The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-12-08
CRUELTY TO CONVICT CHARGED.
Legislature May Investigate Lonnle
Hall Affair-Case Involving Alleg-
ed IIl.Treatment.

Columbia, Dec. 5.-That the legls-
lature will &c asked to look into the
alleged i'll treatment which Lonnle
Hall, a. white convict, who was yester-
day paroled by the governor, was sub
iected to, was the statement made this
morning by Governor Blease, in giving
to the press he reasons governing him
in granting the parole to Hall. Sc
rious allegations concerning the con-
duct of DR.. Jennings, the penitentlary
physician, and the guards towards
Lonnie Hall are made in a letter,
which was written to a brother OF the
paroled man in Chester by N. w.
Thrailkill, the Saluda county man
whom Governor Blease paroled last
"Wednesday. Thrailkills letter was
turned over to the governor, a copy
of it being given to the press.
Denled Dy Ut. JeHHIHsS'
| DR.. Jennings, the prison physician,
vigorously denies the allegation in the
Thrailkill letter, and brands the story
of the i'll treatment which he is said to
have subjected Hall to as an untruth,
! using the short and ugly word to nall
it. DR.. Jennings then gives his side
of the case.
The Governors Statement.
The statement issued by Governor
Blease on this case follows:
Hall, Lonnie, white: Convicted OF
manslaughter at the September, 1909
term of court for Richland county, and
sentenced to twelve years in the State
penitentiary.
Upon receipt of the following letter
T 'phoned and asked that the defend
ant be brought to my office, also re-
ouested the superintendent of the penl-
tentlary TO come.
Letter From ThraiiNill.
"Saluda, S. c., Nov. 30, 1911.
"Mr. G.. E. Hall, Chester, S. C.-Dear
Sir: left the penitentiary today and
I feel it my duty to tell you Of the con-
dition that your brother, Lonnie Hall,
is in. On last Saturday morning, 23th,
he went to the hospital to get some
medicine for catarrh, which he is sui
fering with. DR.. Jennings told him II
! I ever give another dose of medicine,
with an oath, will kill you. Then
the doctor kicked him and he told the
doctor that he would go and ask Col.
! Griffith to get his son to come and
treat him and then DR.. Jennings
caught hold of him and tried to carry
| him to the captain Of guard to have
him beat and Lonnie would not 60
I'Dr. Jennings then jumped on him and
knocked him down, got on him and beat
| him with his fists while he was on
| :conie, Jennings's brother run up and
| commenced to kick Lonnie. The
r,iard, Mitchell, knocked I,olnie sense
I less with a big stick. Capt Roberts
run I'D at this time and made them let
| I-onrie loose ard then he went to
breakfast.
To "Leather House,
after breakfast Capt. Roberts SEN
| fenced Lonnie to the leather house
and knowing that the police and Dr.
! Jennings would almost kill him if they
beat, Lonnie asked the captain to go
down and punish him himself. This
| the captain refused to do. At that
moment Wilson, the police on the yard
1icked Lonnie almost down an
| he recovered to his feet, the police
| Wilson knocked him back of his head
with his big club and knocked him
dead for awhile They thought Lon
ME Was dead and the doctor went and
examined him. When Lonnie came
to his senses Capt. Roberts knocked
him a severe blow with his stick and
then carried him to the stocks, strip
ped him naked and hit him Is licks
on his naked skin.
Declare Prisoner Checked.
when he was being beat Lonnie
halloed and cried and Dr.. Jennings
caught him by his throat and chokAd
him until he was helpless and could
not make any noise that could b.;
| heard Lonnie Hall is beat nearly to
death. He is now being starved. He
is now Observation-Disclosures
was not given any breakfast or dinner
at all on last Sunday. If you want tc
see him alive again you had better