Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-05
GRAND JURY SEEKS To
PLACE Responsibility
FOR PRISON CRUEL TIES

tlon winch was given mem DerS or the
State Commission and the County
Board at Wednesdays session of toe
probe.
Each Blames the Other.
Members of the former blamed the
members of the latter for the preva
lence ON hogging 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 ii 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
60" '-" ~" ms nd IS RESPONSIBLE for
their conduct. The State Commissioa
...e-.Cs ules lof tne government
of the camps, and it is the duty of tie
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.
I'm theory" Chairman Dawson told
the Grand Jury. the State Commits
sion is to blame for whatever condi-
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 comm ssions, on the rec
ommendation of the County Board
which is therefore responsible for the
a Of h0 oh nf
camp. The rules which we have
formulated for the governing of the
| convicts are all right. II they were
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
logged until they we're almost dead.
ut 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"
General Shakeup Likely.
Indications that the indictment Of
Captain Edward Tyree and the expul-
sion of Captain y. M. 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 c. Newell, fore
man of the Grand Jury
We have only just started our in
vestigation." said Mr. Newell "and
the horrible tales that convicts from
two camps have tolo 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 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
almshouse, where the women con-
victs are confined
Rumors of Abuse Of Women.
Rumors that the white women con-
fined at the 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 un-
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 dscharg-
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
| 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 Adamsvile and Weiauca
| camps. II has not yet been decided
what camps will DC investigated Fri
| dav
Ex-Convct Tells of Cruel Boss.
Further confederation of the sto-
ries of the merciless and inhuma n
| flOgging 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