Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1910-01-19
PRISON OFFICERS CONVICTED.
Men Responsible for the Beating Of II
Negro Convicted.

Atlanta, Jan. l3.-.D. Nj. NininB, |
recently suspended as superintendent
of the Atlanta city stockade, and
Pete Cornet, guard at the stock
ade, we're found guilty In the Supe-
rior Court here late to-day on charges
OF assault and battery. growing out
of the alleged brutal treatment Of
Floyd Green, a negro convict. Sen
tence was deferred until tomorrow.
The indictment against Capt. Vim
ing and his whipping boss followed
an Investigation of the city prison by
a special committee Of the Fulton
county grand jury, which created a
sensation by declaring, in a lengthy
report to the court, that the filthy
conditions and cruelty practiced at
the SlOckade were q disgrace to a
civilized community. In that report
1t was said that the prison 'ehked
with filth and vermin. that the food
was unwholcsome, the clothing Of
the prisoners and the bedding filthy,
and tlat men and women inmates
White women, for trivial breaches Of
the prison rules, the report stated,
were fastened to the wall with iron
hand rings, their feet barely touch
ing the floor and left in that position
until they tainted.
In the case Of the negro ii was tcs-
tilted that he was placed in the
"bucking machine" and given 27
blows with Il heavy leather strap, the
blood from the cuts on his body run
ming down his legs and leaving his
body 4 mass OF sores. Mayor Maddox
and members OF the jury testified to
seeing the sores on the ncgro's body,
some OF which were three to four in
chcs i'm length and an inch in width.
This punishment was administered
because the negro had cursed and
threatened another convict Green
testified that he was unable to work
We following day For this he was
strung up to the wall for more than
two hours.
Nining and Cornet introduced evi-
dcncc tending to show that the ne
gro was given but eight lick" mod
crate punishment" and tha' Green
had n good reputation
Capt. Vining is 73 years old. and
had served as superintendent OF the
Stockadc for fifteen years.
Stockadc lnquiry Closes.
Atlanta, Ga, Jan. li.----The coun-
ell committee which has been invcsti-
eating he charges OF cruelty and
abuses at the city stockadc or prison.
reported to the council this evening
that many Of the assertions were sub
stantiatcd. Sweeping changes were
recommended.
The report begins with the aSScr-
ton that without attempting to fix
the blame, conditions at the stockadc
are very bad The attempt to opc-
rate the prison as Il revenue producer
is assorted to be responsible. each ad
minislration trying to make more
money than its predecessors. This
r@ault"d III the pcrniciouS custom OF
rCscntcncing prisoners for infractions
OF prison rules. The food is pro-
nounccd wholesome. but its prcparu-
tion filthy. The sanitary conditions
are declared vile
y separation Of the department
from that Of public works is recon-
mcndcd and generous appropriations
80 remedy the vile sanitary c0uiiticr,
are urged.
NininG and Cornct were sentenced
to-day to pay a fine OF 5 $50 and $icO
respectively, or to serve six months
Imprisonment They appealed.
Capt. HaIl Appointed.
Capt. JOAN W. Ban, cX-chcf Of DO
lice, was yesterday morning appoint
ed superintendent Of the city stock
adc.
Commissioner Of Public Works
1lcnry Il. Collier removed Supcrin-
tcndcnt ID. NJ. Vining when the YER
diet OF the jury in the Superior Grim
inal Court pronounced Capt Vining
guilty OF assault and battery in the
severe Whipping Of a negro convict.
Immediately after removing Cant.
Vining, Mr.. Collier a United Cant.
bail as stockade superintendent.