The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-08-10
sALUDA WISHES SONS BACK.
Needs Their Labor on the Public
Highways.-Rather Remarkable
Case.
Co;~1n5ia State, 9Th.


If an act passed by the legislature
OF 1909 is permitted to stand, its ef-
feet will mean the doing away with
the State prison. Four counties were
given the right to demand from the
penitentiary the use of such convicts
as the respective supervisors might
see fit.
The act appeared perfectly harm
less, but it is far-reaching. For in
stance, Saluda county had Is prison
ers in the penitentiary and demanded
13, the other three being a woman
and two boys in the reformatory.
Capt. D. J. Griffith, superintendent
Of the penitentiary, for what he coll
sidered good and sufficient reason,
declined to turn over to the super
visor II of the prisoners, but gave
two who had short terms.
Among those who we're asked for
was Morgan ". Thrailkill, serving
life sentence for the murder of Benny
Burton at Monetta. Thrailkill's son,
Clarence, has already served his en-
tire sentence for completely in that
crime. Clarence Thrailkill, by rea-
son Of being a short term prisoner,
was sent to the Saluda chain gang,
but Governor Hayward ordered him
to the State penitentiary on account
of complaints that the prisoner was
allowed too many liberties. Morgan
Thrailkill has light work in the pen
itentiary and could hardly stand
heavy work on the chain gang. In a
petition for pardon, recently refused
by Gov. Ansel, Thrailhll's state of
health was mentioned.
Two other important prisoners
from Saluda are ". F. Henderson
and Alfred Free, not "Alford" as
stated in Supervisor Padgett's com
plant. These two men we're accused
and convicted Of having killed NJ. NJ.
Morse. Henderson has figured IN
many transactions of blood.
The spirit of the State prison laws
was to send to the penitentiary all
conviets who were "sent up" for over
FIVE years each. There erept in abuses.
IConvicts were hired to individuals
who worked them numerically on
farms. The legislature, to eradicate
such evils, passed law giving the
counties the right to keep for work on
highways such convicts as had re-
ceived sentences Of less than ten
years. It is supposed that the leg
islature last winter got the idea that
Saluda county was starting a chain
gang and wished to get from the penl-
tentiary the short term men.
The following are the penitentiary
convicts from Saluda county:
Samuel Moseley, January l, 1898,
life; Joe Marlborough, December a.
1908, 25 years; Willie Jones, August
26, 1904, life; Segar Williams, No
vember 8, 1904, life; Morgan Thrail-
kill, May l, 1905, life; Ephrum Kin
ard, March II, 1907, life; Gus john
son. August 10, 1907, 10 years and
one month; Walter Carroll, August
10, 1907, four years in reformatory;
Tom Graham, August 10, 1907, life;
VIII Abney, August 10, 1907, 10
years; J. C. Perry, September 23,
1907. five years; W. L. Henderson,
February 25, 1908, ~ years; Afford
Free. March 10, 1908, 10 years; Ed.
Morris, August II, 1908, four years,
reformatory; Jensia Spearman, Au-
gust II, 1908, two years (woman(
Adolphus Wallace, December l6, l9Oo,
20 years.
From this list Of prisoners the su-
pervisor on the 9Th of April. 1909,
made demand upon Superintendent
Griffith for the following:
Samuel MOseleE. Morgan lnfa1lhll'
segar Wiggins, Ephrum Kinard and
Tom Graham, all life term; Joe Var
borough, with 19 years yet to serve;
Adolphus Wallace, with 19 years to
serve: W. L. Henderson, 10 l-2 years
to serve: Alfred Free, with 9 IL
years; Willie Jones, with five years;
Will Abney, with eight years; ). T..
Perry, with three years; Gus john
son, with 8 1-2 years.
superintendent Griffith dellvered
Willie Jones and Will Abney, but de-
clined to deliver the others.
Supervisor Padgett says IN MS al,
Hdavit that he is "in present ana
great need of the said convlcts tor
use mon the public roads and high