Rutherfordton, Dec. 26—For the first time in about 12 years Rutherford County has a chain gang. The county commissioners completed the details this week and the first day’s work by the convicts was done Wednesday.
The old jail will be headquarters overnight and Sundays. They will go out into the county to work on the roads in trucks. Thomas Blanton will be superintendent with Guy Edwards, guard. The prisoners will sleep in the cells. Heat and water have been installed in the sleeping quarters. As long as the convicts behave and work, they will be given tobacco and cigarettes and five days off each month. When they refuse to work or behave, they will lose their credits and tobacco. Only able-bodied men will be compelled to work, and they will be examined regularly by the county physician. Hot lunches will be sent to the men.
The county now has from 20 to 30 able-bodied young men in jail. With these, many roads should be built soon.
From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Monday, Dec. 28, 1925
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1925-12-28/ed-1/seq-1/
No comments:
Post a Comment