The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1913-02-27
PRISON OFFICIALS SCORED
ASKS LEGISLATURE TO STOP
ALLEGED CRUELTY.
Because Negro Convict Spoke to Gov
ernor on Streets, it is Alleged
He was Cruelty Beaten.

CO-QlSnL ny IOV. DltdSe LII IAo AoA
lowing message:
Il transmit to you herewith let
ter received by me on the morning
of February rs, 1913.
February %, 1913.-His Ex-
cellency, Governor Blease, Columbia,
S. C.-Honorable Sir: Simeon Ellis,
(colored,) a prisoner, understand
was talking to you yesterday (Satur-
day) on the street. He was working
on the city street detail, and as you
passed asked his guard, Corporal
Boykin, to speak to you, and Boykin
refused him the permission to do so,
and he spoke to you anyhow.
To-day he was brought up be-
fore Capt. Sondley by Boykin and
was sentenced to the stocks, and Ellis
says he was struck As or so lashes-
he cannot say the exact number, and
his back now shows the result from
his head down to his hips.
81 am telling you this as a mat
ter of information, which 1 think you
will be glad to know at this time, as
I am very we'll posted as to what your
politics are regarding such things re-
garding the State penitentlary.
Therefore, 1 do not hesitate to send
you this information, as I know you
will not give the source of your in
formation.
"'Yours respectfully,
(signed) Monday Morning."
The letetr continues:
"'Ellis was taken to the black
smith shop and pair of very short
shackles put on him, and he then
told the captain and DR.. Jennings
that he was going to tell you the
first chance that he had been whip
ped for talking to you. Then he
was taken to the shops again to have
the chain heightened, and while this
was being done he had 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 a seroius condl-
ton.
"sLater: To still punish this poor,
ignorant, defenceless negro, DR.. Jen-
nings applied strong electric bat
terry 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
Capt. of the Guard Sondly, at the
State penitentiary, to bring this prls-
oner to my Office at o'clock p. m.
He was brought in his prison garb'
closely shackled, with a chain around
both legs. AS to his physical condi-
ton. 1 leave the description of that
for Representatives C. G. Wyche,
Mitchum and Fortner, who were
present and saw the negro's back and
hips.
This is but another instance,
which came to my ears only by acci-
dent, and which I am giving to you
for the purpose of showing that am
doing what 1 can to relieve suffering
humanity, and that I am only heed
ing the demands of humanity upon
me.
after finding that the negro had
been in the penite9tiary for 13 years
for killing another negro, and feel
ing sure that if I returned him to the
penitentiary as a prisoner he would
again be whipped, shackled and pos
sibly killed, 1 granted him a parole
during his good behavior.
I'm taking this course I am salts
fed that 1 am not only needing the
demands of humanity, but that l am
unfolding the letter and the spirit of
the constitution, which provides in
Section 10 of Article /, Nor cruel
and unusual punishment inflicted
and corporal punishment shall not
be inflicted
"The letter which I have trans
mitted to you says that when this ne
gro was tortured with "a strong elec-
trio battery for more than a half
hour, his screams and cries and plte-
.ous appeals for mercy could be heard
all over the penitentiary grounds;
they reached my ears; they have
now reached yours. The demand
upon me was not for mercy, but Tor
Justice, and I believe that justice was
secured from me, so far as in my
power lay to give it. What will you
do?"
The message was referred to the
committee on penal and charita bic