The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-10-14
REPORT STATES CONVICTS
WERE CRUELTY TREA TED

LLL 1 l. AEA L I'll
tai and excessive punishment, evidenced
py open sores and numerous scars"
Records of the camp did not show al
whippings that were administered The
commission reported that "the number
of whippings, as recorded in the book
are small as compared to the number
stated in the testimony of the various
convicts who had been whipped
Names of many convicts who had been
whipped were not entered in the record
at ALL but the commission said scars
and sores ON their bodies were conclusive
evidence of the truth of their testimony.
Commission Ex0nerates Greer
Convicts misrepresented facts to Len
| f. Greer, member of the state board OF
| convict inspectors, when he made an in
vestigation two weeks ago, according to
! the commission. ut is due Mr. Greer
| Tor this committee to state that the
| evidence of the various convicts at this
investigation shows that they misrepre-
scented to him the facts inquired about
by him for fear of punishment after his
! departure. upon his recent investigation,
read the report. ..They informed him
that they were well treated. well fed
and had no complaints to make with ref
| erence to their trea tment"
In summarizing the evidence the com
mission reported that after careful OBJ
| servation and examination of the per-
sons of these convicts and without regard
| TO the truth of the sworn testimony of
| the convicts themselves your committee
| bess to report that. in its opinion, these
conyicts have been cruelty and in many
Instances brutally treated.
The convicts were removed from the
camp last week and are now confined in
the Mobile county jail at Mobile.
Committees Report
I me commissions report to Governor
| ONeal follows:
The undersigned. the committee ap-
| pointed by your excelency to investigate
the treatment of prisoners at the camp
of the Huxford-Orvin Naval Stores COM
pany, near Atmore, in Escambia county,
! beg leave to report that on October Z,
pursuant to your written instructions, we
did make a thorough investigation and
inspection of said camp, and respectfully
submit the following:
THE committee arrived at the camp
| shortly after l o'clock and Immediately
went into the investigation The first
step taken was a thorough inspection of
the buildings and premises. all of which
were found in very clearly and salts
factory condition.
The committe then retired to one of
the rooms and examined separately I'M
der oath, the various officers, guards and
convicts their testimony being taken by
a stenographer. and Is attached to and
forms part of this report
THE strap with which the whippings
We're administered was presented to the
committee by the warden for inspection.
and when shown to the various Witnesses
who testiged to having been whipped,
was identified as the strap that had been
used for the past month. This strap was
made of belt leather, thick and heavy at
the handle end, two thicknesses about
three feet long, BRAIDED together with belt
brads, with a single thickness of leather
about 10 inches long attached to the end
with belt brads. 1t was about three
inches wide and would probably weigh
three four pounds. This strap is light
er than the regulation strap at state
camps.
Reference is made in the testimony to
two other straps; one of these was after
ward shown to the committee by the
warden, who said it was his personal prop
erty. and that he had not used it during
the past two months. This strap was
somewhat similar to the one referred to
above, was eight or 10 inches longer, but
heavier and thicker.
THE third strap referred to in the evil
dence was never produced, the officials
denying the existence of this strap. How
ever, the shape of scar on one of the
convicts indicates that third strap has
been used there.
"A number of the eonvicts were reluc-
tant In testifying, owing to extreme fear
of punishment. and it is quite certain
they did not tell all they knew. A gem
eral air of cowardice. fear, cringing and
intimidation was evidenced in nearly all
of the prisoners.
The bodies of most of the convicts
We're examined and signs OF having been
whipped were plainly visible on nearly
all The bodies of several of the men
/ showed signs of brutal and excessive
punishment, evidenced by open sores and
/ numerous scars.
"A record book Is kept by the warden.
which he sWore contained a correct en-
try of each and every whipping admin
istered by him during the time he had
been at this camp. A copy of this rec
ORD was forwarded each month to the
convict department at Montgomery, ac-
cording to the wardens testimony; how
/ ever, an investigation at the department
failed to disclose any record of whip
pings from this camp. The number of
whippings, as recorded in this book, are
small as compared TO the number stated
in the testimony of the various conviets
who had been whipped. A number of the
convicts, who testified to having been
whipped. some very recently, are not en-
tered in this record as having been
whipped at all. Scars and sores on their
bodies, however. were conclusive evil
denee of the truth of their testimony
Attached hereto is copy of said rec
ord made by the warden, with his affi-
davit that 1t is true and correct copy
1T is due Mr.. Greer for this commit
tee to state that the evidence of the
various convicts at this investigation
shows that they misrepresented to him
the facts inquired about by him, for fear
of punishment after his departure. upon
his recent investigation. They informed
him that they were well treated we'll
fed, and had no complaints to make
with reference to their treatment. 1t
! was based upon the statement of these
men that Mr.. Greer made his recent fav-
orable report in regard to conditions at
this camp.
ITO summarize: After careful observa-
! ton and examination of the persons of
these convicts, and without regard to the
truth of the sworn testimony Of the con-
| victs themselves, your committee begs To
| report that, in its opinion, these convicts
have been cruelty and in many instances
| hrutally treated.
! Taking into consideration the examl-
connection with their testimony. after
of the opinion that in many instances the
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