The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1906-01-24
A SHORT-LIVED SENSATION.
A Mountain Out Of a Mole Hill A
Mouse Out Of the Mountain.

| jackson, Jan. 19. Hon. w. G..
Wells, Jr., of the penitentiary in
vestigating committee today gave
out the following interview touch
ing a publication in the Evening
News:
/ was much amused at the inter-
esting story, garbled and magni-
fed out of practically nothing by
the versatile reporter for the
Evening News Of this city, con-
tanned il yesterdays issue, and of
the story in the Clarion Ledger
of this mornins, that / had spent
three hours in conference with
the Governor last night with ref
ference to this whipping. | think
that it is due to the Governor that
the truth be known and / will
lgive il.
had heard rumors of an alleg-
ed whipping by the governor,
land not for the purpose of Off
cially investigating the matter as
a member of the penitentiary in
vestigating committee, but out Of
curiosity ! went to Governor Var
daman and ascertained the facts
from him and others who were
present.
The truth is as follows: A me-
gro named PIaner, a strustyo
convict, was, in accordance with
custom, working at the mansion
taking care of the building and
grounds. He is great favorite
of the Governor and his family,
especially of the children.
About three months ago, con-
ltrary to Governor Vardaman's
instruction, Planer went out in
town at night and getting drunk,
was about to raise a rough house
at the home of a negro woman.
Policeman Pridgen of the city
police, however, gathered him in
and took him to jail and the Gov
ernor was notified. The Cover
nor went around and stated to Mr..
Pridgen that If the matter was
reported to the prison authorities
| that Planer would lose all of his
commuted time gained for his
lgood behavior, and that he, the
Governor, would pay the $40 re-
ward rather than have the negro
lose his good time' record.
On his return to the mansion,
Planer came in to black the Gov
1ernor's shoes and the Governor
upbraided him for getting drunk
land disobeying him, when the
lncgro made some insulting reply,
and the Gover1or kicked the ne
Igro, who was baisaced on his
lheels, and toppled him over, and
grabbed q small hearth broom and
Estruck him several times.
/ The negro was not hurt or
bruised in any manner, shape or
form.
He continued as servant at the
mansion for about three months
until a few days since, when he
had to have several teeth drawn,
land, an abscess forming, be was
confined to his bed for several
ldays, and not being able to give
Ihim proper attention the Govern
Tor sent him to the hospital at
| Oakley. He has now recovered
land is begging to be sent back to
the mansion as servant and proba-
bly, will be in a few days.
The effort to thus make a noun
Itain out OF mole hill and put me
!. lin the attitude of investigating or
prosecuting the Governor, or the
Investigating committee doing SO,
lis the veriest rot. There is moth
ling to it.
1t is well known to the people
lof Mississippi that Governor Var.
daman has been very active re-
Gently Ia an attempt to drive GER
Itain parties from the public teal
and to suppress all inhnmanity
and cruelty to the convicts, ane
This little fling at him is fair il
lustration Of the desperate strug
giessto which they have come ant
Iof their efforts to muddy the wa
i tiers ID order to hide their owl
. lsins.
nj. CALVIN WELLS. JR