Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-06
GRAND JURY SEEKS To
PLACE Responsibility
FOR PRISON CRUEL TIES

ton which was given members of the
State Commission and the County
Board at Wednesdays session of the
probe.
Each BIames the Other.
Members of the former blamed the
members of the latter for the preva-
lence of flogging and brutality on the
part of the guards and deputy war
dens, and the County Commission de-
clared that the State Commission Is
to blame, because it formulates the
rules of discipline and has immediate
control of the camps, with inspectors
supposed to make regular rounds.
The State Commission" one of the
members of the County Board told the
Grand Jury, has direct charge of the
deputy wardens, and is responsible for
their conduct The State Commissioa
makes the rules for the government
of the camps, and it is the duty of its
members to see that they are en-
forced"
Members of the State Commission
repeated in substance about what the
members of the County Board said,
except hat they blamed the County
Board where the County Board mem
bers blamed them.
In theory" Chairman Dawson toid
the Grand Jury. "the State Commits
sion is to blame for whatever condl-
tons exist, but as a matter of fact
the County Board is to blame"
County Names Wardens.
1.-THE County Board appoints the
deputy wardens and the State Board
gives them commissions, on the rec
concentration of the County Board
which is therefore responsible for the
acts of the men in charge of the
camp. The rules which we have
formulated for the governing of the
convicts are all right. If they We're
followed to the letter there would be
no trouble"
Members of the Grand Jury de-
clared freely Thursday morning that
the lack of responsibility for the gov
erning of the camps has brought
about the terrible conditions that
have been laid bare by the stories OF
convicts who have been chained and
f1ogged until they were almost dead.
1T is our intention" said one of the
Grand Jurymen. ito recommend such
changes in the method of running the
camps that will definitely fix the re-
sponsibility for the camps on some
one man or some one organization"
GensraI Shakeup Likely
Indications that the indictment %
Captain Edward Tyree and the expul-
sion of Captain \. NJ. Luck and
Guards Wood and Brooks will be fol-
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 G. Newell, fore
man of the Grand Jury.
I'VE have only just started our in
vestiGation," said Mr.. Newell, land
the horrible tales that convicts from
two camps have tolu shows us that II
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 its
labors Thursday after having com
pleted the investigation of Adams
Vile camp and WeIauca 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.
Rumors of Abuse of Women.
Rumors that the white women con-
fined at he almShouSe have been sub
iected to brutal treatment and indig
mites have reached the ears of the
Grand Jury, although no definite
cases have been reported. 1t is I'M
derstood that before the investiga-
ton is completed several of the wom-
en- will be called 10 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 Rosalind camp:
Captain Clyde Thomson discharg
ed and indFted.
Captain Edward Tyree discharged
and indicted.
Captain A. NJ, Luck discharged.
Guards Brooks and Wood, OF
Adamsville camp, discharged
When the Grand Jury resumes It's
probe Friday morning a score of con-
victs from the other camps will be
brought before it and asked to tel
their stories. 1t Is understood that
from some of the camps will come
tales of horror equal to those told by
the men of Adamsvlle and Weiauca
camps. II has not yet been decided
what camps viii d investigated Fri
day
Ex-Convict Tells of Cruel Boss.
Further confederation of the sto-
ries of the merciiess and inhuman
fogging of white convicts in the Ad-
amsville camp, for which the fore
man. Clyde Thomason. already has
been indicted by the Grand Jury and
summarily dismissed by the county
was given Thursday by William Arm
strong, young Atlanta man, who