The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1909-02-24
MORE ABOUT THE BELL CASE
HON. THOS. f. WATSON WRITES
ANOTHER STRONG EDITORIAL
IN JEFFERSONIAN.

From Watson's Weekly Jeffersonian.
The Jeffersonian is in receipt of
the following letter, which speaks for
itself:
Macon Ca, Feb. 4, 1909.-Hon.
Thomas E, Watson, Thomson, Ca
Ny Dear Sir; 1t has been my inten-
ton to sincerely thank you for the
editorial upon the Bell case which ap-
peared in the Jeffersonian of last
week, but have been delayed in do
ing so until the present time. After
reading the editorial of this week l
desire to doubly thank you. l
brought the proceedings which re-
suited in the verdict mentioned. Mr..
McNeips statements to you are sub
rstantially correct. You will under
stand Bell has never had a hearing
as to his sanity He was taken to
Aliens Sanitarium and forcibly held
there until an apology for a trial
was held in Swainsboro and the nee
|essary papers made out for his COM
mitment to the state sanitarium. He
has never been faced by an accuser
or jury, and the proceedings were
brought to show that he was being
Illegally held, which fact we proved
by witnesses from SwainsbOro, but
the ordinary, at the dictation of Mr.
Pottle, accepted the commitment pa
pers held by the officials as the high
est evidence that everything was
regular, Notwithstanding the fact
that Bell was many miles away when
the papers were made out. Having
served a term in the legislature with
Bell 1 am prepared to make oath
that [ believe George Bell to be as
sane now as he was when his people
elected him to represent them in the
general assembly, or even more so,
for he is entirely sober at this time.
again thanking you for your in
terest in the matter, am very truly
yours, l.. j. KILBURN."
In addition to Mr.. Kilburn's letter
we present the following:
West FONT, Ga, Feb. 5, 1909
Hon. T. E. Watson.-Dear Sir:
Reading in the Jeffersonian of the
case of Geo. H. Bell, l am moved to
write to you. | know something
from experience about that murder
hole known as the state sanitarium,
as l spent five months there some
two years ago. l wish to state that
the cruelties practiced on the unfor-
tunate inmates surpass those prac-
ticed in the Dark Ages by Spaniard
or Turk.
Il have seen the attendants, or
keepers, knocking and kicking the
poor epileptics down stairs. Also
have seen them put two poor idiots
to fighting for their amusement.
could give the names and ad-
dresses of several witnesses, if they
are alive today, and have ever been
discharged.
Il heard you speak at LAGRANGE
many years ago at the Cooper muir
der trial, also the late VIM Sanford
later governor of Alabama. Am sell
ing out to leave this state, as it
seems to me to be a dangerous state
to live in. Truly,
"ROBT. c. HARRELL."
If Governor Smith were not so
busy trying to make himself solid
with influential lawyers who want
pardons for their clients he might
hold up awhile on turning felons out
of the penitentiary and devote some
of his valuable time to conditions at
the state sanitarium.
The illegal method adopted to put
George Bell in there and to keen him
in there, cries to heaven for redress.
Who is it that pays the lawyers
who are keeping this man in prison?
Who are your clients Judge Lawson?
If there is no unworthy motive ac-
tuating those who prolong the incar-
ceration of Bell why is it that the
proceedings against him have been
so shOckingIy Iawless?
Why is it that they dare not give
Bell fair trial before an impartial