The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-08-16
IA What one of ant Investigating
Committee Believes.

MESQUITE Aug o Editors HERALD: j
IL seems thai there are some people IN DaI-
las county who are not altogether satisfied
with the report the poor farm committee
made at the commissioners court. 1t did
not occur to the committee during its in
yestigaton or at the time 1t was making up
its report that the evidence as an entirety
should be transmitted to the court, as init
mated by some should have been done.
The committee was sent there to investi-
gate and report, in its own language rom
existing facts, the true status OF affairs.
think the court believed the men up,
pointed on that committee bad both sense
and honesty enough to 40 what was right.
But in order to satisfy the curious
and inuuisitive, 1, as one OF
the committee, take the liberty
to give all the testimony to the public.
hope the people will read the committees
report and this evidence, and II there Is
ANYTHING that savors of the dark-lantern or
a whitewashing business, let the person
who makes the discovery step forward and
show up. Here is the testimony, as written
down by myself at the poor farm ana
Hutchins. Every one who testified was
duly sworn according to law, except Lewis
Taylor.
EFF. GATES,
now a policeman OF Dallas. desposes and
saws: l was employed nine months as
guard on the poor farm in 70 and 80; had
charge of prisoners; worked nine to twelve
hours per dav; when prisoners would not
work instructions of superintendent were
to lock in jail and feed on bread
superintendent sometimes logged boot
blacks and other NEGROES when unruly;
prisoners were well fed; jail too small Tor
number of prisoners; paupers do not
work; guards had control OF prisoners
most of the time.
farmer residing near farm, says: MT.
Kinnin is the best farmer ever saw, and is
kind to prisoners himself hands on the
poor farm move slower than ordinarily;
they get up early, by sun-up; take out at
l1:30 q. m. and go back to the field about
Up. M; work about ten hours per DAY;
don't work at nights; don't know about
Watson's treatment CT prisoners.
q. T. FITZPATRICK.
Have lived at Hutchins four
wears; Wis it poor farm often, never
have seen prisoners abused; heard guards
say that they had to make prisoners work;
thew get out at sun-up. quit at shutdown,
woSking on an average about ten hours per
day; been some talk going on OF late about
treatment of prisoners prisoners generally
have on one chain. which weighs about
seven or eight pounds.
j. B. RUSSELL.
Worked as guard five months prior to
Nav LIST, 1888; was instructed to WORK prls-
,oners moderately; Kinnin told me to make
prisoners work if they did not work; pris-
oners were about equally divided rs to color,
but generally few more blacks than
whites; Kinnin feeds well; never took
prisoners to the field before day light; stay
ed in at noon in the spring about one hour:
took In before dark: some prisoners wore
from one 10 two chains, weighing, sup
pose, from seven to ten pound-; prisoners
were fed on meat. bread vegetables. etc,
and have coffee of mornings; think Kin
min is good man to run poor farm; don't
think the county could get better man;
prisoners are harder to manage than ordi-
nary work hands.
Have lived adjoining poor farm a long
time and have had good
chance to notice its management; have
seen no cruelty to prisoners; kinnin is a
positive kind OF a man, and wants his orders
obeyed; he has worked TOR me, and dld not
seem to be cruel to his hands; never saw a
prisoner struck; think Kinnin would make
prisoners obey him; l cut and threshed Mr.:
Kinnin's wheat this year and saw no cruel
treatment to prisoners; think there is some
prejudice with some against hlnnln some
want him out, but he is the best poor farm
superintendent we ever had is as good to
prisoners as former superintendent;
have heard much-ado made about
iKinnin's whipping Nosh Richardson;
Noah is not reliable; made bad threats
when under arrest; is darkey OF ordinary
intelligence; l had him arrested for dog
cling my hogs; / know DR.. Michener he
don't think here is much justice in the
south; MIchener employs negroes; Bled-
zoe thinks Kinnin makes good Door farm
manager, but don't like him because be
don't trade with him; don't know much
about how paupers are cared for on tie
farm.
D. r. PRESTON
was employed as guard two months year
ago, and two months again. beginning
January, 1888; prisoners were all very good
but one, Bill Davis; he would not work and
said thai lac would Kill the Afss
man that struck him. he was
put up and starved into work
most all prisoners wore chains, some more
than one; instructions were TO catch prison
--ers IL they run; chains are put on prisoners
10 keep them from running away; when a
prisoner was brought TO the farm who was
not used to werk he was told TO do what ne
could; some prisoners were whipped with
switches, and | struck b II Davis with O
stick; everything was carried or smoothly
on the farm when l was there; Kinnin was
kind in giving orders; he went around and
talked 10 prisoners; prisoners are better fed
than at the Dallas Jail; / think Mr.. Kinnin
a successful poor farm manager in every re-
speot; don't know anything about st. Cleir
W. O. BoBBIfT
Been In this neighborhood six months
and have been on the farm several timei
during that time; about month ago ur
Junel Guard Cummins was bringing prs
opers from the field and Noah Richardson
reported 70 Kinnin that guard bad drawn :
hoe on him end ktnnin bit Moan rev
times; Noah wanted TO be released on homo
and became very abusive to Cummins
have not heard Of ans talk about conduc
Of farm until st. Glars death; did no
know anything about ST. Clair; have beef
at farm, 80 has my sou; prisoners are verl
well fed; never saw kinnin OF his brotbe
John nistreat prisoners.
VI. l.. TULBER.
Live two and half miles from the iarn
guarded there two and bali days sns
worked four days; prisOuers are no
worked too hard; b. Clair looked stout
Prisoners are led sell; when guarding,
was told 20 watch and see that prisoner
vorked. and DOT let any get away; CON
know about the 81. Clair case; Bill Dsvt
wore about twenty pounds Of chains mos
All the prisoners Worr chsins; DON'T kuOl
ANYTHING about DR.. Potter; they wOrl
from 10 70 II hours per day on toe fsrm
Kinnin Il good arfner adj 100 ns ~,
GER of prisoners; have heard some litt tsll
about he management Of the farm, bu
paid no attention % o.
J A. HfGBEE
worked on the farm rnref months ana seFen
teen days prior 20 ADril ls,Z; EHs iiistr ueie
70 treat prisoners kindlv 80 ~ a. me.
would bear il. bat when pleasant meaf
failed 70 force Them 20 OBJ,
orders 20 use clerci0n.
rlbered pretty well when ! va On u
arm: I don't consider ki1nin cruel =
rIrisoners; be fs the best farmer ever ~
don't think the county could DO bette
Fh.- ~ tsen rim. h fekes greet deal 0