The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-02-28
SENSATION SPRUNG IN
PENITENTIARY MATTER
BLEASE SENDS MES
SAGE TO LEGISLATURE.
Had Negro Brought to His Office and
Cites Members of the House as
Witnesses.
Special to The Herald and News.

Tuesday night sent the following mes
sage to the general assembly:
Gentlemen of the General Assembly:
| transmit to you herewith letter
received by me on the morning Vt
February %, 1913:
February %, 1913.
"His Excellency, Governor Blease,
Columbia, S. G.
Honorable Sir: Simeon Ellis (col-
ored) a prisoner l undaf-
stand, was talking to you yesterday,
Saturday, on the street. He was
working on the city street detail and
as you passed asked his guard, Cor
poral Boykin, to speak to you, and
Boykin refused him the permission to
do so and he spoke to you anyhow.
ITO day he was brought up before
Capt. Sondley by Boykin and was SEN
fenced to the stocks and Ellis says he
was struck As or so lashes, he can not
say the exact number, and his back
now shows the result from his head
down to his hips.
Il am telling you this as matter of
information, which / think you will
be glad to know at this time, as | am
very we'll posted as to what your poll
cies are regarding such things re-
garding the State penitentiary.
Therefore do not hesitate to send
you this information as 1 know that
you will not give the source OF your
information.
yours respectfully,
(Signed) .....s.......
Monday morning"
Ellis was taken to the blacksmith
shop and pair of very short shackles
put on him and he then told the Cap
tain and DR.. Jennings that he was
going to tell you the first chance that
he had been whipped for talking to
you. Then he was taken to the shop
again to have the chain heightened,
and while this was being done he had
a fit. He is subject to such spells.
The chains were cut off him and he
was taken to the hospital, where he
now is. | understand he is in serious
condition.
Later: To still further punish this
poor, ignorant, defenceless negro, DR..
Jennings applied a strong electric
battery to him and tortured him for
more than a half hour. His screams
and cries and piteous appeals for
mercy could be heard all over the
penitentiary grounds"
Upon receipt of this letter, Col Aull,
my private secretary, requested Cap
tain of the Guard Sondley, at the
State penitentiary to bring this pris-
oner to my office at ) o'clock p. n.
He was brought in his prison garb,
closely shackled, with chain around
both legs. AS to his physical condi-
ton, leave the description Of that
for Representatives c. c. Wyche,
Mitchum and Fortner, who were pres
ent and saw the negro's back and hips
This is but another instance which
came to my ears only by accident, and
which | am giving to you for the pur-
pose of showing that am doing what
/ can to relieve suffering humanity,
and that | am only needing the de-
nands of humanity upon me.
After finding that the negro had
been in the penitentiary thirteen
wears for killing another negro. and
feeling sure that if | returned him to
the penitentiary as prisoner he
would again be whipped shocked and
possibly killed, granted him a parole
during his good behavior.
In taking this course, am satisfied
that l am not only needing the de-
mands of humanity, but that l am up
holding the letter and the spirit Of
our constitution, which provides in
hSection 19 of Article l, nor cruel and
klusual punishment inflicted, : and