The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1914-02-03
FINDS THAT CONVICT WAS
VERY SEVERELY WHIPPED
Committee Reports On Case to Which
Attention Was Directed
By Governor.

penal and charitable institutions, OF
the senate, today reported on the
Simeon Ellis case. Simeon Ellis, a
life termer, was paroled last year by
the governor and later Governor
Blease sent up a sepcial message in
which the following issues were rails
ed:
/. Was Simeon Ellis cruelty whip
ped?
2. Was the electric battery applied
to him for treatment of for punish
ment?
The report of the committee on
penal and Charitable institutions says:
The testimony taken in the case
shows that Simeon Ellis asked the
guard to be allowed to speak to the
governor, who was at the time passing
On the street, and the guard refused to
allow hin to speak to the governor,
the qua claiming that he had no
right to Xallow prisoners to speak to
anyone fhile on duty. Ellis told the
guard Il It he would speak to the gov
ernor yway, and thereupon threw
down tn tool with which he was work
ing and went and spoke to the gov
ernor, in defiance of the order of the
guard who had Ellis in his custody.
This happened on Saturday. On Sun
day following the guard reported the
matter to Capt. Sondley, and he or
dered Simeon Ellis to be whipped. The
whipping was administered by Mr..
Wilson.
The committee made physical ex-
animation of the prisoner on Wednes-
day, the 25th of February, 1913, and
found signs of the whipping on the
back of the prisoner, the skin being
plainly discolored. He was whipped
on Sunday and this examination was
made on Wednesday following.
1t is admitted by all that institution
of this kind must have rules and reg
uIations for the conduct Of the pris-
oners and that these rules mus be en-
forced; it is necessary to apply pun
ishment according to the grade Of the
offence, but at the same time the pun
ishment should be administered judi
ciously and conservetively. Simeon
Ellis according to the testimony, was
not good prisoner, and had been dis
obetSent at other times. He wilfullE
disobeyed the order of the guard, and
was whipped for so doing.
Your committee finds that he was
very seyerelywhipped. This is the con-
clusion reached on this point by the
committee, on the testimony submit
ted to the committee, and your COM
mittee would advise against whipping
of such severity in the future.
The next issue raised by the message
of the governor is: Was the electric
battery applied for treatment of pun
ishment?
Your committee finds in this case
that the electric battery was not ap-
piled for torture or punishment, but
for treatment. The prisoner was sub
ject to spells or fits, according to the
testimony, and whether the doctor was
right or wrong in his diagnosis OF the
case or as to the remedy to be applied,
the committee is of the opinion that
the purpose of the use Of the electric
battery in this instance was for treat
ment Ellis had been treated for this
ailment before by. application of the
electric battery. The electric. battery
was applied in this instance on Mon
day morning after the whipping on
Sunday, the testimony conclusively
shows that he was taken with one Of
these spells on Monday and carried to
the hospital for treatment, when the
electric battery was applied.
The attention of the senate is direct
ed to the testimony taken in this case,
which is herewith submitted; and to
the message of the governor referring
to this matter.
All of which is respectfully submit
ted.
G. K. Laney,
Chairman Committee on Penal and
Charitable Institutions.