The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-09-07
LOST fyEgGHT WHILE
IN CONVICT ROAD CAMP
Peculiarly Pathetic Case Brought TO
Attention of Governor BY Nor
folk Union Mission.
NOT GIVEN PROPER ATTENTION
George Nash, Sent to Pcnitentiary
From Norfolk on Charge of Forg-
cry, Became Totally Blind-Officcr
Thought He Was soldering.

Norfolk. Va. Sept. 6.-Down at the
Union Mission is George Nash, white
man twenty-seven years old and able
bodied, yet helpless as baby. He
is totally blind and he lost his eye-
sight while he was serving term on
the roads in a State convict camp.
After he went blind the State sent
him back to Norfolk and Rev. II. H.
KratZig superintendent of the mis-
sion, has been caring for him for
more than a month.
What is to become of Nash is the
question Mr.. Kratzig has set about an
swertng. In letter to Governor
Stuart Mr. Kratzig asks the Governor
If there Is anything the State can do
for this helpless man, who became
blind while serving a sentence passed
by the courts of the State.
Here is Mr.. Kratzig's letter to the
Governor:
Sir,-For more than a month there
has been in my care at the Norfolk
Union Mission, George Nash a young
white man. twenty-seven years old,
ahle-bodied and strong. yet almost as
helpless as an infant, He Is totally
blind
On April IS. 1915, he was arrested
in Norfolk by Detective c. w. Mercer
on charge of forgery. He pleaded
guilty A few weeks later he was
sentenced by Judge Alan r. Hanckel
TO serve one year on the roads.
Then not an organ in his body
showed the slightest indication Of
weakness. On July IS, 1916. he re-
turned TO Norfolk from the State
penitentiary in Richmond, totally
blind
He has no one to care for him.
When he aHghted from the train
Via S1r y
He was brought TO me and l have
fed and clothed him and given him
a place to sleep.
Nash says he believes he would
still have good eyesight If he had re-
ceived proper attention at the convict
camp or at the penitentiary Physical
exhaustion and constant overWork, he
believes. robbed him OF the use of his
eyes Time and again. he declares.
he appealed to the sergeant in charge
of his gang for attention and for per-
mission to "lay Off for a few days
to regain his strength.
According to officials at the city
Jail here, released convicts returning to
their homes in Norfolk reported sew
eral months before Nash was re-
leased that a man was being worked
at convict camp No. r." who was
rapidly losing his evesight
When his eyes first began to trouble
him, Nash says he went to the ser
geant of his gang and asked for at
tention. He declares he was ordered
back to work and his request refused
In few weeks he had lost the sight
Of his left eye Again he went back
to the sergeant he says. and, accord
ing TO Nash, the sergeant said Get
back TO your work. Your eyes look
all right; ] won't stand for any SOL
diering In this camp
Then, according to Nash's story
the sight of his one good eye began
to fail. II was not long before he
could not distinguish between white
men and colored, But. he declares,
1t did not take such good vision TO
WELD a pick and shovel on a rock
road in the Valley Of Virginia. and
even when he could ba rely distinguish
light from dark. he still managed to
keep his place in the gang.
Then one morning he awoke-to
find it was still night. He was totally
blind.
On April 10 Nash was sent to the
prison farm. Even there, he asserts.
, he was given no medical attention.
Finally he was sent to the peniten-
ttary at Richmond. Here. he declares.
he received several doses of medicine
and cultures were taken from his
! blood for examination to determine if
his blindness had been caused by A
specific disease of the blood. The
tests showed his blood free from faint
Then Nash was taken before Judge
Scott, to be sentenced to another five
years on the roads. He was a re
peater," and so. liable to the addi-
tional term.
To Judge Scott Nash told his story,
standing with sightless eyes before the
court Judge Scott ordered his re-