Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-10-26
THE CONVICT FARM.
How Cabs Meyer Works Them
Near Pine Bluff.
Men and Women Bueked and
Bea. IN q Cotton Row.
Little Rock Democrat, s..

Meyers county farm last Saturday.
He has exhibited his SCARED back to
number Of friends and to-day q
Democrat reporter was called in TO
Justice Dunn's office to interview the
mistreated convict.
Walker is 4 colOred man about
| forty seven years Of age, though his
white locks indicate that he has lived
a fast life, causing him to appear
fully ten years older than he claims
to be.
Reporter-"When we're you sent to
the farm2'
"On Tuesday before the 18th Of
September | got drunk and went home
and had trouble with my wife. | guess
| was at fault, but that don't matter.
was arrested and carried before JUS
tioe Bush, charged with assaulting my
wife and with disturbing the peace.
III moved for change OF
venue, but the case was post>
poned until the next day and that
night met with Justice Bush and he
complained Of me for wanting change
of venue from his court. de finally
told me that he would dismiss the
case of assault If l would stsrd a tria
10 his court, and gave me to under
stand that my fine in the case Of dis
turbing the peace would be light. We
took a drink on it as friends, and
| Wednesday morning | submitted to
trial in bis court and was fined $25
and the cost. / wanted to make =
bond and appeal, but l was hurried
away TO jail By Deputy Constable Blu
ford, and could not get to my friends
10 make a bond. So on the next day,
which was the 18th Of September, they
hAndeufed me and sent me down 10
Gabe Meyer"
RepOrter-"How was you treated
there?'
| Walker. turning to Justice Dunn
"I'm willing to make these statements
under oath. Judge, and | know the
consequence Of swearing lie" Then
to the reporter: AS / was going to
tell you, / left here Thursday and ar
rived at the stoeksde at 8 o clock that
night. At4 o'clock all the prisoners
were called up and given breakfast,
which consisted OF piece Of fat pork,
q piece Of cor . bread and cup OF cold
water stained With coffee. Af.er
breakfast, as it got light enough for
Us to see. We we're ordered in line and
marched to the cotton held with eot-
ton sack swung on each ones shoulder.
When At the field. tE0 hands we're
placed to work on = cotton row, one on
each side. and all we're required to
keep up With the leaders
II knew nothing about piek-
ina cotton and could not
keep up although the nan with ne
helped ne al that he could. | did ny
best for the guards would give ne 3
kick nov and then 10 spur ne up. The
sun vas bot and soon after II o'clock 1
ave completely cut and told them so.
They sid vas sallen-thst al that
| needed vas twenty hcks on the bar,
back. and the first thing | knew one
Of the drivers, named Mr.. Charlie,
said bounce that old niger and put 1
hin down; III cure him. Then I
tEo Of the guards laid ne down on the
tro1nd With ny back 10. One Of then
sat o. NJ head Iud held NJ hands I'D
bskiDd NJ Es near ny head as be could 4
draw then, and the ether sat On NJ
feet Nv pants we're pulled down
and ~ slirt up 50 that the rope fell Z
spon ny naked back, and each /.
stroke let 4 marx that viii 70 Nth Z
ne 70 ~ grave. The rope had
Knot tied near the end, Ehiek fell !
heavily upon ny poor back. Wher
they let ne Up large drops Of sEea
rolled doSl ny face. l ueubled 10 I
every joint and could hardly see, / I
tTied 70 work again, but my back
seemed plralyIed aud ny fingers fun
bed over the cotton bolls, but |
could not pick ii cut Ny partner
helped ne manidlly and we man.
ed 10 Keep our ro5 up a short dis |
nee. The guards watched my move. |
mcq'3 and decided that they had lust
made me mad. They took me down
ag4in, but did not feel many ticks Of
the rope this time. The first lick
struck me on the small Of the back
and | felt a shock as though had
touched az electric battery. Soon
aiter this | knew no more.
and when | came to my senses
| was laying under q tree at the
stockade and they were giving
me a tablespoonful Of whisky and
quinine. Gabe Meyer came alon
and recognized me and said that he
would not have had me whipped SO
for 500, but | saw him soon after
ward laughing and talking with the
man who had whipped me. | laid in
the hospital till the next MONDAY.
Went to the field two more days, and
was then taken to sinhouse under
Captain Davis, where had no more
rouble."
Reporter-"Did you see anyone else
whipped while you was there?"
Walker-"0, yes; it was an every
day business in the field. Hardly an
hour passed without some one getting
whipped heavily, and every few min,
utes some one got a kick or a lick
over the head with Whip.
saw them lay a white woman
doNA aud beat her just like
they did me until she was nearly dead
They called her Annie. She was sent
ON Argenta. They pulled her clothes
up and whipped her. / saw them
wnip white boy until he could hardly
walk. He came thereffom Pine Bluff
and had fits. He was taken aWay
under a writ Of habeas corpus-"
Reporter-"Well, that is enough I
must 20.
! WALKER have not began to tell
you all that know and willing 10
swear to, and can prove by other men
/ WIN haua ct.fFewn1 -. I -