The Sentinel=record., 1912-12-12
THE COUNTY FARM
 IS UNDER PROBE
ALLEGED iNHUMAN AND CRUEL TREATMENT OF THE INMATES
 AND THE LIVE STOCK.
Whipping of Mentally Deficient Wo- men, and Brutal Treatment of Un-
 fortunate Men Among Allegations.

Alleging inhuman and cruel treat ment of the mentally and physically deficient inmates of the Garland County Poor Farm, and setting up a revealment of conditions that are almost too horrible to be given cred ence. an investigation of this institu- tion was begun yesterday before County Judge Robert Mooney when w. G. HilliaTd filed charges before this court against Superintendent Louis Bingham.
 An example of the evidence being brought before the court is shown in the testimony of Fred Buttram, who two years ago. ButtTam testified in substance as follows:
 He was an employee of the farm during the summer about two years ago He say the Bingham boys beat the mules and worked them out in the heat of the day when he did not be- lieve they should be worked. He knew Lizzie Mason, was an inmate, and who he saw whipped by Mrs. Bingham because the inmate had cursed her. He did not believe the woman knew enough to realize the meaning of the oaths, and he believed she had learned the paths from the Bingham boys, though he had never heard MT. Bingham swear. Mrs. Bingham whipped her with raw hide. The woman was about 20 years of age, but not full grown, and an imbecelle. He saw MT. Bingham whip Ella another inmate, who had dropped dish pan. It seemed to the witness that MT. Bingham whipped her for half an hour. Witness stood outside and listened to the woman's piteous crys for mercy. Then there was boy by the name of Wander or Buster, and witness saw Jim Bing- ham hit him with rock, which cut a deep gash in the boys arm. The boy isy an idiot Another inmate, George, was sick and was locked up in a room, and it was rainy day, so witness could not work, and he was around, and believed the sick man was denied water or food while he was sick, for that day. He say the hoys kicked George, another inmate. The inmates were served their meals one plate full and tn" was not re- plenished. The Bingham boys whip ped little negro boy about or ' years of age, with hickory whips, and whipped him pretty hard, the witness thought, for a child of his age. There were other witnesses who testified in substance to other simi- lar incidents. There were some wit nesses called by the prosecution, how ever. who denied having ever seen any brutalities on the place, and who swore that the farm was properly conducted and that the inmates were we'll cared for and well fed.
 Attorneys Scott Wood and Thurs ton P Farmer are representing Mir Bingham, and Judge M. s. Cobb is representing Mir Hilliard, whois mak- ing the charges against the manage ment of the institution.
 The petition filed by MT. Hilliard sets forth the alleged state of facts supported by the Buttram witness, and asks for the removal of Super intendent Bingham on the charge that he has permitted stock to be whipped and abused, that he has not given sufficient clothing and food to the inmates, that he has permitted them to be cruelty and inhumaniy treated, that MT Bingham is a man of violent temper, nasty in wrath. and cruel in punishment, and improp- CT to have the care of the sick. the infirm and the poor
 There were a number of witnesses examined yesterday, for the most part in substantiation of the charges made by MT. HilliaTd Two witnesses wanted to further corToborate the story, were not present and the court issued attachments for them. The defense did not go into it's rebuttal of the charges and the testimony in detail yesterday, but the other side of the story will be sold in county court beginning this afternoon at 1:30 o'clock.
 The incident is of particular inter est just at this time. because the grand jury had just followed the precedent of other grand juries and approved the management and con duct of the poor farm in its final re port submitted to the circuit court.