The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1913-03-05

killed the negro IL he had disobeyet
orders and walked away without per
mission" said the witness. Capt. Sond
ley said that he had been summoned
to the governors office and tried with
out a word.
Il have always voted for the gov
ernor and there Is no factional politics
in this" said Mr.. Sondley. "The gov.
ernor told me that the letter had moi
been written by a guard, an official
or a convict. The letter shows thai
1t was written and signed by a con.
vict," he continued.
The witness said that Ellis had
been struck about 20 licks," accord
ing to a report by the man in charge
Of the leather house" He said that
the man who administered the whip
ping could be trusted and that he was
not brutal. He said that the whip
ping was not too severe.
II have done my duty as 1 saw 1t.
If | have committed a crime why
doesn't he punish me and not turn a
bad man loose on the people of South
Carolina" said Capt. Sondley.
Convicted Of Murder.
The witness said that the records
at the State penitentiary showed that
Ellis had been convicted of murder
in Union county and had been SEN
fenced to death and that later Gov.
McSweeney granted communication
to life imprisonment. He said that
the negro had served IL years.
II directed that the negro be pun
ished for defying a guard" said the
witness. Capt. Sondley said that the
negro "was far from being a trusty."
In reply to questions the witness said
that the negro had been sent to the
leather house" not for play but for
punishmnt.
DR.. R. Il. Jennings.
DR.. r. T. Jennings, prison phyci-
clan, explained to the committee the
use Of the electric battery. f. ].
Nichols, the white convict paroled by
the governor, charged that Ellis had
been tortured for 80 minutes with
with the battery in his letter to the
governor DR.. Jennings explained the
physical condition of Ellis to the com
mittee and said that the battery had
been adopted as the best means of
relieving him when attacked by one
OF his fits or congestcd spells. DR..
Jennings pointed Out that Nichols
had charged in his letter that the
cries were heard for 80 minutes when
the testimony presented was to the
effect that the electric treatment had
not been applied for more than or
10 minutes.
"As for the charge that the electric
battery Is being used at the peniten-
tiary for torture or punishment that
is lie, no matter VINO says SO. am
at the State Denitentlary to relieve the
men and not punish them" said DR..
Jennings.
Investigate Comfy Gangs.
Dr Jennings cited the committee
70 his annual report and asked why
an inycstigat!on had not been made
ot the caaea Of brutal treatment he
had repo.tcd from the county chain
gangs. He told of the condition OF
two prisoners that were brought from
Clarendon and Georgetown counties.
Dr. Jennings said that after the treat
mcnt had been applied that Ellie
walked out OF the room. Testimony
was presented to show that when the
negro was carried in for the treat
ment he was suffering from one Of
his fits.
superintendent Griffith.
ID. j. Griffith, superintendent Of the
state penItentlary, told the committee
that there were certain rules and reg.
ulations that must be followed AT the
prison In order to maintain discipline
Capt. Griffith said that the negro had
not been punished because he spoke
to the governor. but because ne defled
guard and violated rule, long es-
tablished at the prison.
Capt. Griffith said that frequently
prisoners were allowed to sec the gov
ernor In the interest OF their cases
and that sometimes they were taken
To the phiaP