Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-01-06
Sergeant Ackerley To Lose
Position With Road Force

Recommendation OF the otate
Board of Charities and Corrections
made to Governor Westmoreland
Davis, after an investigation of
charges of cruelty to men in the con-
vict camp in Orange County, that
Sergeant J. T. Ackerley, of Convict
Camp, No. s, be not continued in
charge of the prisoners in the con-
vict road force of Virginia, were
acted upon by the board of direc-
tors of the State Penitentiary yes
terday afternoon, who instructed
Superintendent Wood to carry out
the recommendations.
In letter dated December 8,
Governor DAVIS called the attention
of the State Board Vt Charities and
Corrections to constant complaints
he was receiving with reference to
the camp IN orange County, and
suggested an investigation at that
camp, and also at other camps
throughout the State.
On December 10 and ] l the board
met at the State prison and ex-
amined witnesses, many of whom
we've present at the camp when a
guard was killed A committee Of
the board also visited Orange and
made an investigation of the camp.
In brief the report of the State
Board of Charities and Corrections
made to the Governor and trans
niited to the board of directors of
the State prison, follows:
at appears from the evidence that
Sergeant Ackery, Of Convict Camp
Mo-. s, enforces rigid discipline, is
good provider and competent road
builder. That inspection of the camp
disclosed adequate bathing facill-
ties, sufficient supply of food and
suitable sanitary arrangements, but
the buildings are old, the beds. and
bedding dirty and insufficient; plat
form hunks are still in use and
white and colored prisoners eat and
sleep in the same rooms with very
little separation. sit is evident that
the camps lack adequate inspection
and supervision, says the report"
1.-The recommendations are that in
hvidual cots, adequate beds and bed
ding be provided; that l.. H. Jones,
assistant superintendent of the con-
Wet road force, be relieved of direct
duty of building and moving camps
in order to give all Of his time to
inspection and supervision, to the end
that the law as to sanitation, recrea-
ton and proper care and treatment
Of prisoners may be enforced.
Z. "That complete record be kept Of
punishment by stripes, offenses, etc.,
and that a regulation be adopted alb
solutely prohibiting the use of pro-
fame or obscene language when di-
rected at prisoners, or striking of
prisoners by officers or guards, eX-
cept in defense.
1.-The fourth recommendation says
that the evidence did not establish
any connection with the treat
ment of prisoners in the camp and
the killing of the guard; neverthe--
less, the evidence did substantiate
the fact that the discipline was harsh,
and that the general attitude toward
the prisoners was such as to engen-
der antagonism and rebellion.
1--WE are of the opinion that the
methods used by Sergeant J. T. Ack-
erlcy in handling prisoners are not
conductive to good discipline or the
of convicts, and whereas
it is the expressed ambition of the
board of directors of the State Peni-
Tertiary that our penal institutions
may become places of constructive
correction, wherein every prisoner
shall have a real opportunity to re-
deem himself, and believing that this
is not possible at Convict Camp No.
s, Orange Couny, under its present
management, we recommend that
Mr.. }. T. Ackerley, sergeant Con-
vict Camp No. s, Orange County, be
not continued in charge Of prisoners
in the convict road force Of Virginia"
The report was signed by DR.. S. G..
Hatcher, chairman; Mrs. j. P. Nc
Connell, Alice l.. Shulticc and j. r.
Martin, secretary.