The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1914-01-09
GOVERNOR SENDS EIGHT
T0fHE CHEROKEE GANG
COMMITTED FROM PENITENTIARY
TO CHAIN GANG.
Action Taken Upon Petition OF Oiii-
cialS and citizens Of Cherokee
County.
snnciaI to The Herald and News.


Columbia. Jan. S.-Commutnig their
sentences from Imprisonment in the
State penitentiary to Imprisonment
upon the public works of Cherokee
county, Governor Blease transferred
eight Iong-term prisoners, all ne
groes, from the penitentiary to the
Cherokee county chain gang, where
they will be put to work building
roads for Cherokee county.
Six of the negroes were serving life
sentences for murder. In transfer
ring them to the chain gang, Cover
nor Blease commuted the sentences
of five of these to 20 years, each, and
OF the other one to 80 years. One OF
the prisoners was serving a IA year
sentence for criminal assault upon
a negro girl. The governor in trans
ferring him, cut down his sentence
10 10 years. This negro was con-
yicted in March, 1909, and was SEN
fenced to be hanged, the sentence be-
ing commuted by Former Governor
Ansel to IA years Imprisonment.
One of the negroes was serving a
20 year sentence for manslaughter.
His time was cut down to y years on
the Cherokee gang.
This action of the governor, upon
petition from the officials and citi-
zens of Cherokee county, will give
that county, for the building Of roads,
five prisoners with 20 years sentences
each. one prisoner with 80 years
sentence, one with II year sentence
and one with a 10 year sentence. Of
course, the time they have served in
the penitentiary is to their credit up
on these sentences; but the convic
ions are comparatively recent, in all
the cases except one, in which case
the negro, convicted in 1901, has only
about seven and half years Of 20
year sentence.
This is the first time prisoners have
been transferred from the peniten-
tiary to county "hain gang by a
Communication Of sentence.
In connection with his action, Gov
.ernor Blease gave out the following
statement to the press:
'lThe following petition was pre-
sented:
1.-The undersigned, your petition
ers, respectfully show to your excel
lency that the parties whose names
l3ereinbelow appear were convicted at
the times therein stated, of the Of
fenses therein mentioned and SEN
fenced by the judge whose name ap-
rears as such and the sentence Of
the ocurt in each instance is shown,
that is to say.
"'Your petitioners would earnestly
recommend that the sentences of the
above named prisoners be commuted
hard labor upon the public works
of Cherokee, in order that said pris-
oners can be sent back to the county
and labor for its citizens, whose laws
they have violated, and your petition
ers will evr pray, ETC..
This petition is signed by Senator
w. S. Hall; Representatives Daniel
and Hardin; Magistrate Bridges;
Sheriff Thomas; Probate Judge Kir-
by; County Auditor j. w George;
County Supervisor E. F. Lipscomb;
and by 233 of the other good citizens
of the county Of Cherokee.
at will thus be seen that the pur-
pose of this petition is not to parole
said prisoners, nor to pardon them,
but simply to transfer them from the
State penitentiary to the county chain
sang of Cherokee county, in which
county they were convicted, in order
that the county may use them in
building up its roads. Firmly be-
lieving that all convicts should be
employed to work the roads in the
counties in which they are tried and
convicted, the petition has been grant
ed, and the sentences of the above
mentioned convicts have been com
muted, for the terms therein stated,
at hard labor, upon the public works
of Cherokee county
In addition to the petition present
ed, the following affidavit was sub
mitted by Supervisor E. F. Lipscomb:
South of South Carolina,
County of Richland.
PERSONALLY appeared before me,
John K Aull, notary public in and
for the county and State aforesaid,
z F Lipsccmb, who, after being daily