Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Tbe Penitentiary Investi gating Committee HAS UNEARTHED MORE RASCALITY. Columbia, March 26.-The peni tentiary investigation developed j nat one fact of importance yesterday It was that Gol. Neal has been charging a rental of $10 per month for the stables at bis residence where, for his own convenience, he kept the three horses famished him by the directors, notwithstanding there was room for them ^at the penitentiary. This Hem alone for his six years of tenure would amount to $720. Tbe testimony on the whole was quite interesting, as it served to throw more light on the generally loose way in which things were run. THE LEXINGTON FARM. Mr. S. A. Miller, superintendent of j the Lexington farm for the past three years under direction of the captain of the penitentiary guard, was the first witness called. The work on that farm, he said, was done by six or eight mules, which, wheu not in use there, with the exception of one pair, are kept at the peniten tiary. The corn and gram not used for feeding and planting were hauled io the penitentiary, but he kept no account of the quantity carried there. He supposed such an account was kept by the captain of the guard. Wheo the management was turned over to Supt. Griffith there were 125 bushels of corn OB hand on the farm. Coro was gathered about the 1st of October and fed to the stock from theo until DOW. "How much of the 1,700 bushels of corn did you use on the farm ?" "We didn't make any 1,700 bushels of corn." "I see ia the penitentiary report that it is put down as 1,700 bushels/1 "That must be a mistake " The witness then asked Capt Westfield if he didn't have the slip of paper^on which he had made the estimate. Capt. Westfield said that be didn't have the paper referred to, but his estimate, as be remembered, was 1,400 bushels Mr. Miller then went on to say that be had hauled 36 big loads of corn in racks When the directors came to the farm te make their estimate and saw he pile Mr. Wharton said there were 1,300 bushels in that pile alone, but he did not think so and said so. About 200 bushels were used up to that time in feeding mules and hogs He had never said there were over 1,400 bushels all together made, and had told the directors that they were placing too big an estimate on it when they put it all at 1,700 bushels When asked about bow much it took to fatten a hog., the witness answered that he did not think it required over seven bushels. He had fattened iast winter 14 hogs weighing 2,200 pounds on that quan tity of corn. The pork so made was turned over to the penitentiary. About the cctton seed, be said he bad about 1,000 bushels on hand now and the others bad been used as fertilizers under oats last fall The quantity of oats and the disposition of them was satisfactorily explained. J0ONV CTS WELL TREATED "~~Mr. Nelson-"How re the con victs treated ?" "Humanely ; that's Col. Neal's orders" "How are they fed ?" "AH thev can eat." "What do they get ?" "Vegetables, sweet potatoes, bread and molasses, and three and one half j pounds cf meat to the man every week." The witness went on to say that aeon after he took charge bf the camp in Lexington, getting out rock, it was reported by a. "lady who knows every thing," to the superin tondent, that the convicts were being cruelly treated. He received a letter from Col. Neal in which be said : ' I know you will do your duty I only write to let you know that all the world is watching the convict camps, and, therefore, we will ail have to be careful that we treat the prisoners humanely, kindly but firmly." Mr. Hay-"How do you punish them ?" "Generally whip them with a strap." "flow many lashes you do give them ?" "We have no certain amount 1 think 25 is a pretty severe whipping. I never more than once or twice weut over it My way of managing the prisoners may be a little different. I get a fellow np for bad conduct and commence whipping bim, and when I hit bim four or five licks and he makes a good promise I teli him I wili try him If he's all right I say all right, go ahead. If you do ail I want you to do I ain't going to whip you The punishment on that farm is very light I worked eight plow hands last year and there wasn't a lick on them during that time. I had limmen digging 6 umps and they broke my shovel up badly. The captain of the guard told me to go to L rick & Lowrance and get the best new shovels I could. I did so I told them now the first one that will fully breaks one of those, puts a I shovel under a stump and prizes it ! and breaks it, is going to get a whip I ping, I bad a hard headed Charles ; ton nigger and he broke bis shovel, j Yoa could teli from the way the j shovel was split he did it on purpose, j and I whipped him 1 gave him 10 : lashes That is the only negro who has been whipped on that camp this ! year." j Mr. Stevenson-"You find you can manage them with a small amount of whipping if vou manage them right ?" "Yes, sir. After a nigger has become used to a man and knows what he will take and won't take, he will generally toe the mark without any whipping My niggers know all I ask is good behaviour and honest work Col. Neal has always told me everytime he would visit my camp : 'Don't you use the strap no more than you can help ' " INTERESTING REVELATION. Capt Westfield was recalled to the stand and asked by Mr. Steven son : Mr. Stevenson-"You stated, I believe, that the superintendent kept one horse of the penitentiary up at his house " "He kept three there." "Do you know whether or not the penitentiary bas been paying for the stable rent ?" "Yes, sir the penitentiary bas been paying for it." "How much a month have they been paying for it ?" "I think $10 a month." "That is on Col. Neal's premises ?" "Yes, sir " Mr. Hay-"For his own use ?" "For his own use and his family Two of those horses were used by the board of directors as carriage horses when they were here " Mr. Patton-"Who was that rent paid to ?" "The clerk would be the best one to testify to that, but, as a matter of fact, it was paid to Col Neal" "When did that custom start ?" "I could not be positive as to when that custom started I think the greater part of the time I have been there it has been the custom There was no charge mace for the horse feed up there. I keep a mern roandum for my own satisfaction just to be sure that the driver was not disposing of it." Mr. Stevenson-"Did the peniten tiary have stable room down at the penitentiary for those horses ?" "Yes, sir, they could have been kept at the penitentiary. Mr. Patton-"It was more a matter of convenience that they were put up at Col. Neal's ?" 4 4Yes, sir." BOOKKEEPER'S TESTIMONY Mr Barries was called to the wit ness stand aud asked : "To whom was the rent paid ?'7 "tf . A Neal " "How long has that been going on ?" "It fvasn't put on my payroll until March,' 1894. He said to me that he had spoken to several of the board and they had said they thought it nothing but right for him to get pay. He authorized me to draw a warrant for $120 for 1893, and ever since then it has been carried on the pay roll He had been paid this rent from the first or second month after he took charge " In answer to further questions Mr Hurries stated that no resolution was ever passed by the board authorizing this payment for rent. It appeared in the directors' report as "prison salaries." Col. Neal came to bim a few hours after a board meeting and said he had forgotten to cal! the matter to the board's attention, but had talked to the members afterwards and they thought it right he should get this back rent aud also $10 a month rent thereafter. He then authorized him to draw a warrant for the $120. He did so and made out an accoout of it which Col. Neal receipted. He did not know wheth er the account was ever shown to the board of directors. In answer to the question as to whose fault it was if it was not shown the board, he an swered that it was the fault of the superintendent. CHAIRMAN CUNNINGHAM. The chairman of tbs board of directors was asked about this matter. He said : "When those payrolls were presented by the clerk we presumed it only had reference to the guards. had oo idea such an item appeared on the payroll." .'Will it be contioued hereafter?" "I think not, sir." In answer to a question he said : "I remember no conversation with Col. Neal in reference to the matter at ali." .?Do you remember approving a bill for beck reot for 1893?" .*No, eir. We are famished with an itemized statement of these accounts and an abstract ia banded me as chairman. I look ever the abstraot and if anything attracts my attention I go over that item myself." Mr Patton-"Don't j ou think, ia view of these developments, it would be well for the board to go through every Uetu ?" "We have oever bad the time to- do so in the number of days allowed us by law for each meeting " Mr. Caociogham added that another reason why he did not go into the details of everything was because legislative committees would go to the penitentiary and stay a week at a time goiLg through the books and all accounts of the penitentiary, and that Sc misled them. Tb ^egisiative commit tee always reported everything as bsiog roo correctly, and as they bad more time for looking into tbe matter it looked as if they might have foood out these discrepancies, as they seemed to be a kiod of check upon the board "Do you remember if aDy of these legislative committees ever took aoy meals at the penitentiary while at work ?" **Yes, I tbiok they generally took their dinner there while io sessioo. Col. Neal extended this courtesy to them and they availed themselves of it as it was more convenient than coming up to the city." Mr. Livingston asked did he under stand that this 120 for back rent and 10 a month for each subsequent mouth was paid oat without the knowledge of the board. Mr. Cunningham answered that it was not koown to the board and they bad never heard of this rent matter. They were familiar with the prison salaries and did not look into every item and in that way it escaped their attention. MR. B RRISS' HORSE. Io regard to his horse beiog fed at the penitentiary free of cop.t, Mr Barries stated that when he went there in 1893 to become bookkeeper he was told that he would be furnished with a horse to attend to the penitentiary bueinesss in the city and on the farms He waited several weeks but was unable to get one of the penitentiary horses as Coi. Neal's family seemed to always have them in usc Finally he said to the superintendent that be would buy a horse to do this work with if the penitentiary would feed it. Col. Neal said, "Why, certainly," and he was authorized by him to get the borfe. He could not very well do the work without a horse. There had never been any objection raised by the board to him keeping the horse, ll was used in the discharge of penitentiary duties. AN ADJOURNMENT UNTIL JUNE. Mr. Stevenson announced that the committee had decided to suspend until June 13 at noon, as they did -not care to close the investigation when Coi. Neal could not be present, and as there wore some witnesses which they could not get at this time When the committee reassembled he boped Col. Neal would be well and able to be present. The oommittee then adjourn ed to meet at the abeve mentioned date. Eaten up by Savages. The Sun's Tacoma advices say that Yokohama papers just arrived cootein details of the murder of M G. Blanch ard, formerlv of Cincinnati, by blood thirsty Maoohooriao Chinese. Several years ago Blanchard joined a British ship at New York, bus deserted her last year at Caliao. Then be drifted up tho coast and finally sailed from Tacoma to Yokohama. From there be got to Vladivostock, and theo proceed ed to toe interior. He waa captured by one of tbe bands of Manchoorians that rove through north China and taken to the mountains. There wa9 three feet of snow oo the ground. The unfortunate American was tied hand ard foot and after being stripped was laid on the soow by a fire so that his head and shoulders were nearly roast ed, while the rest cf his body was freezing. In the morning he was flayed with bamboo canes uotil he was dead, and he was thea eaten by the cannibals. Roosevelt on the Beef. New York, March 25 -Governor Roosevelt testified before the beef enquiry board to-day that the beef served to the army in Coba was bad He says the caneed meat furnished the troops made the men ick and was wholly unfit for rations. Much of it was discarded as the men could oct eat ir. The governor declares that on the return trip from Cuba a targe supply of beef was thrown overboard He was told to keep it io the shade and he understood that it bad been treated for use in the tropics The London World says that during the winter months the little colony of sixty or seventy Eoglish people at Teheran organize concerts for one another's amusements : there is a dance now and then at the legation, and on Christmas night every Englishman in the plaoe is a guest of Sir Mortimer and Lady Durand. When the weather is cold, of course; there is skating. Skatiog is the greatest marvel of all to the Par 8ans. A few years ago the late Shah, Nasr-i-Din, saw twenty skaters twirling and cur Dg and spinning gracefully on the ice. He was amused ; he thought it wonderful. The next day be sent to the legation and borrwed a dczjo paira of skates. These be made his ministers put on and attempt to skate on the jake io the ^aiace grounds The poor ministers were terribly discoo 5tted. but it was twice a much a3 tli2ir heads were worth to refuse His majesty wa? more auju?cd than ever, and he nearly had an apoplectic fit from laughing. So many uses are being found for j thc cornstalk now that corn may yet j be cultivated more for tbe stalk than ! for ihe corn. The pith is in demand for makiog smokeless powder, and there is a growing demand for the stalk for the manufacture of paper. The White is king of Sewing Machines Fierce Fighting ia the Philippines. AMERICAN TROOPS AD VANCE SLOWLY. Every Victory Dearly Pur chased. Manila, March 25 -The great bat tle of the Philippines, for which Gen Otis has been preparing for several weeks past, is now in progress. lt began at daylight this morning, with the entire American line around Manila and 12,000 Fiiipinoe engaged The fighting is terrific on both sides and the death rate of the enemy is enormous The Americans are losing heavily, too, but are driving Aguinal do's army before them with compara : live ease, leaving the lines of battle strewn with dead and wounded. Gen. McAitbur's division, consist ! ing of the brigades of Gen. H. G j Otis, Gen. Hale and Hall, supple mented by Gen. Wheaton's brigade, advanced at daylight and cut the enemy's forces io two. They captur ed the towns of Pelo and Navalechs on the left and San Francisco del Monte and Mariguina, on the right, clearing the rebel trenches in front I of the line north from the river to Caloocan. They also secured posses sion of the railroad, practically cor nering the flower of Aguinaldo's army al Malabon and in the foot hills I at Singalon, twenty miles apart. ! \The movements of the American troops swept the ingurgents back to ward Malabon j Gen. Harrison Gray Otis' brigade is in front of la Lomax, where there is a stretch of a mile of rough, open conntry. The insurgents' trenches i in the edges of the wood are four feet deep and furnish good head cover. The American troops ad vanced on the double quick, yelling fiercely, and occasional dropping iu the grass and firiDg by volleys The Americau loss reported up to 5 55 o'clock this afternoon was sixteen killed and 140 wounded. The toes of the enemy was heavier than during any previous engagement. Waahingon. March 26 - The fol lowing dispatch has been received at the war department this evening : Manila, March 26. Adjutant General, Washington MacArthur's advance beyond Newcanayan. two miles beyond Polo, nine miles from Manila and 15 miles from Maj los ; railroad will be repair ed to advance points to morrow, and troops supplied by cara. MacArthur will press on to morrow, is now in open country Insurgents stoutly re6ieted behind succeeding lines of entrenchments from which troops continually drive them City perfect ly quiet and native inhabitants appear to be relieved ol anxiety and fear of insurgents Capt. Krayenbuh, com missary / lieutenant, Third artillery mortally wounded. Gen Otis dispatch, received at 10 o'clock to night, recording MacAr thur's advance to Newcanayan, mark ed a distinct and important step by the American troops in the opinion of Acting Secretary Meiklejohn and Adjutant Gen. Corbin Both ex pressed their satisfaction that it would be accomplished The former dispatches regarding this branch of the operations had not been so promising, inasmuch as they had stated that Gen M acArthur, although be had driven the enemy, could not gain a point north of Polo on account of tbe roughness of the country. With easy railroad com munication to the advanced point the difficulty in forwarding commissary supplies will be considerably lessen ed Every step forward its regarded as so mncb ground gained and an approach nearer to the insurgent headquarters at Malolos, now stated to be but 15 miles from the vanguard of the American army. The tenacity of the Filipinos in the past few days fighting had somewhat surprised the war officials here, who did not believe them capable of putting up and main taining the contest they have. Manila, March 27 -9:15 a. m,- j The Filipinos are burning their strong hoid at Malabon, and their forces are fleeing from the city in the direction of Malolos. Geo. MacArthur's division is put h ing toward Malabon. The insurgents will make their last | stand probably at Malolos. Manila, March 27, 7:40 a. m -The | Americans have advanced along tho j line of the Daguphin railroad, driving the Filipinos from Malinta and New caoayan, where there were 3,000 in-j habitants. Last night the brigades of G o H. G.Otis and Gen. Hale en camped in the enemy's trenches at Newcanayan and that cf Gen. Wheaton at Malinta. Gen. Wheaton's brigade formed a junction with tho remainder of Gen. 3acArthur's division at Malinta and the two, leaving Gen Wheaton there, marched along the railroad to Newcan ayan This place was fortified and for \ 1,200 yards frcm it there were trenches on each side o! thc track These were taken poesee?ion of by the American troops. The movement of thc Amer icana will be pushed in this direction. The Filipinos realizing the railroad ia the crucial line, have constructed row after row of trenches, running diagcoally on both sides of the track at a distance of a few huodreds yards apart. This work was designe! most intelligently and bas evidectiy been undet the directions cf experts. It represents an enormous amount of labor. Most of tbe rebel positionsjare protected by thick earthworks, a major ity of them topped with stones aod provided with loopholes. Some have sheet iron roofs. The day's work of the United States troops co-osisted of storming the soc cessive trenches. The enemy poured a strong fire from every trench until they were disturbed by a flanking vol ley, when they would disappear in tbe outwoods and jungle ooly to make a sued at the next line. The American loss was remarkably small, seven being reported killed and 25 wouoded. It is known that tbe Filipinos were so protected that they suffered little. No dead insurgents were found in the trenches. Forty prisoners were taken by tbe Americans and it is estimated that the rebel casualties numbered 20 The insurgents broke their guns when they were compelled to abandan them. Manila, March 27, 11.35 a. m. The Americans this morning found the important town of Polo and a number of small villages west of tbe railroad deserted and burning. They are advancing aloog the railroad. To-day the Washington volunteers, who held Pasig yesterday, had an engagement with a band of iosurgents who drove in their outposts. In the fight the Filipinos lost several. HARD FIGHT AT MAR - LAO. Manila, Marob 27, 3.25 p. m. Gen. MoArtbur's division spent the night and morning at Meyoanyan, the next station beyond Polo. After re connoitering bis front, he pushed along the railroad this afternoon toward Malo 03. If the statement of the 35 pris oners captured to-day is true, the main body of the enemy bas retreated to Malolos. But there are DO more trenches to encounter, although over 30 villages, inciading the larger set tlements of Buiacan and Gudgicto intervene. C every railroad station circulars have beer, posted, signed by the Fili pino comm nder-in-ebief, Antonio Luna ordering ail spies and bearers of news to the eoemy to be shot without trial and instructing that ali looters and rav ishers be treated in the eame manner. Farther, all towns abandoned by the Filipino troops are first to be burned. While deploring the existence of war, circular maintains the undeniable right of the Filipinos to defend their homes, lives and lands against "would be deminators who would kill them, their wives and children,v adding that this moiivc ought to impel all Filipinos tc sacrifice everything. The sbelHog of T caque was oot premeditated. The turret ship Monad cock, anchored off che town, and tbe insurgents, emboldened by the long siieoce of the warships on guard duty, opened fire on her with muskets, with tbe result that one man waa killed and three were wouaded. The Monadnock tben destroyed half the town, iooludiog the church. The Washington regiment bad an exciting experience and displayed much gallantry. The soldiers found a band of insurgents ooocealed io a stone house ever which the French flag was flying. A private volunteered to set fire to the building. He did so and the troops approached when it was burning and the Filipinos bad appar ently f ed. But they were greeted with a volley from the balcony of the house,, resulting in the building being cleared of the enemy in short order. ANOTHER STAND MADE. 7.40 p. m.-A thousand Filipinos, composing tba rear guard of the rebel army wbich is retreating to Malolos, Aguinaldo's headquarters, made a stand to day in some strong entrench ments about Marilao, across the Marilao river. In the engagement six Americans were killed, iociading three officers, and 40 were wounded. The Amedoan forces advanced from Meycaayao, the bridge commanded by Gen. Harrison Gray, Otis being on the left of the railroad and Gen. Hale's on the right. They eventually discerned white roofs and steeples among the green trees beyond the river, looking not unlike a Massachusetts village. The rebels bad an unfordable river in front of them and they poured in a fire so effective that it showed that they were veterans probably members of the native militia wbich the Spaniards organized. I ARTILLERISTS SETTLE THEM. The American artillery put a dramatic end to the battle. Approach ing, under cover of the bushes, lo about 60 yards from the trenches, the artillerymen emerged upon an open 6pace commanding tho town. Wheo tbe Americans appeared they gave great yell aod the Filipinos were panic strichen, about a hundred seeking safety in flight, whi'e a white 9:g was raised by thoso who were io tbe trenches, wbo also shouted "Amigos" (friends.) KANSANS SWIM A RIVER Col. Funston, with 20 men of the Kansas regiment, swam across the river to the left of tbs railroad bridge and captured 80 prisoners with all their aims. The Pennsylvanians captured 40 prisoners. By this time the right of the Filipinos was demoral;z3d. Thc Americans refrained from burn ing the town, and arc resting there to night. Geo. Oiis' brigade is crossing the framework bridge, Geo. Hale's brigade remaining on the sooth bank of tho river. ANOTHER PROCLAMATION. The United States Philippine com mission proposes to issue a proclamation immediately after tbs rebel government at Maloios is dispersed, believiog that the most effective moment to eecnre the allegiance of the natives will be after they have received an objeot lesson of the Americans' power. AGUINALDO WAS THERE. Washington, Mai ch 27.-Tbe fol lowing dispatob was received from Gen. Otis at 8 55 this morning : Manila, March 27.. 1899. Adjutant General, Washington : MaeArthur holds Maliloa ; severe fighting to day and our casualties about 40. The insurgents have de stroyed bridges, which impeded progress of train of artillery. Oar troops met the concentrated insurgent forces on northern Hoe, commanded by Aguinaldo in person, and drove them, with considerable slaughter. They left nearly 100 dead on the field, and many prisoners and small arms were captured. The oolomn will press on in the morn ing. Texarkana, Ark, March 21.-A negro named Duckett was taken from the sheriff of Little River county, Ark , by a mob to-day and hanged. He confessed the murder of James Stockton, a planter. London, March 21-The conven tion between Great Britain and France delimiting their respective frontiers in the valley of the Nile was signed to night by the Marquis of Salisbury and the French ambas sador, M. Pani Cambon, respectively. Houston, Tex., March 21.-The Post will to-morrow print an authori tative announcement that Congressman Jos. W. Bailey wiil be a candidate for United States senator to succeed Mr. Chilton, whose term expires March 4, 1901. Mr. Chilton wiil stand for reelection. Biimingham, Ala , March 21. Because of unprecedented demand for southern pig iron, furnace ope rators are preparing to increase the output of this district 50 per cent, within the next sixty days, by blow ing in seven furnaces now idle. This will make twenty-one furnaces ic operation, with a daily capacity of 3,600 tons. Pians are also maturing for the erection of six additional furnaces within the next twelve months, giving a total furnace capac ity to the district of 5,500 tons daily. Outside and home capitalists, who are large iron consumers, are behind th is project Chicago, March 27.-Fire destroyed the Armour Curled Hair and Felt works, Thirty-first Piaco and Benson street to night, caused a property loss cf neariy 400,000, injured IL employes, one fatally, and endangered toe lives of 400 others, who escaped through the blinding smoke. Edgeaeld. S. C , March 26 -Last night John Webb and Will Toney, two negro boys about 18 years oid, were killed aod two cf their companions Robert Seigler and Wiil Barrington, were seriously wounded by four white employes cf the Edgefieid cotton factory. Two of the murderers are mere boys, probably cot over 16 years old. About 13 snots were fired, the weapons belog 16 shooters. The cor oner's jury verdict is in accordance with above facts. Charleston, March 26.-At Darling ton last night Jim Johnson, colored, was beating his wife, and Chief of Police Dargan heard her cry "Help I"" "Murder!" and came to her ail. Johnson assaulted Dargan with a saw, cutting him severely, and then Dargan shot him dead. Watterson says of the results of the war : "We wanted but a shoe string and have been given a tan yard. A hundred years ago the Hawaiian islands were said to have bad 400,000 population ; now 30,000 is a high estimate. "Ben Har," Geo. Lew Wallace's masterpiece, was first dedicated "To the wife of my youth." When the book began to make its way Gen. Wallace was flooded with letters of condolence on the supposed death of his wife, the writers basing their sympathy on the dedication. Mrs Wallace her self had written the words, but for the next edition altered them to the follow ing, wbioh has ever since been used : "To the wife of my youth who still abides with me.'"' He Wasn't Proud. Tte London Telegraph says that while a certain bishop was waitiog for a train at Waterloo, a porter, who often sees him into a compartment and shuts thc door ; io order that his lordship may be alone, cams up to him io a t te of excitement and asked : "Your reverence, do you see that gentleman standing in the doorway over there ?" "Yes," answered the bishop. "Do yea know who it is ?" continued the porter. "No," said bis lordship. The railway man theo whispered : 'It's the 'Corles Cooler,' your reverence. Ob, he ain't proud ! He'll shake bands with your reverence if you like.' A Tho "Coffee Coolei" is a n ^fl colored prizefighter.