Shaw Cotton Mills. An accident case. Alfred Padgett a doffer says he is 13 years old now, but worked when he was 12, and in other mills for 2 years before that. "I got my hand caught in the cogs of the spinning machine last week, and lost part of my finger. It stopped the machine, and I tell you it hurt. It pains me a lot now. Don't you think they orter pat me wages while I'm out with this bad hand? No, I can't read or write, but I think my mammy knows how to spell my name." Not a member of the family could read or write. Location: Weldon, North Carolina.