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THAT DECRIS AFFAIR.
For several weeks the papers of the state, as well as the people
at large, have said a great deal about the thrashing of Mamie DeCris
by Warden Allagood at the prison farm near Milledgeville, and so
strong has been public opinion that the warden has tendered his res
ignation and bis successor will be named as soon as practicable. There
is perhaps no one who will exonerate Allagood for his cruel flogging
of the young woman who has figured in so many sensational affairs,
and who has no doubt sought additional sensationalism in making the
charges she has against the warden. Public clamor has even demand
ed the release of the young woman, but it is not probable that this
will be done. „
The whole affair is indeed unfortunate, and had it occurred at
another time would not have precipitated the excitement it has; right
upon the heel of the convict discussion which has been going on in
Georgia over the disposition of the felony convicts. Those who have
fought so vigorously the lease system have taken advantage of the
opportunity offered to heap the whole blame of the affair on the pres
ent lease system; while in fact Miss DeCris is not now, neither has
she ever been under the operation of this lease system. The system
is far from perfect, but under the existing law, as amended by the
recent legislature it stands for the very best that could have been
done at this time. In discussing the relation of the DeCris matter to
the convict lease system of Georgia, the Macon Telegraph has the
following very reasonble things to say:
"Impassioned attempts to precipitate action by crying 'lobby,'
and hysterical performances over the flogging of the white woman on
the prison farm (who was not a leased convict) will rather hinder than
help a wise and just amendment of a system which is far from being
perfect
The prison farm is nothing more or less than a penitentiary such
as is known to our Northern states, with the bare difference (and a
difference in its favor) that instead of making shoes on the inside of
loathsome walls, the inmates of the farm are made to do farm work
in the open air—farm work such as thousands of white women and
white children do in Georgia all the time. Females, white and black,
youths and the infirm are put on this farm. Mamie DeCris has no
connection with the lease system. And yet we have before us a very
intemperate article printed in one of our state exchanges charging
that the flogging of this convict was due to our lease system. It was
an incident, regrettable as it is, that might have occurred under any
penal system—in Sing Sing or any other penitentiary. The lease
system has no more to do with the DeCris incident-than with the dis-
cipline of the jailer in the Bibb county jail. The prison farm was
established as a house of correction and punishment for those who are
not physically able to labor with the able-bodied convicts. It was not
intended to be an asylum for the unfortunate, nor a place of ease; but
a work house for criminals not able to do harder labor than farm work.
In our judgment it has come to stay—for that class of criminals. It
is not involved in the controversy as to what to do with the more
numerous able-bodied criminals.”
The Search Light would not be misunderstood as to its position
on the DeCris affair. We do not believe that the action of Warden
Allagood was necessary or in the least justified. We do contend
however when the legislature passed a resolution to the effect that
the strap should not be applied to females at all, it was taking the
mat er a little further than is necessary and may lead to endless
trouble between prison wardens under whom are worked the forty or
more negro female convicts of the state. The average female negro
convict is more obstreperous, foul-mouthed and unmanageble than
the male convicts, and it is a serious question in our minds as to
whether they can be-controlled at all without resort to some such
heroic method as the strap.
It is an unusual thing for the white women of the South to ap
pear in prison garb, and the rarity of such instances would appear to
justify a considerable amount of forbearance. Miss DeCris was the
eqception, and she should not have been beaten as she is reported to
have been; at the same time the lease system of the state has abso
lutely nothing to d» with her. She has never been leased, and will
never be. If the Felder bill had passed, putting the felon convicts on
the roads, Miss DeCris would have remained just where she now is,
and it would have been just as possible for the warden in charge to
have given her the unjust flogging. Let’s not prejudice the public
mind in such manner, and let’s not make every man who favored the
amended lease law a particeps criminis to the DeCris affair.
Fall Planting.
THE SEARCH-LIGHT
8. KHMLL IMOMR,
XDITOB AND FBOrSINTOK.
Official Organ
Decatur County and Bainbridge
Entered in the Post Office, »t Bainbridge
as second-class matter.
Bainbbidob, Ga., August SI. 1008
The law abolishing the “three
days of grace” will become opera
tive October ist.
A recent bill before the legisla
ture provided for licensed barb' rs
jn the state. The bill just got iu
by a close shave.
There are rumors rife, of com
ing wedded life around Bainbridge;
we hope that such coming events
will cast no shadows before.
Silence has been suggested as a
sure eure for the stubbornness of
female criminals in Georgia. Won
der what sister Myrick will say to
this ?
Tobacco and sugar esne crops
are doing well in south Georgia,
and we hope that they will net
much to those honest sons of toil
who have tilled them throughout
the summer days.
Here is the way the game law
now stands. Season for hunting
doves from August 15th to March
15th. For killing wild-turkeys,
partridges and quail November ist
to March 15th. Deer or fawn
from September the ist to Janu
ary the ist. ’Possums from Octo
ber the ist to March ist.
m
Columbia doesn’t appear to be
one-half as anxious for that little
canal project as the “folks” at
Washington seem to have imag
ined. Her flat refusal to consid
er the terms of the canal treaty
adds another phase to the question
and incidentally defers the con
struction of the short cut between
the seas.
Anent the recent legislative in
vestigations into the charge of
criminal lobbying in Georgia, a
great deal has been said, but the
truth remains that the safety
of the state depends absolutely
upon the integrity of the men who
are chosen to represent the coun
ties. Honest men will not be un
duly influenced by even the “per
nicious lobbyist." but will perform
their solemn duty to constitu
ency under all conditions.
The intelligence of the sinking
condition of Chas. H. Smith as it
comes from his home in Carters-
ville, Ga., will bring sadness to the
hearts of thousands of Georgians
and others who have known him
for many years as .“Bill Arp” in
his contributions to the Atlanta
Constitution. Mr. Smith has been
known as the sage of Bartow for
many years, and his wiitings have
been admired by all alike who
have read after his philosophical
productions
Hon. Jno. Temple Graves, the
brilliant editor of the t tlanta
News, has been wasting breath re
ccntly in an effort to assist our
northern admirers in the solution
of the question of mob violence.
Mr. Graves made able speech, but
its only effects will be to provoke
tne unfavorable comment of those
whose itching ears hang ready to
seize upon every opportunity to de
ride the south and those who are
earnestly laboring to let the race
question alone.
A sensible young lady of Kan
sas made the following request of
a friend : “When I am dead do
not lay me down by the rippling
brookside, lest the babbling wa
ters wake me from my di earns;
nor in the beautiful cemeteries in
the valleys lest sightseers cooing
over epitaphs distract me, but let
me sleep under the counter of the
merchants and business men who
never advertise. There is the
place that passeth all understand
ing, and deep is the sleep in
which neither the buoyant foot
ball youth nor the weary shuffle of
old age will ever intrude.”
Macon is making great prepara
tions for her coming 8tale Fair, and
it is our purpose to attend, whether
Atlanta does or not. We would
(Uggest to our brethren of the Ma-
coa press that they send up a few
“Eilraota” to the oapitol in order
that Atlanta may learn that Geor
gia is going to have great a agricul
tural exhibit at Macon.
If you are going to do any,
should be done in the next three
weeks. No matter what you are
going to plant you need the kind
of seed that you are sure to get if
you get them here—fresh, virile
and true to name.
Turnips and
Ruta Bagas,
especially the vigorous, free-grow
ing-productive kinds—are a spe
cialty with us. Whether you sow
for cattle feeding or table use you
get the best seed for either here,
and it costs less.
R. L. HICKS,
Low Price Man
Y M< 1 PoorMan’s friend
100 boxee crepe paper just received
at Hicks’ great and good drug store.
Hicks’ buggy and harness are still
unsold and still going off 25c each
day.
MELTON & DUKES!
Edwin Clapp and
James A. Banister
SH SHOES
FOR MEN,
Are a little ahead of anything else in Bainbrid J
♦ ♦ ♦
The -Dorothy Dodd
is the best wearing woman’s shoe in the
world and always gives satisfaction.
4- 4* 4-
From Man to Chilt
we have the best fitting, neatest, easiest
wearing shoes iar-the least money.
■4 -4 -4
You are invited to call at
Melton & Dukes,
Bainbridge,
THOS. J. WILLIAMS,jj Manager.
BARGAINS
: FOR 30 DAY!
For the month of August I will sell my entire Stock of j
and Summer Goods at greatly reduced PIJ
I will leave on August the 10th for New York to purchase
Winter Goods and the goods now on hand must be sold to 1
for those coming.
SHOES!
My stock of Shoes is complete in every detail and you
them at your own price.
Ladies £2.50 Slippers at 1.90. I Ladies £1.50 Slip?
“ 2.00 " “ 1.50. I “ 1.00
CLOTHING BARGAINS!
Mens’ Suits worth £12.50 now
8.50 “ r .
• “ « 6.50 “ » _
• “ ** 5 00 “
Summer Dress Goods greatly reduced. Mens’,
Children Underwear at almost half price.
I will sell Groceries just as cheap as Dry Goods. 12 *1*
best coffee for £1.00; 20 lbs of good rice for £1.00. Tobacco,
cigars, etc., at rock bottom prices.
Just received car load of Buggies and have car of one V
horse Wagons coming which I shall sell as cheap as any one.
to see me when you want a wagon or buggy, and remember
have a few more of the McCormick Mowers and Rakes; if ) 01
one come to see me.
I shall CHARGE no more goods after August ist, but *
you so cheap for CASH that you won’t ask for credit.
Yours Respt.,
J". T.
ZEjcoti. City, GrO~