Evening star., 1932-10-13
|PR|SON CAPTAIN
TELLS HIS STORY
Colrson Describes Events
| Leading Up to Death Of
| Boy in "Sweat Box"
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
JACKSONVILLE. Fla. October 13.-
George W. Courson, former captain. Of
the guards at the Sunbeam Prison
Camp, went on the witness stand to-
day to defend himself against charges
that he murdered Arthur Maillefert N
. prison sat box.
Courson, who is 81 years old, said
that for Is years he worked as rail-
road section foreman. He has been
connected with the State prison camps
for II years. He said he worked his
way up from a team foreman to
camp captain. He was acting captain
at Sunbeam Camp in the place OF J,
F. Baker when Maillefert died.
He Is the father of five children.
Tells Story of Death.
Asked to tell his story about the
death Of Maillefert. Courson began:
"On the morning CT June l Road
Foreman Denmark brought Malllefert
to camp. =
done served my sentence. l don't IN
tend to hit another lick.
Courson said he tried to reason with
the boy. but Maillefert continued TO
say I've served my time
II asked him II he was sick or any
thing and he said: Not thing
wrong"
Courson said he sent Maillefert back
to the road work, but about 4 O'Clock
that afternoon they brought him in
again
Il told him was going to have to
put him in the sweat boz. and to make
sure there wasn't anything wrong with
him, l called doctor and he told me
he had seldom seen better BODY on
a man"
Courson told Of having left the boy
in the box that night.
Next morning l went TO the box
and Jersey said to me: I'm going nome
Il said: No. you're not
He said: Well, I'm going TO hell
then"
Courson related how he rigged up a
barrel and put it on the boy. telling him
he could walk about the yard, Sit down
in the sweat box or amuse himself
II want you to be comfortable re
! said he told Maillefert.
Maillefert, still in the barrel, was put
back in the sweat box Thursday night:
The next afternoon he got out ana
ran into the woods.
turn to camp. Courson told OF taking
to Jersey" and asking him what IN
the world am going to do to youP
Prisoner Opened Box.
He said 'Yon can't do a thing but
klll me-" Courson added.
Il said I'm going to build some stocks
and put EN- on you and put yol oacK
| in the box
YES and I'll tear EN- off and get
away again he told me.
Il said No, you won't. III chain you
SO you can't reach them.
Courson told Of talking TO the BOY,
irving ito make him do better" while
| they were putting him in the bcx.
Schneider "a prisoner came y me
after supper and told me Jersey had
made a motion at him like ne was 60
| ing to kill himself.
Il called Lige Simmons (anotks~ con-
| vict), and told him to open the box
and he hollered 'Cep'n he's donc It. y
Asked to demonstrate with his attor-
ney how the body was hanging in the
box. Courson stepped down. picked up
! the chain and went through the mo-
! ttons. while Mrs. Maillefert wept.
Her SOIL. william. left the court room
when Courson took the stand.
The body was cut down. Couison said
and attempts were made TO revive the
! youth A doctor was summoned ano
/ pronounced the boy dead. he said.
On a direct question, Courson said
ne never heard Of Denmark whipping
the boy or giving him castor oil
Did you ever hit him?" asked G. A.
| Avriett, his attorney.
Yes, sir, one time
/ Courson said he had not authority
! to send Maillefert back to Raiford tthe
| State PRISON. when he found ne
couldn't manage him.