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

ton which was given members of the
State Commission and the County
Board at Wednesdays session of the
probe.
Each Blames the Other.
Members of the former blamed the
members of the latter for the preva-
lence of tiogging 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
..- ~Hrns nd IS RESPONSIBLE for
their conduct. The State Commission
4-.,,..ys ,-.- Iuies 1ur ms government
of the camps, and it is the duty of !ts
| members to see that they are an
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.
"The County Board appoints the
deputy wardens ana the State Board
gives them commissions, on the rec
ommendation of the County Board.
which is therefore responsible for the
q IF
camp. The rules which we have
| formulated for the governing of the
convicts are all right. If they were
| followed to the letter there would be
| 10 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 were almost dead.
1T is our intention" said one of the
Grand Juryrnen, ito recommend such
changes in the method of running the
| camps that will definitely Ak 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 i. 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.
I'VE have only just started our in
vestigation." said Mr.. Newell, land
| the horrible tales that convicts from
| two camps have tolQ 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
Runors 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 I'M
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 Rosalind camp:
! Captain Clyde Thomson discharg-
ed and indicted.
Captain Edward Tyree discharged
| and indicted
Captain A. NJ. Luck discharged.
Guards Brooks and Wood, of
Adamsville camp, discharged.
When the Grand Jury resumes its
probe Friday morning a score of con-
vcts from the other camps will be
brought before it and asked to tell
| 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 Weiauca
camps II has not yet been decided
what camps will DC Investigated Fri
day.
Ex-Convict Tells of Cruel Boss.
! Further confederation of the sto-
ries of the merciless and inhuman
fiogging of white convicts in the Ad-
amsville camp. for which the fore
man, Clyde Thoma son, already has
been indicted by the Grand Jury and
] sum ma rilY dismissed hY the county