The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1912-06-21
MOST DtPLORABLE
STATE Of AFFAIRS
fOUNDAT NASHVILLE
SICK PRISONERS ARE LIVING IN
FILTH AT DAVIDSON cOUN-
TY WoRkHoUsE.
CHARITIES MAKE The DISCOVERY
Disease, vermin and Poor Food Are
Found in Camp of Unfortunates and
COMMITTEES Is Formulating an As
tonishing Report.

Committee Is Formulating an As
tonishing Report. 4
NASHVILLE, June 1S.-As result
of their conference yesterday morn
inc a. 10 o'clock in the Office of j. H.
Turner in the Stahlman building, the
committee of the state board Of char
tiles, composed of DR.. l. Lewinthal, ].
H. Turner and Dr. E. p Anderson, of
Shelby vile, appointed to investigate
the death of John Clark at the work
house, IS now busily engaged in for
muiating the report to be made to
Gov. Hooper Mr.. Turner, who was
present at the investigation made
over the body of the dead negro in
formed the other two members of the
board of the facts in the case, and at
1890 o'clock went with them to one
of the workhouse camps where
thorough investigation was made.
Their work will continue for several
days antil they are acquainted with
every particular out at the work
house.
TIE visit was made yesterday to
the camp and also to the quarry
where Clark is alleged to have been
Killed. The camp is located between
the Galatin and Lebanon pixies just
beyond Inglewood, and the quarry is
not far distant. According to Mr..
Turner the evidence submitted at the
col oner's inquest last Saturday was
substantiated in every detail from
tie facts gathered at the investiga-
ticn. Ten or twelve witnesses we're
examined, all of whom gave the same
testimony regarding the treatment
that the prisoners received. All vent
to prove the reliability at the inquest,
and tho members of the committee
state that they have no doubt what
ever as to the manner in which the
negro met his death.
There were 100 prisoners confined
a. he camp visited yesterday, and, in
addition to investigating the imme-
date case of John Clark, general
inspection of the entire camp was
made The sanitary condition of the
camp YVES found to be very bad, it is
reported. and one of the first things
to he recommended by the committee
Is to have cleaner and better accom-
modations for the prisoners. The
prisoners sleep in car, something
on the order of the ordinary box car,
bnt somewhat smaller and 20 men
are put into a car. There are four
double hunks in each end of the car,
similar to the Pullman, and in these
the prisoners sleep. Mr.. Turner stat
ed that he found the cars infected
with all kinds of vermin and in a
filthy condition. Of the twenty men
that sleep in one of the cars, two of
tnem are badly diseased with cen
sumption. Mr. Turner stated that a
radical reform was needed IL the san
itary conditions of the workhouse
and that steps would soon be taken to
brig this about
The diet at the camp was also
found to be a bad affair. For break
asst the prisoners were given coffee,
which was found to be nothing but
discolored water molasses, cold corn
bread and fat meat, and the supper
was only repetition of the break
fast Fer dinner they are sometimes
given peas, in addition to the other
food, and on Sunday each prisoner is
given three biscuits. They are given
no supper on Sunday This diet is
never changed the year round. wit
nesses say. Mr.. Turner stated that
this kind of food might do for a |
strong and healthy man, but for any
one in condition of some of the pris-
oners, be declared tnat they needed
something more.
The committee will continue is in !
vestigation for several more days. UNI
til every department of the work
house is thoroughly inspected. A
visit will probably be made today to
the other camp. Mr. Turner stated
that he did not think it would take |
more than two or three more days to |
firish the investigation, but that they
would rot let up until thoroughly
completed. The committee has it's
own stenographer to take down the
facts at each place, and the report to
be made will be largely made up of
this.