The Brinkley argus., 1914-02-13
MONROE COUNTY CONVICT flRM SENSATION
Humane Officer ". II. Rankin Visits Harris Convict Farm Near Clarendon and Makes Sensational
 Charges In His Report
BRINKLEY PRISONERS IN THE 'flIx UP"

Rankin states, however, that he was told by the prisoners and by one of the guards that the chain ing was discontinued about a week before he visited the place.
 That he found eight white men confined in a room about 12 feet square. That he found 10 negro prisioners in a room 12 by | IA feet.
 That the bed for the white prisoners consisted of some straw mattresses placed on blanks that had been nailed to the wall, four comforts and no pillows. That the bedding for the 10 negroe prisoners consisted of two lstraw mattresses and a few conn., forts. all of which were covered with vermin.
 That all clothing given the prisoners was charged to them i! and that they were forced to work out the amounts charged except for rubber boots furnish led them.
 That the food furnished the prisoners was insufficient; that they were furnished with neither knives nor forks nor table and were compelled to stand or sit on their hunks while eating. That prisoners were whipped on their naked flesh with a heavy piece of leather about four or fthree inches in width. That sanitary conditions were awful.
 GRAVE INJUsTICEs CHARGED
 MT Rankin further charges that he found men working on ! the farm who had been convict- ed in the court of the mayor of Brinkley and also that he found Ithat many of the negro convicts had been detained for a consid- erable period after their terms had expired, according to the records of the mayors court.
 Three white men are men tioned as being illegally detain- ed. One was Claude McKinnon, land Mir. Rankin said that he has in his possession a certified copy |of the docket of the court of Mayor Cameron of Brinkley, which shows that McKinnon was tried January 13 on a charge of lettering and discharged, despite which fact, he was found confin- led at the county farm. Another white man. says the report. was w. Van Beck, who was sentenced from the mayors court January 6. The report says that Van Beck was still on lthe farm February l and if the mayors docket was correct, he had then worked seven days Overtime.
 He also says that Frank Lynch. fined $10 and &.30 cost of mayors court December 29,
 was released from the farm Feb, h, and if the mayors docket if correct, he has worked IA days
 overtime.
 ||WOULD END LEASING CONNECTS H The report concludes as follows
 " In making this report. do no
 want to do Mir. Harris or anyon. Ielse an injustice. l have triet
 to report conditions just as the. exist, and certainly as they ex isted on the date of my investi gation.
 ''I realize it is a seriou' offense to make libelous or sland erous statements, and if hav' slandered anyone in this state ment. l alone am responsible an' l stand ready to receive the punish ment.
 III am advised that MT. Harri
 bears the reputation to his coun
 tv of being one among the bes
 citizens. and l no doubt willsb
 severely criticised for makin
 this report, but in justice to tn
 cause which l represented, an
 for the protection of these ur
 fortunate men. l feel that l hay