The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-29
CONVICT
 MUTDNY FULLY
tcsntinusd r.m Page one,

great service to the state. The manage. ment and control of the convicts rests with a particular executive department of the state, with certain limitations provided by statute to which general reference has been made and under dIligent inquiry into the treatment of convicts, to see whether they have had humane treatment. nutritious, clean wholesome food in sufficient quantity and variety and to hold answerable any person having charge of them for any failure so to provide them or fot any maltrearment that may be forbid. den by law. The same is true of man. agement and treatment of county con. victs and the inmates of the almshouse for whom you may be said to be the guardian for the time being.
 Tt is my understanding that it is the desire and request of the governor and of the convict department that you should make a very thorough and ex- haustive investigation not only of the offenses charged against the mutiny of ne convicts but also of all conditions under which they are managed and em- ployed at Aldrich for the information of the public. l am sure you will enter upon this investigation unprejudiced, with a sincere and serious purpose. to present the facts and without any de sire merely to create a sensation.
 Personally. it is my opinion that many people entertain a mistaken senti- ment in regard to the treatment of con- victs and ignore one of the purposes. of the law involved in their sentences, that of punishment cannot conceive of a great incentive 10 crime than that of spreading a bed of roses upon which the culprit may repose.
 Urges Middle Ground
 There is middle ground. however. which appears to me to be designated by the statute l have cited and which sane and well-balanced people should approve and which the convict and those who have charge of him should occupy. The convict should be pun iShed and submit to proper punishment ahd proper authorities and those who have charge of him should stay within the bounds of the law in his treatment and management.
 It is for you 10 say after your in vestiga tion whether either has violated the law in any respect. In regard to leasing convicts and the proper employ ment of convicts there is ground for reasonable difference and argument and your report in the matter I hope will shed some light on these questions You are to be accorded. as I under stand. assurance of the fullest cooper ation of the state authorities and of the employe company at Aldrich n making your investigation and to this end have been invited to visit the prison there and to inspect the working of the mine in which they are employed that you may have the fullest opportunity to make an intelligent and trustworthy report This meets with the approval of the court and you have permission if such is necessary to make such visit and personal inspection with the hope that it may result in clarifying the re spective obligations of state and con victs and in giving assurance to the citizens of the state that the rights oi the convicts will be protected.
 Names of Jurors
 The grand jury selected included R \. Borum. foreman, merchant, liar persville.; C. Ray, farmer; E. B. Lind sey Clerk, and $. R. Nall, farmer, al of Wilsonville J. l.. Wick, sawmil man Willie Howard. farmer, and J. E Goodwin, sawmill man. Sterrett; J. W Gardner farmer, and J. s. Harper, far mer. Columbiana J. T. McCoughey farmer; T. Wyatt. farmer; l.. N. Lath em, merchant: W. P. McConaughey salesman; R. s. Cunningham, farmer and j. A. Cunningham. farmer, of Mon tevallo T. J. Burks. farmer. and Win cent w. Johnson, miner, Underwood.
 History Of Mutiny.
 The mutiny of 63 prisoners occurred al the Aldrich mines on Saturday, Jan. uary 12. The convicts after going into the mines announced there would be mo coal mined today" and immediately took charge. Wardens were forbidden to enter the mine.
 During the day of terror the pris- onerS-miners used dynamite allotted them for blasting coal to blow up some of the machinery. It is estimated the damage to mining property as about $30.000.
 The men surrendered about II o'clock Saturday night after party of war. dens and mine officials went into the mine and virtually forced the recall. trant convicts to come out. Mining op. erations were suspended for several days until the mines could be repaired
 No punishment was inflicted on the prisoners,- pending the outcome of the grand jury investigation which was re- quested by. Governor w. W. Brandon and l.. A. Boyd, head of the state con. vict board.
 The outbreak at Aldrich was simila to the one at Banner mines Warden Evans was indicted by the Jefferson county grand jury for whipping con. vict following the Banner outbreak but has never been brought to trial.
 The question of convict leasing has been an issue for some time in Ala bama. especially before the last legis