Evening star., 1923-09-30
PREFERS DEATH
T0C0NV|CT CAMP
Fugitive From Florida Prison
Gang, Ex-Navy Man, Is
Taken Here.

81 will never be taken back to q
Florida prison alive declared J. NJ.
Purvis of White Springs. Fla, when
taken into custody yesterday by the
local police for Florida authorities as q
fugitive from State Road Comp, No.22.
Purvls was arrested at the city post
once by Headquarters Detective Mullen
and was being held last night at the
tenth precinct awaiting instructions
from Florida.
Expressing the hope that the publicity
he might give would arouse public opin-
ion against the Florida prison camps.
Purvis gave lurid description of the
foggings he said he received at the
hands of camp guards.
In describing his incarceration in
State Road Camp, No. %, Purvis said
mo one can realize what young man
goes through at one of these camps. It
is one horror after another. We work
from cant see to can't see' That is
what we call from sun up to sun down.
The captain or head of these camps is
paid bonus by the state for running
his camp at the least expense and for
getting the most work done on the
roads. Beside the continuous labor we
were hogged constantly. I received
twenty-three lashings at one time and
know one boy who received fifty
seven consecutive whippings.
Leather Strap Used.
I'VE are whipped by large leather
strap. and they strike up anywhere.
the Whippings come for virtually no Of
Tense at all. Sometimes when one is
practically exhausted from work and
stops minute or so, one of the guards,
or brutes as we call them. steps up and
fails us. We get very little to eat and
lscanty clothing. The only way we have
to get clean clothes is to wash them
ourselves and that chance does not
come very often.
Z When an inspection of the camp is
made. everything is fine for the time
being. If we tell Of the horrors that
are ours. il is told to the captain first,
and the inspector usually forgets IT,
When he leaves, 1t goes harder with
any more. for the captain is afraid that
the knowledge may get out Instead OF
making man sorry for his offense he
has committed when he is sent there, IL
hardens him and often puts murder in
his heart.
1T is true that they did away with
violent punishment for awhile. A Law
forbtdding that went into effect last
April, although I understand it is again
in use. but the solitary confinement that
has been employed in its stead is just
as bad. In solitary confinement, a man
Is locked up to himself for a week or
so, and fed only hunk of corn bread
and two or three glasses of water a
day. When his confinement expires he
Is put out on the road again and ex-
pected in his weakened condition to
work just as hard as before If he fails
he is given another dose OF confinement
II have given up trying to make
good. Where there is one for you
there are thousands against you. ]
will never go back there except in
my coffin''
Purvis was twenty-one last July
According to his story he was con-
victed of grand larceny at the age
OF fifteen years and sentenced to five
years in one of the prison camps. He
was sent to State Road Camp No. %
which was located near Cottondale
Fla. He escaped three years later and
Joined the Navy at Hampton Roads
Va. in which service he wanted to
make good. He was later found by the
civil authorities and placed in the
naval brig" awaiting orders from
Florida. While there he wrote to
Secretary DENLY, asking that he be
allowed to serve out his enlistment
and make good. He was refused and
just prior to his transfer back to
Florida he again escaped. and was
listed as a deserter from the Navy.
He then went to New York and OBJ
tanned work there. Later he went
back to Norfolk, hoping to obtain his
discharge from the Navy, planning to
give himself UP when this was Sc
cured. He was unable to do this and
came to this city several days ago
hoping to see Secretary Denby in
person.