The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1908-11-04
MUST MEASURE PRISONERS
NEW LAW MAKES 1T THE DUTY
OF COURT. OFFICIALS.
instructions Are Issued by the State
Prison Board. What the New
Law Requires.

Law Requires.
Il wonder if the state is going to
pay my doctor bill and damages to |
me when l get smallpox, chickenpox. |
scarlet fever mumps, seven-year
itch, or some other disease contract
ed from measuring negroes who are
convicted in the superior court as re-
qulred under the new instructions of
the prison commission" inquired
Deputy Clerk Robert Hunter of the
superior court of Bibb county, says
the Macon Telegraph
The deputy doesn't take to the new
rule with a great deal of pleasure.
Under the new instructions issued by
the prison board all convicted pris-
oners, of every color, size and sex.
Will be measured, examined and ques-
toned. These instructions emanated
IN compliance with provision of the
convict law which was recently
passed by the legislature.
The instructions make the duties
undesirable in the extreme. Some of
the information which the clerks OF
cult to secure, but they purpose do
ing the best they can in the absence
of the instruments which they think
the state ought to furnish The ex-
animation is similar to the Bertil-
lon system. The facts required are
Name, color, sex, age, crime, court
sentence, date of conviction, height,
color of hair, weight, color of eyes
and apparent physical condition.
Much humor resulted from a dis
cussion Of ways and means to go
about carrying out the provisions of
the late instructions of the board.
An attache of one of the courts of
Bibb county is not quite convinced
in his own mind whether he can tell
the physical condition of all cOlors,
sexes, shapes, forms and fashions of
humankind. He is not positive that
he can differentiate among the many
tints and hues and curls and twists
and rats and other peoples hair
found on some heads, but he con
soles himself with the thought that
not many white females are among
those convicted in his county. He
baked at the mention of the color
of hair, and he wonders why the laws
of the state and the prison board are
not on to the dOings of dainty femi-
ninity we'll enough to know that the
color of hair is mighty poor plan
to keep trace of criminals, for the
cOlors of late, he says, change with
the moon.
He can't understand either how he
is to pass on prisoners physical
cOndition-and all without extra pay
Doctors, he declares, get pay for phys
ical examinations, and here he is re-
CURED to do the job according to
specific instructions without so much
as a pleasing look.
No distinction is made in the class
of criminals. ViolatoTs of all Grim
inal laws, both felony and misde-
meanOr, as well when the punishment
is fine or a jail sentence as when
it is a term on the changing, peni-
Tertiary or reformatory, will be sub
ject to the new rule issued by the
commission Accompanying the in
structions to clerks are descriptive
blanks. The scales of justice whose
existence is in the minds and hearts
of liberty-loving GeOrgians are the
only scales to be found in the county
court house. Whether the law makes
provision for the purchase of this
necessary adjunct in carrying out the
instructions remains to be learned.
Neither is there a rule or yardstick
or tape measure about the corridors
of the walls of justice, and none are
provided along with the instructions
to the clerks.
The intent of the new law is to
gain a record of the history Of all
criminals from the highest to the
lowest; to secure a permanent rec
ord which might prove valuable to
the officers of the law at future
dates, and also act as a deterrent
factor with the criminal. TO know
that ones record is pretty well
Known and holds a place in the rec
ords of the criminal documents of the
land is believed to be a splendid
means to hold in check certain class
eS of criminals.