The Sentinel=record., 1912-12-13
WOMAN WITNESS
 WANTED IN CASE
POOR FARM INVESTIGATION CON TINUEs IN COUNTY COURT,
 AND MAY END TODAY.
Lucy Durham, Former Inmate, is Ex- pected to Present Sensational Testimony as to Treatment
 on the Farm.

Lucy Durham a former inmate of the Garland County Poor Farm, and who is said to reside now about 50 miles west of the city, was sent for yesterday by County Judge Robert Mooney. before he concludes the hsa-- ing of the investigation of this insti- tuition now before him.
 Under a written statement signed by WIG. Hilliard, who made the charges against Superintendent Louis Bingham, this witness will testify to sensational conditions that existed while she was there He sets forth that he is advised she will testify to criminal relations with men of the institution, and that she ran away after receiving a whipping.
 The merits of this controversy are certainly wrapped in contradiction up to the point in the hearing. Some witnesses have testified to ill treat ment of inmates and of stock. and some have testified that the unfor- tunates there were not properly fed or cared for, and that the alleged ill treatment of Lizzie Mason, one in- mate contributed in a measure to her death.
 In offset to. this there is plenty of evidence that Mir Bingham has prop erly conducted the farm, that his work has been closely observed. that ne has cared for the inmates well, fed them well treated them humanely. and has kept and cared for the poor farm better than any of his predeces- sors with the probable exception of Henry Moury, who was superintendent under the regime of Judge c. Floyd
 Huff as county judge.
 The conflict of the sworn evidence In this hearing is almost appalling. Yesterday morning w. l.. Stalons. a young man, testified to the i'll treat ment or Lizzie Mason, and that she had been severely whipped but month before she died He testified she had been locked up in a dark cellar; and also testified that Wander Bustor, a little negro, had also been the victim of inhuman treatment.
 When the defekse started out there were called to the stand Charles Cos lee, Ed Gross, Tom Bledsoe, and Jim Housley, all members of the last grand jury, and they all testified to the conditions they found at the poor farm They talked individually to inmates, and found the premises clean, the inmates looking healthy and as if they had been well treat ed, and found them contented and well pleased with their lots John Hous- ley testified that on former occasions ne had visited the farm, observed the conditions, and they were good.
 Welden Rasberry a young man. fes- tified that he had worked on the farm Tor eleven months, and that the in mates were never mistreated. and that they were served meat three times a day, bread, potatoes, turnips, and cof- lee, with sugar and milk in 1t, and that they had the same table fare the hands and the Bingham family had
 Charles Gay, John Wyatt, S. H. Meeks, and Farmer Bingham, follow ed with evidence that the inmates were we'll treated all the time, that they were well and sufficiently fed. and that the management on a whole was all that it should have been. Meeks testified that he saw mule whipped with a chain, but that young mules had to be handled rough some times. Between these witnesses their information of conditions on the farm extended through the entire ca reer Of the present management, and they all testified as to being in posi- n hn fo treatment of inmates if such had ex- isted while they were there.
 County Judge Thurston P. Farmer, testified to having visited the farm frequently during his admjnistration of county judge, which extended back four years. He saw conditions there heard the complaints, investigated any complaints that were worthy and testified to the general condition of the farm. The inmates had to be dealt with in a stern manner to force them to take care of themselves, much less add to the institution. He believed that Mir Bingham was as lenient with the inmates as the condi- tions would permit, to keep the insti- tEtion orderly. The inmates were for the most part indolent and lazy, or afflicted, and had to be handled prop erly to make the institution worth anything to the county as haven for the unfortunates.
 Dr. John s. Wood. county physi- elan, testified to having visited the institution frequently, and whenever called there, and to having found there nothing that indicated that the pris- oners had been inhumanely treated. He had come in close contact with tine inmates through treating them. and there were generally we'll fed and