Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1899-09-17
WE ARE ALL HUMAN: WE'VE ALL GOT
 TO DIE"
MENACE TO COMMUNITIES
Pardon Us, Governor, From the County Farm and the
 .Jouastices"of the Peace

Friday morning Attorney H.
 King White appeared in an ex-parte
 proceeding in behalf of Josie Me.
 Naay and Willis Fracies, col- ored, before Circuit Judge 4. 5.
 Grace.
 Josie McNaHy will be remembered as sthe negress gwho cut Black Dora Sinms. Deputy Pr9secut- ing Attorney Harrison, who was at
 that time in charge of the ease
 when it was before the Grand Jury, informs us that she was tried fn the Circuit Court and was by 1ury con
 vioted The minimum fine ID such cases is $50. Under the law allow. ing the county judge the right to enter into contracts he sent Josie among other prisoners to Capt. Bob Adams farm It was eotended that she had overworked her tine. aud in lieu of the tantiation of the contention made and charged, she was given her liberty.
 The second ex-parte proceeding is that Of Wills Frazier, colored. It is charged that he has been unlaw- fully restrained of his liberty byI John NJ. Oracle to confinement and hard abor. The cause of such de tention iS upon warrants issued by aJoHstiee Of the Peace of Vaueine township, Jefferson county. The magistrates who fined him are as follows: A. J. Stewart, on July F, 1894, I. j. Moore. on July F, 1894; and F T Matthews, July 17. 1894. all oa the same disturbing the peace. The aggregate ot the fines amoQnted to $71, costs $8l.15. and imprisonment l80 days Mag istrate A. J. Stewart on August {, 1894, fined him $1O0 for escaping. There is no law, So we are reliably Informed, for such a fine for such an offence The cost in this unjust proceeding was SPA 30 and impris- onmeut 90 days, as alleged in the exparte proceeding before Judge Grace.
 Justice W. D. Vance on October 31. 1898. fined Frazer $50 and costs, $576 He was imprisoned for 270 days. His actual confinement is 1284 days and served 10I4 days at 75c for each day making $557. 50 worked out in said fine and costs of $484 10.
 There is due the prisoner, accord ing to General Whites contention, s273. 5O.
 Such ap injustice and the contiu- ued perpetration of it is a menace to any civilized community.
 h the Willis Frazer case upon order of Judge A. B. Grace he was liberated. H. King White, attorney for plaintiff, contemplates suing for the amount due Frazier, as overtime worked on John M. Oracle farm.
 Such treatment as administered 1 to convicts on our county convict 1 farm $ sickled OCT with hue of 1 regret. While it is true that we must L consider the law side we should not be uDmindful of the humanitarian part involved. Justice cries for ore thing vhile selhshness often seeks another Just because Q man is ignorant is no reason why he should be imposed upon. County convictions are becoming scandel- ous. the fuIfllment of penalties given prisoners by magistrates is lawful in the eyes of the keepers of the law, but the punishment and the manner in which 1t is carried out is the blame that causes an odium to arise that reaches not only the prisoners friends and relatives, but the friends of humanity as well.
 Thomas " Martin, Chancellor ia the Pufaski Courts, has made 3 rpl- ing that to some extent abolishes such continued barbarism, isasmueh as be allows the prisoner more for his daily labor.
 We do not want the blackest