The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-10-19
GRAVE EVILS
IN SUMTER
CHAIN GANG
State Board Of Public
Welfare Calls on
Governor Cooper to
Initiate Steps to
Remedy Conditions

Ncd1Sd Oy Oil 3IiNSSIAS0IASiA WV
ing several months made by the
State Board of Public Welfare
These camps are under the man
agement of Foreman John Holland
and Jesse Holland and Of County
Engineer ]. E. Jeffords, acting un-
der the supervision and control OF
the Sumter Board Of County Com
missioners
On June 18th the secretary and
assistant secretary OF the Board OF
Public Welfare found a prisoner
in the State penitentiary whose
back was literally covered with
scars made by a whip or a similar
instrument. In several places the
skin had been beaten from his
body, leaving abraded surfaces
that were raw and discharging.
The prison physician stated that
he had treated these wounds and
that they had improved since the
date Of the commitment to the
penitentiary, June 10, 1921. The
revolving condition Of this prison
er's body was caused by the unmer-
ciful whippings he had received
while serving sentence upon the
Sumter county chain gang.
After several preliminary inves-
legations the assistant secretary of
the Board of Public Welfare in
company with three members of
the Sumter county grand jury
visited the chain gang camps on
July 18th. At Foreman Jesse Hol-
lands camp ten prisoners were
found to have been whipped so Sc
verely that the wounds still show
ed upon their bodies. The condi-
ton Of one of these men was es-
pecially pitiable; upon his back
were five or six unusually promi-
nent scars, indicating that the lac
erations causing them had been
both large and deep. The foreman
admitted having beaten all Of these
prisoners
The men at Foreman John Hol-
lands camp We're also examined by
the assistant secretary Of the Board
of Public Welfare. Three of them
were found to have scars upon
their bodies. Approximately fifty
men were at the two camps, about
thirty-five Of them were examined.
Following these discoveries the
assistant secretary Of the Board OF
i Public Welfare together with the
foreman of the grand jury appear
ed before the Sumter Board of
County Commissioners and asked
that steps be taken at once to
prevent further brutality. The
commissioners ordered that no
more whipping Of prisoners be
done except in the presence and at
the instigation of the county engi-
! neer. Assurances were also CIV
en- the Board of Public Welfare
that no further inhuman treat
ment Of prisoners would be toler-
ated.
On October 7th, however, the as
sistant secretary Of the Board of
Public Welfare visited the cage
at Foreman John Hollands camp
; and found there a prisoner who
had been beaten so cruelty that
he had since been unable to work
and was receiving medical atten-
ton. On his body were two large
unhealed scars. The whipping had
been given by Foreman Holland in
the presence Of County Engineer
Jeffords, because the prisoner had
! not taken a bath at the time he
was instructed to do so.
The foreman Of the grand jury
and the chairman Of the board
Of county commissioners then visit
ed the camp and examined the
body Of the prisoner. The fore
man promised to bring the mat
ter to the attention Of the grand
jury and the chairman stated that
the board Of county commissioners
would take proper action in the
near future.
(Signed) H C. Bearley,
Assistant Secretary
The letter transmitting the re-
port to Gov. Cooper follows:
Gov r. a. Cooper, State House,
Columbia, South Carolina:
Dear Gov. Cooper: Enclosed you
will find report of Mr.. H. c..
Brearley. our assistant secretary,
concerning his find at the Sumter
chain gang camps Mr. Bearley's
report shows a deplora bic state of
affairs existing there Such unner-
ciful flogging as is recorded in this
report is not only against the Gus
toms Of civilized life, but is against
the law of South Carolina. 1t i'll be-
comes those that are set to uphold
the law 70 violate it in SO fragrant
a manner. l am sure that the
citizens Of Sumter county, who
have all powers in these affairs,
do not know the extent Of brutality
that has gone on in their county
on these chain gangs. Some
measure should be taken to stay
cruel treatment given convict. on
our county road forces. Already
this year our state has received un-
pleasant notoriety from the high
handed beastliness that brought a
young white man to his death on
a chain gang. II the legislature
of South Carolina had desired to
have whipping practiced as a pun
ishment it would have set up the
public whipping post and not left
it to any person that happens to
be guard or foreman at chain
gang camp.