Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-04-15

y
and for the last three years have
been in charge of the convicts as
warden | have handled them un-
der the rule which permitted az them
being logged and under the new rule
which forbids it. and | can tell you
here il no comparison in the be-
havior of the cOnviCts then and now.
The women dread the dungeon"
until they have been down for their
first trip. but after that they do not
seem to mind it in the least"
Wehn asked how long tiosging had
been abolished at the camp, he said
that the practice was discon-
tinued last August Asked about the
cause. he replied: Some fellow down
near Columbus got little too strong
with the leather and skinned some OF
the women up a bit"
Thinks Whipping More Human.
lie said further that in his opin-
ion the whipping was more humane.
They were never whipped on the bare
flesh. he said, and that while the
punishment was varied. according I"
the offense committed. the tiogginsS
were seldom very severe.
The fact Of being whipped seems
to have humiliating effect on the
women and they dread it, I believe,
as much on this account a. any 9th
Ell" he said.
Guard j. G.. Meadows. who has
been at the camp for three years,
said. Il don't see how We are go
ing to get along much longer unless
some hing liz done. Things are get
ting SO that every time We have to
speak "A word to the women. they
curse and abuse us until il is getting
unbearable. They know that we can
not do anything TO them and they
are always ready to take advantage
Of the fact. Whipping is. in my juds-
ment the only way to restore order
Guard NJ. j. Cook. who has been
at the camp for two years and has
served under the rules allowing
whipping, declares that there is no
comparison in the general behavior
OF the camp then and now.
We can't get along without whip
ping them. he said They are much
more easily managed when they know
that unless they obey they will be
given a whipping.
We could begin to notice the diff
ference in their behavior and their
willingness to work and obey the
rules very shortly after the whip
was abolished. Unless something is
done pretty soon to relieve the sit
uation all Of the guards are going
to quit We simply won't stand be-
ing in a position where these women
can .bawl AS out and curse us at
will. without having some means of
furnishing them and restoring or
der"
Thinks Trouble Exaggerated.
Il never have been an advocate Of
whipping" said Chairman Smith. Of
the County Commission. Il regard
our method OF treatment as much
more hum7ne. wouldn't give my ap-
prevail to a return TO whipping until
I had made most thorough inves-
tigation,
Il can't believe that the trouble out
there is as serious as represented. II
it is. The County Commission GER
tainly should have been Dotified.
There may have been a little trouble
in the last few weeks. but at the lest
time ! made an inspection | was told
that the officials thought they could
enforce discipline very effectively
without the use of the lash
so far as the contention is con-
cerned that the dungeon is Loss hui
name. il must be taken INFO cOnsid-
Grafton that at any time a woman sig
nifies her Willingness to obey the or
ders Of the warden she ~ removed
from the dungeon. Thus the length
Of the punishment depends entirely
on her. II she stays in it is purely
voluntary with her"
Power of FIose.ns Abused.
County Physician Mcdonald admit
ted that some Of the wardens about
the state had abused The power Of
Jogging the Won in their charge;
that they had dashed the women en-
the bare flesh instead Of over the co.,
ering OF one garment as prescribed
in the rules. and that The system had
been productiva of cruelties in f,'W
Instances. but he declared himself az
favoring whipping rather than H.
present dungeon methods.
Whipping. he said. was more HUI
name than throwing woman in ne
dungeon for twelve. twenty four OF
thirty-six hours.
The Legislature has got ia cut out
politics and maud.in sentiment and
deal with this question sanely." MAS
;he manner in which Secretary Yam
csy addressed himself To the subject
He said that the dungeon was prac-
tically without disciplinary effec on
the women prisoners after they had
been in il once or twice. Reports to
this effect had come into the Prison
Commission from many parts of the
State Mr Nancey added that he was
Ii ~