The Bamberg herald. (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, July 20, 1911, Page 3, Image 3
\ . -
PENITENTIARY E
WRITES
Says It Must Stand By
Yir*n a i 1 iifli
wui ADiae VY in i
Claims Mill is ]
"After the most careful consideration
the board of directors unanimously
conclude that the (hosiery
mill) contract is binding upon it,
both in morals and in law, and that
it is its duty to stand by the contract
according to its terms. It will, however,
call the matter to the attention
of the general assembly when it next
convenes and request that body to instruct
the board with reference thereto,
which instructions will, of course,
be followed by the board."
In this language the directors of
the penitentiary, in a long letter
transmitted last Thursday night, out
line to Gov. Blease their conclusion
upon the demand made by him that
the hosiery mill at the State prison
be abolished forthwith. The letter
was drafted Thursday evening, at
the close of a meeting extending over
Wednesday and Thursday. The directors
exonerate Lessee Graham
from all blame, assume for themselves
full responsibility for conditions
existing in the hosiery mill,
maintain that these conditions are
"as sanitary, clean and healthful as
it is possible to make them;" declare
that convicts engaged in the hosiery
^ mill actually work under better
health conditions than the thousands
of free cotton mill operatives in the
State, assert teat tne contract was
entered into with the consent of the
legislature, and is in their opinion
? binding both in morals and law; and
the directors further say that Lessee
Graham pays a fair price for the lav
bor he receives and has lived up to
p his contract.
Letter to Governor.
The letter follows:
His Excellency, Cole L. Blease,
Governor?Sir: Your communication
of some weeks ago demanding
that this board abolish the hosiery
mill contract with Mr. J. M. ttraham,
because of the .alleged un'
satisfactory, unsanitary and unhealthful
condition in the hosiery
mill, was duly received. In compliance
with your request, this board
beld a meeting on the 21st of June to
fully consider the matter, but not
. being able to secure the advice of
the attorney general at that time it
was continued until the meeting of
? the board held on yesterday, July 12.
At this meeting the attorney general
and the assistant attorney general
were both present, as were all members
of the board. The matter was
considered in all of its phases and
the conclusion of the board was final
ly reacted.
The board would call it to your attention,
that on the 10th day of August,
1910, a formal contract was entered
into by the board with Mr. J.
M. Graham, to continue for a period
of five years, beginning February 1,
1911. Under this contract the board
let to Mr. Graham, the labor and services
of from 200 to 350 convicts to
^ be used by Mr. Graham in the manufacture
of hosiery and other knitted
goods of cotton and wool and in the
manufacture of the necessary cases
and bales for shipping the same.
Requirement of Contract.
I The contract specifies that these
convicts are to be under the guard
and control of the board of directors,
and the building <in which they are
employed, which belongs to, and is
t within the walls of the penitentiary,
. under the same contract is to be kept
in repairs by the board of directors.
In other word^ the contract is one
f whereby the board of directors agrees
to have convicts do certain work,
they being under the exclusive control
and supervision of the board of
t directors, and the place in which
they work being likewise under the
exclusive control and supervision of
/* the board of directors.
It is clear, therefore, that if any
unsanitary conditions exist in the
hosiery mill it is the fault of the
i board of directors, and not of Mr.
Graham, as the board of directors
assumes the duty of supervising the
mill and keeping it in repair, as
well as controlling the convicts that
work therein.
i It has never been claimed that Mr.
Graham has in anywise failed to
strictly comply with his part of the
agreement, and the communication
from your excellency indicates your
rmininn that we should rescind the
contract because of the unsatisfactory
and unsanitary condition supposed to
ir' ' V '
k exist in the mill, chargeable to this
board, and not to Mr. Graham.
Sanitary Conditions.
Strictly in reply to your suggestion,
we would respectfully call to your attention
that the conditions in and
"K
around the hosiery mill, as well as
M those in all other departments of the
penitentiary, are sanitary, clean and
as healthful as is possible to make
them. In so far as concerns the hosiery
mill, all portions of the building
f
SOARD
THE GOVERNOR
_____ /
Contract Witli Graham,
of the Legislature.
Sot Unsanitary.
] itself are kept perfectly clean, the
j toilet arrangements are sanitary and
the "convicts are given plenty of air
space. In fact in so far as concerns
the health of the laborers, the conditions
in the hosiery mill are as good,
if not better, than those of any knitting
mill or cotton mill in this State
or section. So true is this that the
board of health itself, in their recent
inspection, not only found no fault
with these conditions, but declared
that they were as good as we had in
1 f ill i ~ -
aicatea. 'l/ne nosiery uum is a un^n.
building constructed a few years ago.
It has large windows close together
on each side, kept open at top and
bottom for the passage of air through
the whole building. The woodwork
is kept well painted, the brick walls
are regularly whitewashed and the
floors and steps kept as clean as soap
and water and scrubbing brush can
keep them.
Tuberculosis Cases.
We believe it is a fact as said by a
member of the board that the building
could not be made more sanitary,
j if the present floors were taken up
I and new ones put in, if the walls
| were washed with carbolic acid or if
I the entire building made anew. If
| it is necessary that the hosiery mill
j be abolished because it is not sanii
tary, then every building within the
j walls should be torn down and the
! institution destroyed. Instead of
tuberculosis being on the increase,
the condition with reference to this
disease has steadily improved. This
is true as to the deaths from this
disease among those employed in
the hosiery mill as well as in other
departments within the'walls. From
1900 to 1905, inclusive, there were
j 58 deaths from tuberculosis among
the employees of the mill, while from
1906 to 1910, inclusive, after the
tuberculosis hospital had been established,
the fatality of this disease
was reduced to a total of 22. During
this period there have been from &00
to 350 convicts employed regularly
in the mill. It must be remembered
mnntr A# rfho 11 n f nrfll Tl Q tofl PflTI -
luat mauj vi tuv uu?.v4
tracted this disease before coming to
the penitentiary, and it is a common
occurrence for the county chaingang
to send in prisoners because they
have the ctfsease. A great many also
come from the county jails.
The tuberculosis hospital, which
was highly commended by the board
of health is as perfect as could be desired.
The convicts suffering from or
throa+onort with tuberculosis are im
mediately placed in this hospital and
given the best treatment that medical
science can devise. In their recent
inspection of the prisoners, the
board of health, in an examination
of 70 prisoners, found only one case,
in which a bacteriological examination
confirmed tubercule bacilli.
Health Conditions Better.
The great improvement in the
health of the inmates of this institute
has no doubt been largely due to the
new cell building and sleeping quarters
completed in 1902. The old
building was damp and unheated but
even tha board of health makes no
complaint as to the new one, excepting
to recommend certain changes,
especially in the toilet arrangement
which will be adopted. During the
last year from the prisoners employed
in the hosiery mill, which averaged
from 3 00 to 3 50, there were three
who died of tuberculosis. Of course,
it is impossible to say whether
these unfortunates contracted the
disease while working in the mill or
elsewhere, and it is equally unfair
to charge their deaths up against the
condition existing in the hosiery mill.
The only objections to the hosiery
mill offered by the board of health in
their recent inspection was that the
work of the employes is confining,
outdoor work being preferable. The
board did not find fault with the sanitary
or other arrangements in the
mill, but merely concluded that the
work required of the convicts in the
mill was too confining.
Work Hours for Convicts.
The convicts employed in the
hosiery mill work on an average of
10 hours a day, and while the work
of some of them requires a close at.
tention?attention to the knitting
machine?it is no more detrimental
to their health than is similar work
done by thousands of free white people
in the numerous cotton and knitting
mills throughout the State, and
in this section; in fact we are confident
that the sanitary condition and
the supervision of the health of the
convicts working in this mill is much
better than that enjoyed^by employes
in private industries of similar character,
and that the danger to their
health is correspondingly less.
We, therefore, respectfully submit
that in nowise can the hosiery mill
be considered a public nuisance and
A ROYAL TRAGEDY.
Closing Years of the Mad King of
Bavaria.
Twenty-five years ago, on June 13,
1886, King Louis II of Bavaria met
with his tragic end in Lake Starnberg.
With him died the eminent
alienist, Dr. von Gudden, and a whole
cycle of legends soon afterwards
came into existence among the superstitious
Bavarian peasantry regarding
the manner of their death.
During the months preceding his
end King Louis had revealed many
unmistakable signs of mental derangement;
he heard mysterious
voices in the air around him, and believed
that he was constantly pursued
by dangerous enemies. He withdrew
entirely from the world; his cabinet
ministers were nable to attain ac
cess to him, and his aomesuc servants
were forbidden to look at his
face, being compelled to approach
him with averted eyes. The old valet
Meir was obliged to don a mask to
cover his features whenever he came
near the king, and many other
strange things happened at the magnificent
palaces which Louis had built
for himself with reckless extravagance.
Wearing his crown and purple
royal mantle, with the sceptre of
sovereignty in his hand, King Louis
would wander through the rooms of
his castles at night, conversing with
imaginary guests, for the most part
with the ghosts of King Louis XIV of
France and Queen Marie Antoniette.
Frequently places were laid at his
table for their disembodied spirits.
The king's debts brought matters
to a crisis, and necessitated the intervention
of the .Bavarian government.
Host of the royal liabilities
had been contracted through the con
' struction and decoration of the famous
three castles, and several creditors
threatened to initiate proceedings
to recover their money. King
Louis requested the government to
introduce a bill in the Bavarian legislature
granting his property immunity
from seizure for debts, and when
his ministers refused this unreason'
1 - J J *? ? In'' +/ ? Knrrftw
aoie aernauu uc uicu iu uwiiv<>
money from all sorts and conditions
of people.
In April, 1886, the Bavarian chamber
refused to sanction the payment
of the king's debts from the public
treasury and for a few days later
the cabinet addressed a respectful petition
to Louis to curtail expenditure.
King Louis responded by dismissing
the whole cabinet and nominating a
new ministry, at the head of which
he placed his own barber.
This irresponsible act brought matters
to a head. A commission of
medical experts, under the presidency
of Dr. von Gudden, pronounced
the king to be incurably insane
and incapable of ruling, and a deputation
under Baron von Crailsheim
* ? ? ^ *4- Ka ^OTl
1X1 IIUWIBC (jail it UC tuuoiucivu U.WU
gerous to the health of its employes,
other prisoners confined in the peni
tentiary or the public at large.
The contract with Mr. Graham was
entered into by this board under the
express authorization of the general
assembly of this State, and in their
last report to the general assembly
the legislative committee on penal
and charitable institutions expressly
found that the price paid by Mr. Graham^
for the services of the convicts,
was a just and reasonable one, and
there is no reason for the State to
make complaint upon this ground.
The attorney general and assistant
attorney general were both with the
board yesterday, and advised us fully
as to the law'involved in this matter.
The board's conclusion has been
reached by applying the law so given
it to the facts as it knows them best.
Agreement Binding.
After the most careful consideration
the board of directors unanimously
conclude that the contract is
binding upon it, both in morals and
in law, and that it is its duty to
stand by the contract according to its
terms. It will, however, calf the
matter to the attention of the general
assembly when it next convenes
J o 4- KaiItt +a ir* of nmf f VlP
emu. i cqueoi mat. uuuj iv iuau uvu nxv
board with reference thereto, which
instructions will, of course, be followed
by the board.
Looks to Legislature.
In conclusion the board calls attention
to the fact that citizens are allowed
to visit this institution unannounced
and inspect all departments,
including the hosiery mill. The
board encourages such inspection and
fee1 s" confident that it has and will
convince all who make it that this
institution is sanitary, clean and
healthful in all of its departments,
that the prisoners are treated humanely
in every respect, and that in
every particular the institution is a
model one for the accomplishment
of the purpose of its creation and existence.
We are most respectfully,
A. K. SANDERS, Chairman;
W. H. GLENN,
J. B. DEAS,
JOHN G. MOBLEY,
JAarJUlt JM. SMITH,
Board of Directors of the South Carolina
Penitentiary.
/'
- - - ' V " - ' ' - / VV ' t
WOMAN SHORT IN ACCOUNTS.
Lunacy Warrant Sworn Out Following
Discovery of Discrepancy.
Cincinnati, July 13.?After an examination
into the mental condition
of Mrs. John D. Gallagher, conducted
by alienists of the probate court here
this afternoon, Andrew Gallagher,
her son, swore out a warrant before
Probate Judge Luerdos, charging his
mother with insanity. Action on the
warrgftit has been postponed until tomorrow.
The swearing of the insanity warrant
followed the discovery of a discrepancy
in the accounts of the home
for the incurables in this city, of
which Mrs. Gallagher, prominent society
and club woman, has been
treasurer for a number of years.
In the hearing before the alienists
this afternoon it was alleged that
Mrs. Gallagher's mental condition
had become acute and that her
family was afraid that she would attempt
to take her life.
WANTS COTTON TARE REDUCED.
Georgia Legislator Wonld Appeal to
President and Cabinet.
Atlanta, July 6.?A resolution
asking President Taft, his cabinet
and the United States department of
agriculture to take steps to reduce
the 6 per cent, "tare" on cotton baled
for the market, was introduced in
the Georgia house of representatives !
to-day by Representatives Kimbrough
and Johnson.'
The 6 per cent, "tare" represents
the weight of box, bagging canvas,
which is deducted from the gross
weight. It is pointed out that since
the 6 per cent, rule was adopte.d the
weight of American cotton bales has
increased and the weight of canvas,
etc., has decreased. As a result
planters declare, the South loses several
million dollars each year.
,
The Lawyer's Waterloo.
The railroads of the world, it is
estimated annually kill less than onefourth
as many people as the mosquitoes.
As there is no way of suing
the mosquito, there is a great deal
of profitable business lost to the lawyers.
was dispatched from Munich to the
castle where Louis was in residence
to inform his majesty of his dethronement.
The king had Baron
von Crailsheim and all t^ie members
of the deputation arrested.
Then Dr. von Gudden proceeded
to Neuschwanstein castle, where, to
all outward appearances, he succeedin
norauflrtine' tVlP killfir to Submit I
to his dethronement and to retire to
Berg castle,, near 'the shores of .Lake
Starnberg, where the final tragedy
was enacted. The king was escorted
to Berg castle by Dr. von Gudden,
another man, Dr. Mueller, and several
trained attendants, and he seemed
to acquiesce in the arrangement
that he should remain there for a
year under close supervision.
Dr. von Gudden, misled by appearances,
telegraphed to Munich that his ;
royal patient was "as obedient as a
child," and at dinner that evening
he promised to take the king for a
walk in the park. His assistant, Dr!
Mueller, warned him that it would
be dangerous to go alone with the
king and urged him to allow an attendant
to accompany them, or at
least to follow them at a safe distance
hnt. Dr. von Gudden disregard
ed the younger man's advice, and
paid the penalty with his life. It
was a Sunday evening, and a general
feeling of uneasiness prevailed among
those who had remained at the castle
when the king and Dr. von Gudden
failed to reappear after an hour had '
elapsed. Search parties were organized,
and during the night one of the
royal footmen found the king's hat,
coat and overcoat close to the bank
of the lake, and Dr. von Gudden's
umbrella dose by on the ground.
The bodies of the king and his physician
were found not far from the
shore of the lake, in shallow water,
both heads projecting above the surface.
Dr. von Gudden's face and
head bore the marks of heavy blows
which the king, a man of immensely
powerful buiM, had showered upon
him.
The position of the bodies'and the
articles of clothing found near them
made it possible to surmise, with
?1-1 - ? ^oilo rvf f ViD
pruuauie cicuuriii;^, mc uciano ui vu.^
tragedy. It is likely that the king intended
to escape from his prison?
for as such he regarded the castle in
which he was kept as a madman?
and that he divested himself of overcoat
and coat to swim across the
lake. Dr. von Gudden, it appears,
closed with him at the water's edge |
and tried to prevent his flight, but
the king killed him and died from
heart disease at the moment when
he was on the point of beginning his
swim for liberty. The post-mortem
examination revealed that neither
had died from drowning, but the
king from heart failure and Dr. von
Gudden from the injuries inflicted on
him in the struggle.?Berlin correspondence
London Evening Standard.
H We have been in business in BaAberg for a num- ?
II ber of years, and it is a matter of pride that the k
|| number of our satisfied customers has increased x
|| each year. Are you one of them? If not, it will x
|| not be amiss to see us when in need of first-class B
I HORSES AND MULES 19
1| We have stock on hand at all times, and make ax
|| specialty of fine driving horses. Our animals B -$im
|| please, for they are selected, with great care, be- S| ?||g
IS sides we know what animals will suit our people, a; Ml
jjjj We also carry a nice line of ' || JH
|| and in fact anything in the live stock and vehicle | >
11 line. Our vehicles are of the very best makes, and l
|| give satisfaction to the user. Come and see us. '
JONES BROS.,!
I! BAMBERG, SOUTH CAROLINA.
Look for this Sign, on Leading Garages ?j|9
#You cannot know what a good tire is ?*& , -J
until you try a Michelin properly inflated /:'.;
STOCK BY gg U
J. B. BRIUUJi, Bamberg, S.1.
A (Prickly Ash, Poke Root and Potassiom) ~ '
ij Prompt Powerful Permanent
B Its beneficial ef- Stubborn cases Good results are
9 H 9 fects are usually yield to P. P. P. lasting?it cures
4m 9 ? Jg felt very quickly when other medi- you to stay cured
iy p. p p. i i
Makes rich, red, pure blood?cleanses the entire'
system?clears the brain?strengthens digestion and nerves. H '
9 A positive specific for Blood Poison and skin diseases. H
Drives out Rheumatism and Stops the Pain; ends Malaria;
is a wonderful tonic and body-builder. Thousands endorse it. |
;:j|H
"MONEY IN THE BANK" |||
It's a sort of q passport to a man's reliability in the busi- J
ness world?it commands the respect and confidence of the bnsi*
ness men of any community. Start an account to-day/ Pat your
money in oar bank and check it oat when needed. Spend less
and save more?that's the secret of getting ahead of the world. '-M
We pay 4 per cent, interest, compounded quarterly, in our say- I .
ings department, and we are just as careful with the affairs of -K
the small as with the large depositor. a- > |
PEOPLES BANK Bamberg,^0^|J19
!JJ^^~J| CoaJ&Lumber
"LOMBARD" I prompt delivery *j9
msctonra^-h-i barae ro,ldebs sumy c0- i ll
VAKIADLL iKIMIUN IttU. Md Reliable L. B. FOWLER, Manager vM
Best material and workmanship, light v??||
Irunning, requires little power; simple. "none 33L Bamberg, S* C
'easy to handle. Are made in severa ^ J
sizes and are good, substantial money*
making machines down to the smallest nn A IT/1Tn _ _
size. Write for catalog showing En} * ?AJi UIS F. CAlvBOIali
Attorney-at-Law ' J|gg
L ?? Aucuara. ca. Office In Hoffman Building. :^||i
GENERAL PRACTICE. j
' ' - v ' 'I.1' =*
.
WSasgESM: