Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-05

camps that will definitely fix the re-
sponsibility for the camps on some
one man or some one organization.
General Shakeup Likely.
Indications that the indictment of
Captain Edward Tyree and the eXpul-
sion of Captain \. NJ. Luck and
lowed by other changes in the forces
at some of the other camps and a
radical shakeup and reorganization
are contained in the statement made
Thursday by Alfred c. Newell. fore
man Of the Grand Jury.
I'VE have only Just started our in
vestigation,' said Mr. Newell, "and
the horrible tales that convicts from
two camps have tolG shows us that it
Will be necessary to make the inves-
tigation as thorough and far-reaching
as possible We intend to probe
deeply into every charge of brutality
that we can hear of. and guards and
deputy wardens who continually vio-
late the rules and fog convicts I'M
mercifully, and who are not humane
in their treatment of the men will be
given short shrift'
The Grand Jury is resting from it's
labors Thursday after having COM
pleted the investigation of Adams
vile camp and Welauca camp. Con-
victs from each camp told stories that
caused the Grand Jury to determine
that the investigation should cover all
of the six other camps, including the
almshouse, where the women con-
victs are confined
Runnors Of Abuse of Women.
Rumors that the white women con-
fined at the almshouse have been sub
jected to brutal treatment and indig-
mites have reached the ears of the
Grand Jury, although no definite
cases have been reported. 1t is un-
derstood that before the investiga-
ton Is completed several of the wom-
en- will be called to testify regarding
conditions at that camp.
Here are the important results of
the investigation C the Adamsville
and Weiauca camps and the partial
investigation of Ross!ind camp:
Captain Clyde Thomson discharg
ed and indicted.
Captain Edward Tyree discharged
and indicted.
Captain A. M Luck discharged.
Guards Brooks and Wood, of
Adamsville camp, discharged.
When the Grand Jury resumes its
probe Friday morning a score of con-
victs from the other camps will be
y 4 teI
their stories. 1t is understood that
from some of the camps will come
tales of horror equal to those told by
the men of Adamsville and Weisuca
camps. 1t has not yet been decided
what camps viii DC investigated Fri
day.
Ex-Convict Tolls of Cruel Boss.
Further CONFEDERATION of tile sto-
ries of the merciless and inhuma n
flogging of white convicts in the Ad-
amsville camp. for which the fore
man, Clyde Thomson, already has
been indicted by the Grand Jury and
summari1y dismissed by the county,
was given Thursday by William ARM
strong, young Atlanta man, who
served four years in that camp.
Declaring that he stands ready to
40 before the Grand Jury and tell
more terrible details" the young ex-
convict said that, in the interest of
the men who still are wearing stripes,
he wished to make a public plea to
the authorities to use the greatest
care in the selection of the men who
are to be in charge of the convicts in
the future.
MY experience in the chain gang,
which passed as though / was in some
terrible nightmare. taught me one
thing clearly, and that is that the aC
thorities fail to place proper men over
convicts," said Armstrong. The men
who are put in as foremen anG
guards haven't the sympathy and the
feeling that Is essential in the ham
ding of convicts. For this reason j
want to appeal to the citizens of At
lanta, and to the county officials es-
pecially. to name good and competent
men for the care of the convicts,
some of whom, at least. may be in
nocent and all of whom deserve to be
treated as human beings"
Ready to Tell Grand Jury.
Armstrong bitterly denounced Clyde
Thomason as totally UNIT as con-
Wet boss, and declared the county
and the State Prison Commission had
done a wise thing in getting rid of
him.
! IF the Grand Jury wishes to hear
from me l am ready TO go before it
/ and tell all | know about the brutal
tiles and inhuman practices carried
on in the convict camps" said Arm
strong. My whole interest is to see
that the poor fellows still left in the
camps may obtain the protection to
which they are entitled, and may be
saved from further brutality.
The conditions in the Adamsvills
camp have not been overdrawn bv
the convicts who testified before the
Grand 'Jury--In fact, ! am satisfied
some Of them feared to tell all they
know These conditions are horrible,
almost beyond description. and the
people should know il. | nave seen
conyicts beaten without the slightest
provocation, and beaten without a
| show Of mercy. My four years serv-