The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1913-04-30

FARM UNDER WILLIAMS Is RUN
BETTER THAN FOR YEARS PAST
The RESOLUTIONS Adopted By the Committee Declarations
Granting Pardons That Farm Not Conducted Properly
Proven to Be FalaciB.

Publicity given BY Gov. Earl
Brewer to reasons for his pardon
ing the two last of ten Lincoln
county convicts receiving executive
clemency at his hands and sent up
for retailing. the structures on
Lincoln county's treatment Of her
prisoners published in the jackson
News. and the statements of an ex-
convict and guard published in The
Leader, as we'll as reference to the
extreme statements made in the
petitions for pardon and published
at the capital, resulted last Satur-
day in full and complete investi-
cation of the treatment of prison
ers and alleged conditions at the
county bastile.
The meeting of citizens was held
at the Brookhaven Court House and
terminated in exoneration of the
Superintendent, G. G. Williams,
and relieved the County Board Of a
burden of blame brought upon it BY
accusations Of prisoners and "the
prayer" Of petitioners.
The Jackson paper had stated
that the petitions for pardons of
the last two parties granted execu-
tive clemency read like pages
torn from the dark ages, and was
emphasized in a woman's personal
letter alleging inhuman treatment.
All the above was proven. under
oath, to be untrue at the in
vestigation of Saturday, which
was presided over by District
Attorney Hugh v. Wall. assist
ed by County Prosecuting At
torney H. Mex. Fulgham. The
entire membership Of the Board Of
Supervisors. with the exception of
one member, sat as judges and q
special committee. composed of M.
Mccullough. ]. A. AlIgood and
Geo. F. Boren, were appointed to
act and pass on the proceedings
and evidence submitted. All of
the county convicts who were at
the county farm. as well as those
who we're out on the road work,
were brought in and over fifty wit
nesses were examined, including a
number Of private citizens several
of whom live adjacent to the coun-
ty farm property and are cognizant
tof the situation, being frequent
visitors to the farm. Ex-convicts
and ex-guards were put through a
| thorough cross examination as to
treatment at the farm. any person
present being asked to interrogate
them with regard to conditions
past or present: and all of the evil
dence showed that there was no
! foundation for the assertion OF NAL
treatment. The committee made a
signed report. as follows:
We, committee of citizens. ap-
pointed at the meeting held for q
public investigation of the condi-
tions at the Lincoln County Con-
vict Farm and the treatment Of
prisoners therein. beg to report tc
the public, that this public meet
/ ing passed unanimous resolutions
to the following effect:
lst. That we find from this ex,
animation. that the treatment Of
! the prisoners ID humane. and al
] good as can be reasonably expected
4 in a public prison.
End. That we express our conf
dence in the county farm manage
ment and commend the Farm
\ Superintendent for his faithful
services.
Bird. We further commend tht
i Board Of Supervisors for their par
/ in the Improvement of conditions
on the farm from year to year, anC
we believe the farm is in bettel
condition and the prisoners have
4 been better treated during the las
1.-TWO years than ever before.
4th. That we believe the Govern
| or has been misinformed recently
+ as to alleged bad or inhuman treat
ment Of convicts recently pardonet
lby him.
4 asl<s es<v1<x<< s,... ..~ra1t.tsn,.c ~r,n~.