The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-08-18
CQNv|CTS TREATED
BADLY IS CHARGE
Condition at Baden InCiteS
Rev. Sidney Love To
Protest
PRISONERS TO TALK
PRISONERS TO IA
Claim Made That Prisoners
are Kept at Prison Camp
When Incapacitated For
Work; No Benches To Eat
On While Eating; FIogging
Charged

charges of inhumane treatment of
c~anyicts in the State prison camp at
I:aden, y. c.. have been made to the
state Prison Board by Rev. Sidney
Love. secretary of the Carolina Pris-
oners' Aid Society. In a letter to the
board the prison missionary goes into
the details Of the conditions which
he claims exists in that prison camp
They consist of the holding of pris-
cners in the camp when they should
by reason of sickness be in the hos
pital. the absence OF benches and
dishes for use of the prisoners while
eating. refusal of prison authorities to
permit interviews with prisoners with
out the presence or guards, and the
fiusgiuS of prisoners.
In the letter to the prison board
Secretary Love states:
= the 18th of August, 1914. J Wis
tied the State Prison camp at Baden,
n. G.. and found the following con-
ditions existing:
"a. That there were q large num-
Der of prisoners confined to their
hunks through sickness, among the
number was a man Ga white prisoner)
who had lost his left leg close to the
knee and his right foot whilst working
upon the plant where the State con
victs work. / asked the Superintend-
cnt why this man had not been sent
to the State Prison Hospital, and he
made no reasonable explanation. Be
sides this man, there were two others
VINO were in such a condition as to
Justify them being placed in the State
Prison Hospital where they could re-
Ceiye proper nursing.
-. The next thing that attracted
my attention was that the prisoners
had no benches supplied to them to
sit uAon while eating their meals.
This appears to me very inhumanc
treatment and my society regards it
I'm the same light.
80. This is the first time in my fiji
teen years experience as a minister
and prison missionary that I have
been compelled to talk to a prisoner
while in the presence of the super
intendent and another guard. All
prisons in the Southern States allow
ministers to interview their convicts
without the supervision Of the guards.
a. Upon the acknowledgment OF
the superintendent 1 gained the fol
lowing informatlon: That the practise
of logging was carried on in the con-
Wet camp for State prisoners al
Baden. n. c. With reference to this
kindly allow me to call attention to
a part of the decision of the Supreme
Court Of North Carolina, March 26
1914.
I'VE find no rule or regulation OF
the County Commissioners authoriz.
ING the logging of convicts (and a:
We find no authority of law giving
the states prison authorities to in
hlct such punishment.)
In the absence of such statute
whether any given measure of dis
cipline can be authorized by those il
charge of the Sta;e and Count.
DrlAnnG 6nnnn1C rnon yyhnfh0p fh.
measure of discipline is ~reasonabl.
necessary. In View or the enlighten
ment oft his g and the progress
winch has been made in prison dis
clpline. we AVE no difficulty in com
Ing to the conclusion and cannot b
sustained. That which desrades an,
lmbrutes a man cannot be either ne
ceSsary or reasonable Estate W.
Nlpper.> This is the decision of tn
supreme Court Of North Carolina.
Kindly lilo me to give a fair an
impartial opinion of the situation a
baden. My society has no desir
Whatever to make a prison a palace
Out certainly will demand hat tn
prison system of North Carolina wi
make their prisons suitable for hu
mah habitation, and a proper consi
ueFatlon given to the prisoners with
Tue FUNDS Of humanity.
In reviewing the first complaint i
ms report what sense is there is a
owing a man to remain in a WOrkln
camp who is absolutely incapacitate
.or work. Should not human discre
loh demand that this man shoul b
sent TO the prison hospital?
In the next place, why shout
."ese men, after q hard days wOrl
~ compelled to stand up and es
their meals from a common lively
men deal board. out of old tin par
auu TIN cups. with no benches to g
opoh Is this humane? We wou1
us l'ke to ask the question, who III
~ authority to authorize this f1os
sing OF prisoners? The Supreme Cou
- North Carolina distinctly says tn;
"t9 ma no law authorizing prise
~N'hofities to give orders or allO