davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1914-02-12
Trouble Near ChOkGe Caused
Death Of Two Last Sunday
Marian Bass Killed and H. E. Laramore and Cssse Wounded
ARRAY.

Bass was killed instantly by a
'rung" shell entering his left side
just under the heart. Cassells and
Laramore were brought by another
party, following some minutes later,
lin an auto to Leslie for treat
ment. Their wounds, while seri-
GUS are not necessarily fatal Cas-
sells was shot through the hip by q
e4. Laramore through the hand
and bowels by shot gun.
One Of the negroes, Edward Ty-
son, was later caught, and after
contrasting that he shot Bass was
killed while attempting to escape.
The negro who escaped and is be-
ing hunted is Cooper. Bivins, and
is the nephew Of Webster, the ne
gro who shot out Green's eyes,
Webster is thought to be the other
one. while the dead negro is Ed
Tyson, half brotherof Webster
Marion Bass, the dead man, lies
at the Tome Of his brother, J. ?.
Bass, where the body will be pre-
pared for interment at Leslie to-
morrow at 2 p. m. He is nephew
of T. @. and III. C. Bass, both
prominent men in the affairs ofthis
county, and is otherwise highly
connected, being survived by one
brother. J. P. Bass, and one sister,
Mrs. G. w. Paul, Of Port st. Joe,
Fla.
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1914-02-12
To Investigate ACCESSIBILITY
of Electric Lights and Water
Committee Has Been Appointed by Council TO Investigate Advsab
Of Issuing Bonds For Purpose Of Securing Water
Works and Electric Lights.

Freshimpetus was given to the
matter Of securing electric lights and
waterwerks for Leeeburg at the re-
cent meeting of council when COM
mittee was appointed by Mayor
Tharp to investigate the ACCESSIBILITY
Of issuing bonds for the purpose Of
securing both of these important
and much needed public utilities.
The committee is expected toinveg-
tigate the matters fully and to re-
port to council as early as is con-
venient.
The matter Of securing electric
light and power from Albany was
mentioned. It was agreed thatthis
would he the best solution of the
matter of securing electric lights, if
current can be secured from the Al
bany plant at a reasonable rate. 1t
would be necessary to construct a
tower line to convey the current
from the Albany plant to distri-
batting station here, and this would
occasion q pretty heavy outlay
which would either have to be borne
by the city directly or be paid for
at high rate for lights, though and
all day and allsniglt current could
be secured. This matter will, how
ever, be fully investigated by the
committee.
The matter uf the encroachment
of certain buildings on the street
lines within the city, especially on
Main street, will be taken up and
prosecuted vigorously by council.
Messrs, R. R. FORESTER, S. j. Yeo-
man and A. w. Goodwin were APP
pointed as members of a committee
to look into the matter of adjusting
these encroachments, which may
cause some lively litigation before
they are removed.
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1914-02-12
County Commissioners Proceedings, Feb 9th.

T met in regular session February eth
-. $50 ,.oaot.
mss ~ e
issued aseady enrolled by previous olees o. tie
board to total amount Of ECO
~; 49, Aired qbn, nam ere having died
~ - !. !, ,.4;aa
uary neelng Scnp"s 70 'neh were u
Following presented tie approved
scnts ordered ssred on the County Treasury namely:
P''' ,oo 80
Hon w g. Martini salary as Judge CP CONT o January W "
sheriff. serving City Court days. January
serving subpenas in VIM Webster case transferred
to county for trial a 90
Jones ct al KS Board County Commissioners proceeding
ia Lee Superior Court rs 90
T A. Hill rope nails files etc, per IS IS
F. T. King, cofnfor ALI Thurman, county 10 90
j w Tracy services OF special af at January term dy court Nv
Yonebood building Court House
" M aramore Of sacks
potatoes, 10 90
W F 1cAee Treas money advanced pay
zine aud yarozs height bills; paid II. Williams,
u Sumter county, per attaoed Total zGS IS
F RcA fee money divers
notedtf onn0e1 ritCmzt
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1914-02-12
Nj. Laramors COrrBCts
Statement Of Difficulty
Say. Arr.stias Party Fired Only When Fired
UPOn.

The following card has been re-
ceived by the Journal from Mr.. G.
H. Loramore, and The Journal is
glad to give space to the statement
made by him which is as follows:
Will you please give me enough
space in your paper to publish
some few facts in regard to the
trouble at Cooper Bivins's house
Saturday night, Feb. Z, 1914? 1t
is Escorted that the small crowd
that went to arrest Biyins opened
fire upon Bivins' house without
ever mailing. This is all untrue.
was called over the phone at Z
o'clock o. m. by A. D. Green to
call in some help ard come and
protect blind man, expecting no
trouble when l left home, not
knowing the situation of things,
a. few went. as three negroes had
placed themselves under the house
with guns and fired upon three OF
our men, one being killed instantly
and the other shot down, one slight
" wounded. There were some
shots fired upon the house, but not
when the crowd first arrived and
further investigations were made.
If the reports gone out are true
am sorry to say that crowd was
badly misled.
Yours for better things and less
disturbances.
GEO. H. LARAMoRE.
Feb. 10, 1914.
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1914-02-12
Letter From Hon. c. r. Crisp.
Washington, D. c.,
Feb. 10th, 1914.
To the People Of the Third Con-
gressional District:

To the People of the Third Con
gressional District:
1 have been advised by my ply
sicians that on account of over
work, my health became very
much run down; that the severe
attack Of la grippe, which I had
during the Christmas holidays, fol-
lowed by pleurisy, has left me in
such depleted physical condition
that it is imperative for me to drop
all work and take complete rest,
and go to some dry climateat once.
Ny physicians state, if | pursue
this course, in a very short while |
will be restored to perfect health
but otherwise the consequences may
be very serious. AS I lost my
health trying to discharge my pub
lie duties, I know my generous
friends will excuse my absence from
post, while am trying to regain
my health.
During my absence, my secre-
tary, Mr.. John NJ. Greer, of Ogle.
thorp, will be in charge of my Of
fee at Washington, and desire
my friends to write me there, as ]
shall keep in close touch with him,
and direct the affairs of my dis.
trict.
1 shall return to my post at the
earliest moment possible.
Sincerely your friend,
CHARLES r. CRISP.
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1914-02-12

Leslie, Feb. 8-When negroes
opened fire on Abner Green and bis
.overseer here last nigt, as the white
men were OH their way to their Lee
county plantation, they started a
race clash that thus far has result
in the death Of Que white man and
one negro while two other white
men have been wounded.
The clash was the result Of a for
mer shooting in which Greens eyes
we're shot out by William Webster.
The dead white man is Marian
Bass, q deputy to Constable Tuck
er Cassells, who, with Harris Lara
more, another deputy, went to the
aid Of the two farmers following a
telephone call for help. Bass was
instantly killed in a fusilade fired
from ambush by the negroes, who
were concealed under a house, and
the other two men were wounded,
but returned the fire Of the negroes.
One Of the negroes, Edward Ty-
son, was later caught, and in his
confession to shooting Bass, was
killed while attempting to escape.
Leslie has been a scene of wild
excitement all last night and today.
Lee, Crisp and Sumter counties are
being combed by heavy armed pos
sizes with dogs in an effort to catch
the other negroes in the party, and
their capture before mornings con
sidered certain. Cooper Bivins and
William Webster are the blacks be-
ing sought by the enraged men.
About six months ago Abner
Green, had trouble with two ne
gro boys, himself having both eyes
shot out, rendered him entirely
blind. Webster, the surviving ne
gro, was tried at Americas for
shooting Green, and came clear.
Yesterday Green and his over
seer, returning to their Lee county
plantation from Leslie, were at
tackled by two negroes as they were
passing negro house near the
Green place. Seven shots from a
Winchester rife were sent after
them by the negroes, but escaping
to a phone, they summoned assist
ance. Tucker Casselis, Harris Lar
amore and Marion Bass, consta-
bles, responding, went Immediate
~ to the mems assistance. Going
to the house when the shots were
fired at Green, two Of the men, Cas-
sells and Laramore, went to the
door and Bass remained in the yard.
The.negroes at once fired on them,
tina first shot taking effect, Instant
ly killing Bass. Cassells was struck
in the hip by a 38-caliber Winches-
ter ball and Laramore hit twice,
once in the hand and once in the
stomach by small shot from shot
gun. Cassells and Laramore locat-
ed the negroes under the house and
began firing upon them, but they
escaped into the nearby woods.
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1914-02-12
Nursery Stock That
Is The Very Best
Continental Plant Company Thoroughly Re-
liable Firm.


1t is with pleasure that the edit
or OF The Journal calls attention of
the advertisement of the Continent
al Plant Company to be found else
where in this issue Of the paper.
This reliable firm has the very best
stock in strawberry plants and gen
eral nursery stock.
The editor Of The Journal has
used plants frJm the Continental
Plant Company, and he can testify
that orders are filed promptly and
courteously with only frst-class
plants and trees. Those who should
lie to know more Of this compa-
ny's offerings should write them for
a catalogue.
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1914-02-12
Journals Business
Is Growing Steadily
Office Force kept Busy All The Time With
Work,

Every week has been busy one
since The Journal has been leased,
and the lessees and the complete
force of workers are kept busy must
ling with job orders and the other
business connected with getting out
the paper.
It is the purpose Of the manage
ment Of the paper to put it on q
better basis than ever. The sub
scription lists are being thoroughly
revised anew, after WHICH every
subscriber in arrears will be strick
en- from the list. All accounts due
the firm will be collected promptly
else those who owe these accounts
viii not be permitted to secure O.
ther work until the old account is
paid.
The management Of The Journal
asks that these business principles
be borne in mind by every patron
Of the shop. The large patronage
given The Journal is thoroughly
appreciated, and all the work Of
Lee county is solicited PatrOnize
the home paper and secure the We
ny best results at the lowest prices.
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1914-02-12
SPECIAL NOTICE!

The present management Of The Journal has been
most liberal in its allowance Of time for the payment of
subscription bills, but longer time lie allowed for
any such purpose Unless these bills WI el lave been
duly presented paid by March 10Th, the names of
all deiinquents will be stricken from the list.
IF YOU WANT YOUR PAPER CONTINUED,
SETTLE ALL ARREARS ON YOUR SUBSCRIPTION
AT ONCE.
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-04

county wardens conduct toward the
prisoners.
Mr. thurman indicated that the
commission was determined to get a
closer control Of the convict camps
so that no further abuses could arise
without the instant knowledge Of the
commissioners. 1t was thought that
a resolution wiuld be introduced a.
the meeting of the commission We'd
nesday calling for a change where
by the board may more directly have
supervision of the camps.
How One Negro Was eBaten.
One of the most brutal punish
ments inflicted by Boss" Tyree. ac-
cording to Convict Green's story to
the Grand Jury, was that upon a ne
gro by the name OF Robert Coleman.
"Tyree made Coleman strip naked. -
said Green. Then he handcufed his
hands behind him, bent him almost
double and trussed him in that un-
comfortable position by means of a
pickax handle.
Then ne took his lash and beat
Coleman numerically while Coleman
shrleked and writhed on the ground.
He must have given him at least 100
lashes"
While the members of the Sta ia
Prison Commission were before the
Grand Jury they were questioned
closely, as were the members of the
County Commission, in an effort to
determine where the responsibility
lies for the conduct OF the convict
camp bosses.
Commissions Shift Blame.
The situation appears somewhat to
have grown ont of a conflict of au-
thority on one hand and a tendency,
on the other, for each OF the com
missions to pass up to the other the
responsibility for certain phases of
the administration
The jurors Intercepted every
member of each commission in order
to learn the exact truth Recon-
mendations are expected as result
OF their questioning
Philip Weltner. secretary of the
Georgia Prison Commission, was in
conference with the Jurors much of
the day. aiding them in their investi-
cation and making suggestions as TO
Valua BILE witnesses who might be
summoned
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-04
How Six Camps We're
Inspected In Four Hours

Here what the Commissioners did their of in
vestigaon
Left the Thrower Building at 10 o'clock and arrived at
Adamsvle camp 1040 Talked copvcts with guards
posed for pictures walked about the grounds held
chamber with and left at II 40 for the works.
there IL o'clock Here the only real investigating
OF the day done, eight cOnvic telling affecting
stories Left the works at clock for Oakland City
Arrived Oakland City camp at 80 o clock Walked into
clubhouse and looked around had interesting about
always trying to stir things p another
whether criminal mental degenerae dissertation
crminoogy dinner leaving at 2:30 whou tdong much in
estgating.
From Oakland the probers went to Rosalind camp and
stayed ten minutes and Perry Prag, told of being
whipped two times in three weeks on his bare back
Went TO Miner camp, stayed SIX minutes, heard negro
tell OF being whipped for turning Georgia buggy
a wheelbarrow
Went to Weiauca camp for 20 minutes posed for pictures
and heard tell of being whipped three times
evening, the last time when he stark naked
Went oi'eliwood and stayed 80 minutes great deal of
being consumed in sampng food, drinking coffee
getting the opinions of the Commissioners
what they had Walked all the camp.
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-04
N|SS|ONERS PROBE OF PRISON CAMPS CALLED A FARCE
Rather Reform Conflicts Lau Declares judge Patterson

putting a man in prison is not to re-
form him, but to punish him.
Punish Rather Than Reform"
THE idea of punishment should
take precedence over the idea of ref
ormation," he said
Mr.. Smith said he is willing to do
anything he can to relieve the con-
dition OF the convicts.
1t seemed to be the consensus of
opinion that, inasmuch as the inves
LEGATION lad proved beyond the shad-
ow of doubt that the living quarters
and the entire camps. for that mat
ter. are exceedingly clean and SAN
itary, the matter of f1ogging prison.
ers is but a secondary consideration.
and the less said about 1t the better
At every camp the newspaper men in
the party were cordially invited to
notice how clean and sanitary the
living quarters and the kitchens and
Commissary departments were And
there is no doubt that the camps are
clean and the food good. The inves
tigators were fed on collards, eggs,
corn bread. biscuits, beefsteak, cof-
fee and other things at the Oakland
camp, and 1t was excellently pre-
pared and excellently served Better
food of the sort could not be secured
anywhere in Atlanta.
The most fastidious person could
rot have found any thing in the way
Of dirt in the yards or the buildings
of the camp. Even the yards were
swept clean. Everything was spick
and span Convicts al all the camps.
| however, said things had been clean
ed up in anticipation of the investiga =
ton, but every man who was ques-
toned said the camps We're kept very
clean.
Evidence of DRINKING
The thorough search that failed to
unearth any dirt, however unearthed
camp that smelled very strong-and
some of them tasted strong-of whis-
ky.
Convicts in this camp said drunk
enness among the guards-men
armed with shotguns-is a common
occurrence.
The probers were met at the
Adamsville camp by a delegation Of
guards and started down toward the
clubhouse. While passing in front
of the commissary the vanguard of
the investigators ran into an old man,
gray haired and bent, who stood
leaning on a broom. The crowd,
numbering probably a dozen persons,
stopped to talk to the first convict
of the day
How long have you been here?''
asked Commissioner Tull Waters.
No Complaint Before Guards.
"A life time, I guess" he tried to
smile, but he couldn't
Have you any complaint to
make?" Mr. Waters asked
The old man glanced around with
the furtive quickness acquired only
by men who are watched constantly.
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-04
What So Precious
AS a Healthy Baby?
Every Youngster Can Have
Fine Digestion if Giuen a
Good Baby Laxative.

In spite Of the greatest personal
care and the most intelligent atten
ton to diet. babies and children will
become conStipated, and it is fact
that constipation and Indigestion
have wrecked many young life. To
start with a good digestive appa-
ratus is to start life without handi-
cap.
But, as we can not all have per-
feet working bowels, we must do
the next best thing and acquire
them, or train them to become
healthy. This can be done by the
use of a laxative tonic very highly
mothers. The remedy is called Dr.
Caldwell's Syrup Pepsin and has
been on the market for two genera
iently at any drug store for so cents
or 81 bottle. and those who are
already convinced of its merits buy
the dollar size.
Its mildness makes it the ideal
medicine for children, and 1t is also
very pleasant to the taste. 1t is sure
in its effect, and genuinely harmless.
Very little of it is required and its
frequent use does not cause 1t to
lose it's effect, as is the case with so
many other remedies.
Thousands can testify to its mer-
its in constipation. Indigestion, bill
iousness, sick headaches etc,
among them reliable people Ike
Mrs. James r. Rouse, of Marinette,
Wis Her little son Howard was
fifteen months old last April, but he
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-04
Inspect 6Can,ps m4Hours;
TtU0 Guards May Lose Jobs

The Fulton County changing
bosses Captain Edward Tyree, OF the
Weiauca camp, and Captain Luck.
of the Rosalind camp, face expulsion
Wednesday as the result of the fly
ing trip which members of the state
Prison Commission and the County
Board OF Commissioners made TO the
convict camps of the county Tuesday,
trip that required seven hours to
visit and inspect" six camps. less
three hours for riding and eating pur-
poses. and has been generally at
tackled as farce.
The Investigators were Chairman
II. T.. DAWSON Judge T. h. Patterson
and e. l.. Rainey, of the State Com
mission; Tull c. Waters and Shelby
Smith. of the County Board. and
Captain T. J, Donaldson.
A third man. Charley Wood. a
guard ut The Adamsville camp, also
faces investigation and possible rep
rmand, II not expulsion from the
service Terrible stories OF Wood's
alleged cruelties were told by half
dozen ConVicts, tales of being re-
ported for whippings because Wood
didn't like their looks, of being re-
ported and logged for no reason at
all and of being forced TO work when
their hands were covered with sores
and assesses and their bodies raCked
with Illness and pain.
Whipping Records Astounding.
AS superficial as the Investigation
was 1t consisted mostly of a half
hearted inspection OF the sleeping
quarters and the sampling OF special
~ prepared food the probers felt con-
strained to take some action when
Captain Tyree's whipping record
showed that during the month OF
January. 1914 thirty-two conVicts.
an average of more than one a day,
had been fiogged for violations of the
rules, listed usually for disobedience.
The record showed that each con
Wet had been given from five to ten
lashes. the average being eight max
ing 256 strokes that have been dealt
ConViCts in the one camp alone in
mouth-and recorded.
Captain Lucks record showed that
in his camp twenty-five ConViCts
were tiogged during January, with
disubctiieuCe and iaziuess listed as
the usual offenses. The number OF
laShes given each man in this camp
was, according to the record. from
FIVE to nine, with seven as the aver
age. That makes l54 strokes that
have been applied 10 the backs of
Couv.cts In Captain Lucl<'s camp, or
4l0 strokes that have been laid on
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-04

Weiauca camp convicts who testified.
That Tyree held the convicts In NOR
tai fear. OF him by his constant use
Of the lash and his abuse Of the sick
prisoners was Spradlng's decara :.
ton.
SpradiIng said that he number Of
times had incurred Tyree's displeas-
ure and that he even now was only
recovering form the last terrible
beating that he had received. He
displayed great welts on his body to
bear witness to his story
Suffers From Cancer.
i've got cancer in my breast. "
said the negro. but I never dared
tell Tyree. He would beat me up il
he knew it, OF course. l amt very
well able TO work much, but ! just
go ahead and suffer because I'd rath-
er do that than have Tyrcc know.
He would just make me work all
the harder and would tell me that
I'm Just a -- --- lazy Niger.
He'd rahtre beat his men DIP than 90
anything else in the world"
VIII Bridwell is negro who does
not go out on the road but works
around the camp He said that he
had witnessed Tyree whip the pris-
oners until the blood ran down their
bodies
Il saw him whip four fellows be-
cause they We're sick and couldn't
work, he said "A good many times
we didn't get enough to eat. but we
were afraid to ask for anything mare
for fear Of getting the strap"
Commissioners Quizzed.
The other negroes who testified
were Austin Green. viii Handy,
John Jones. Robert Randolph and
win Brown.
w. T. VIM and s B. Turmal.
County Cumm sioners. were ques-
toned at some length in a continue
ton of the Grand Jury's effort to fix
exactly the responsibility for the