The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-01
BRUTAL TREATMENT
OF CONV|CTS DENIED
BY INSPECTOR GREER
Submits Report of Inspec-
ti0n of the Escambia
County Camp
CONTRADICTS CHARGE
OF d. HI. EDINGTON
Makes Personal Trip to Camp to In
vestigate and Declares Statement ,
of Conditions Grossly
Exaggerated

Montgomery. September 30--(SpeciaD
Reports that county convicts are in
humanity treated at the Huxford-Or-
vim turpentine camp, in Escambia coun-
ty, and that one convict-G. e. Glover,
white man from Mobile county-had
been numerically beaten on several
occasions are vigorously denied by AS
sociate Convict Inspector L. F. Greer
who has just returned from an inspec
tion of that camp. Inspector Greer
today submitted to Governor ONeal a
full report of his inspection Of the Hux
for-Oryin convict camp.
Inspector Greer's report is direct
contradiction of the charges made
against the Huxford- -orvin camp by
Recorder David II. Edington of Mobile,
who on Monday wrote to Governor
O'Neal relative to the conditions at the
camp, and enclosed lengthy statement
from the convict Glover, who charged
that he had been numerically beaten
In writing of this convict, Judge
Edington. said he had made an exam
nation of Glover at the jail, upon
the latter's return from the convict
camp, and that he still had purple
marks upon him, as we'll as the yell
low bruises from prior beatings.
Personal Inspection
On the other hand. Inspector Greer,
In referring to Glover, said he made
trip to Mobile to personally inspect
Glover, and that there was not a scar
on him, which showed conclusively that
he had not been unmercifully beaten
in the past, for had the skin been brok-
en- on him in any place, it would most
assuredly have left a scar As to his
charge of having been numerically
whipped the day before, l wish to state
| found two or three red places on
his body but no skin broken"
Judge Ellington in his letter to the
governor said he did not believe the
HuXford- -Orvin Turpentine company
should be allowed to retain conviots
My interest in this matter is not
only limited to the fact that | shall
send no more prisoners there. but ]
do not think that a concern which has
treated prisoners as has this concern,
in absolute disregard of law, as well az
inhumanity of the thing, should be en-
titled to retain the prisoners they have
from any place, nor should they be en-
titled to future convicts.'
Mr. Greer said he talked with the
convicts and that none of them had any
complaints to make. He said their quar-
ters were good, the food plentiful and
wholesome and that the health OF the
convicts was excellent.
His report follows:
Hon. Hartwell Douglass, president
Montgomery, Ala.
Dear sir; In view of recent criticism
of the Huxford -Orvin turpentine camp
in Escambia county. / deem it proper
that | should make you special re-
port of conditions as | found them at
that place on my visit there last sun
day. the 18th
Questioned Conyicts
81 went into the prison alone. not n
soul near the convicts except myself
l questioned them all, both white and
black very closely as TO their treat
ment They all informed me that they
had no complaint to make. that they
were getting plenty to eat and were
not abused by any of the officials In
charge of the camp or the guards in
the woods They further stated that
the guards never even cursed thenal or
attempted any abuses. On this trip, in
view of the recent criticisms by the
press of Mobile, | made a more rigid
investigation than 1 usually make. This
being county camp and where county
and city convicts both are worked to-
gether l made every effort to locate
the seeming trouble there. The prison
is neatly kept, the food is plentiful and
wholesome There was absolutely 10
sickness at all at the camp. ON the
day before i reached there. the Mobile
authorities claimed that a white convict
by the name or Glover had been un-
mercifully beaten and they had him
transferred to the Mobile county jail
THIS man charged that he had been un-
mercifully beaten 20 times since he had
been confined there. | made a trip to
Mobile to personally inspect this pris-
oner There was not scar on him.
which showed conclusively that he had
not been unmercifully beaten in the
past, for had the skin been broken on
him, II would most assuredly have left
a scar. AS to his charge of being un-
inercifully whipped the day before, wish
to state found three or four red places
on his body. but no skin broken.
informed the authorities there that in
my Judgment he had not been cruelty
beaten. nor had he been severely
whipped. / questioned the convicts at
the camp closely in regard to this man
and the white men there who had been
with Glover, who Is also a white con-
yict, told me that Glover had been
whipped two or three times for refus-
ing to work. but that he had never
been brutally treated.
No Sign of Abuses
II have tried to discharge my duty
in making an investigation of this camp
and | can find no visible signs of
abuses The prisoners themselves tell
me positively that there are none, there
fore l feel it my duty to state that
find nothing wrong at all with the
camp, but would respectfully ask that
Drs. Austin and Oates be requested to
go down, so that the correctness of
my position may be verified or else
find where am wrong In my judgment
concerning the conditions of the camp.
! have no recommendations to make,
but have stated plainly and frankly the
facts as 1 find them. Yours very truly.
IL. +. GREER,
Associate INSPECTOR"