Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-10-14
The Convict Business, Always
Curse

CdIly III OCplCAhOCA ~ was OlNuShb "
public attention that a white guard had
beaten white woman--a convict-with-
out mercy. 1t was charged that he put
10 lashes on her poor back at one time.
The brute was arranged before the pris-
on commission. that costly affair which
is paid big salaries by the taxpayers
of the state of Georgia for certain pur-
passes, named in the law authorizing the
body known as the prison commission.
The sorry figure that was cut by this
prison commission, when the state rose
in its indignation and abolished the old
lease system is so recent an incident
that every reader of The Semi Weekly
Journal has it in remembrance. 1t was
also understood that the prison commits
siOners were condemned along with the
notorious lease system, but political
pressure was so strong and dead-head
/ politicians so numerous that the prison
commission was continued for some rea-
son not fully explained, but generally
understood.
1t is commonly supposed they have dis
charged their present duties when they
hold down the lid" and draw their pen
sions (salaries) from the state If they
have anything else on hand it seems to
be omitted, for reasons that explain
themselves. In the consideration Of the
case here noted where brutal guard
had liberty to put ITO lashes on a white
woman's back for the offense of ours
ing the prison commission appears to be
asleep!
The woman was a bad woman perhaps,
but If cursing was the only crime al
legged against her, when the beast clothed
with authority was permitted thus to
chastise her, then the state of Georgia
should more clearly define the guilt of
profanity, and also be able to punish
the tens of thousands of men who curse
with their every breath and with not
lash applied to their backs.
To sum up the situa4Ssn: here was q
white woman placse In custody for
some crime not mentioned; but she Of
fem the whipping boss with profanity
and he beat her without mercy for
"cursing."
Now, this thing should be clearly ex-
planned to public satisfaction, because 1t
is likely to be heard of-many tines-in
coming years.
For instance: There were at a partic-
ular time great and glaring abuses In
the English navy. There was as much
tyranny as was ever displayed in Geor-
gia's atrocious convict system. and these
horrible things were talked about, but
the men In control remained as brutal,
as mean and as audacious as ever. 1t
seemed that there could be nothing done
in behalf of relief or decency for the
English marine. Just at this juncture an
epauletted officer grew so tyrannical
that he, in fit of rage, cut off the ear
of a sailor boy belonging to the navy. Z
That severed ear did what all petit
tions and pleadings had failed to do The
whole British population rose as one man
to condemn the atrocities which had been
unrebuked HERETOFORE.
l know one person, now alive In Geor-
gia who has decided to impress upon the
public mind this fearful and tyrannical
abuse of authority. This white woman.
a convict, was so helpless and defense
less that one guard could pile no lashes
upon her back for the awful 90 crime
of profanity! 1 insert at this place
special sent out from Atlanta, as the
defense of this brute.
ATLANTA, Ca, Sept 13.-Hill Tug
gle, inspector Of the prison commission,
has investigated the chargs of cruel
ty against Superintendent O. o. Fan
ming, of the county almshouse an
women's convict camp, and his report
does not sustain the complaint of Rev.
c. c. Daniel, the Baptist preacher who
brought the matter formally to the at
tention of the board. Tuggle has Aex-
amined the woman and does not be-
Iieve that she was treated crully. The
commission will meet on Friday morn
ing to hear Tuggle's report and con-
slider such other evidence on the case
as may be submitted.
Rev. Mr.. Daniel charged Superinten-
dent Tanning with numerically lash
ing a white woman convict
framing at the capitol Tuesday morn
ing admitted that he had given the
woman 100 lashes, but he denied that
thew had been cruelty administered and
fGf1Y
the crime
'sThe woman was disgracefully OBJ
scene in her language and conduct, and
/ whipped her in an effort to correct
her" said Tanning. II was never able
to make her quit cursing, but at no
time was cruel in my treatment Of
her 1 did not remove the clothing
in administering the whipping, and left
no marks on her body"
Ponder we'll this creatures defense OF
himself! Caught at this beating bust
ness. he defends the 100 lashes! How
many poor wretches has he beaten at
this poor dying rate before he was
caught at the businessi How sensitive
he has grown to the crime of profanity.
Read, will you, that he was never cruel
in his treatment of herl One hundred
lashes not cruel!
I say it, in THIS presence that any
sIave-owner before the Sixties who
either castigated a negro woman slave
or allowed an overseer to do ii with
so lashes would have lost all caste
with his neighbors and his associates -
and been dfsgraced as an unfeeling
brutei
And there is a sequel to this matter.
When the atrocity was brought before
the prison commission one commission
er introduced a resolution to dismiss
the beast thus armed with the knout,
butA another commissioner asked that
he be only reprimanded. Great hea-
vens!
Only reprimanded! And he remain
ing with his knout I say without hes
itation that the brute with the knout
should have been given 10 lashes on
the spot, and the commissioner who
sheltered this atrocity should have been
both reprimanded and dismissed from
the office, which he disgraces and lie
supposed to fill. More anon!