Ahoskie Editor Accuses Keeper of County Home, Gates Board of Commissioners of Barbarism, Aug. 29, 1919

From the editorial page of the Hertford County Herald, Ahoskie, N.C., Aug. 29, 1919, J. Roy Parker, Editor. The negro in question was considered irresponsible because he was mentally handicapped, unable to care for himself or work. 

For barbarism the keeper of the County Home of Gates County and the Board of County Commissioners of that same County hold records that would rival deeds performed by the most ruthless peoples of all ages. It has been recently brought to light that the keeper of the County Home cut off the legs of an irresponsible negro in that institution, performing the operation with a hack saw and butcher knife. 

The operation was made necessary by the negligence on the part of the keeper by failing to furnish covering enough to keep the negro from freezing in the winter of 1917. 

By his failure to furnish sufficient clothing the negro’s feet froze and withered. The County Commissioner then paid a bill presented by the keeper of the home, amounting to $5—a very cheap operation, taking into consideration that the negro lived and the operation was “successful.”

To read the original stories of this surgery, see: County Had Untrained Person Saw Off Legs of Man at Poor House To Save Money, Aug. 15, 1919 and To Save Money, Gates County Had Carpenter Saw Off Poor House Inmate's Legs, Aug. 8, 1919.