housed in large and comfortable
building, where good beds are provid-
ed and where the convicts have bath
tubs and other conveniences.
The food given them here is
plentiful, clean and wholesome. Hun
dreds of falimies of like color here
probably have not as good.
One of the witnesses testified that
in going among the convicts here he
heard no complaint at all in regard
to treatment
And this statement is borne out by
the fact that many negroes here, after
having served terms upon the gang,
commit crimes and are sent back al
most Immediately. If the treatment
was harsh this would not be the case,
it would seem.
A case in point is that of Will VIM
bush, who, quite recently, after serv-
ing long term in the gang and was
released, committed four crimes with
in forty-eight hours thereafter. to
which he pleaded guilty and went
back to his old job.
And he is there today for term
of four years Wimbush certainly
was not badly treated.
Wear Spikes On Ankles
The point is made that several of
the convicts wear spikes, or steel
picks, upon their ankles. This is done
only in the case of escapes" and to
prevent them running away again.
Such picks are very generally used
in camps for this purpose.
Just now, it is said, only one Sum
ter county negro wears a pick. 1t
does not hurt them in the least un-
less they attempt to run away.
To the end of cleanliness and health
every Sumter county convict is made
to disrobe at night and don night
slip. No sleeping in work clothes is
allowed on the gang.
And clean clothing is provided the
convicts at all times, the striped suits
being washed weekly.
No Attempts at Escape
The fact that but one convict. out
of perhaps a hundred employed. has
escaped from the Sumter county gang.
in ten months attests the treatment re-
ceived by them. They do not even
attempt escape, no such occurrence
being reported here this year to the
county commissioners.
Last summer there were wholesale
escapes along with stories of cruel
treatment-brutal in fact-infiicted
upon the convicts, and dozen or
more of those thus escaping are still
running at large.
The Times-Recorder requested a
full and thorough investigation of
camp conditions at the hands of the
county commissioners.
This was promptly accorded, and
reforms instituted. The number of
convicts, at that time, was reduced to
less than twenty. Mr.. Nv R. Paschal
was at once employed as superinten-
dent of roads and given entire man
agement of the convicts, with what
result every either is we'll aware.
The gang force now number fifty,
the county roads are being highly
improved; but one convict has es-
capped within ten months, and condi-
tions are regarded by citizens here
as entirely satisfactory.