The log cabin Democrat., 1914-10-28
GIRL CONffSSfS 10
 FALSE STATEMENTS
GERTRUDE HOLLINSHEAD
WHOSE EVIDENCE CONVICTED EIGHT NEGROES, NOW SAYS
 SHE LIED.

A mia sensation was caused here
 this morning by the publication of a story in the Arkansas Gazette to the effect that Gertie Hollingshead. whose testimony convicted eight Conway ne groes of the crime of carnal abuse in June and July, 1913, last night told Judge Eugene Langford that her tes- timony was false Rumors had prev iously reached here from Hot Springs, where the girl was being kept in convent, to this effect, but they were not generally given credence.
 Much excitement was occasioned here by the discovery of the alleged crimes, and it was with difficulty that the officers prevented mob violence when the negroes were arrested. While there was some evidence to cor roborate her statements, the testi- mony of the girl alone secured the conviction, although each of the ne groes denied his guilt. Six of the ne groes were convicted at 8 special term of court held in June 1913, and two others in the regular July term fol- lowing The following were convict ed: Louvida Sims, two charges. 21 years in first and II years in second; Will Sims, 21 years; John Cochran, 20 years; Robert Smith, five years; Lewis Hatton, 10 years; Charley Mitchell, 21 years; Button Wiley, 10 years; Robert Threet, 21 years. Threet, the last of the negroes to be tried, was sentenced to death, but the supreme court reduced the sentence to j21 years. The length of time for all the negroes was 143 years.
 All the negroes are now serving their sentences and are on the state farm at Cummins Whether any steps will be taken to secure pardons for them is not known, but doubtless eff forts in this direction will be made.
 The Hollingshead girl, who was less than 15 years old when the crimes were alleged to have been committed, was taken from her parents shortly after the trial by County Judge Holt and sent to the Catholic convent at Hot Springs.
 The Gazette's account of the girls retraction follows:
 Gertrude Hollingshead, about 16 years old, on whose testimony nine negroes were convicted of serious charges and sent to the penitentiary for terms ranging from 19 to 35 years, now says that her testimony was false. She met Judge Eugene Lankford, before whom the case was tried at Conway year ago last Aug ust, in Little Rock last night by ap- pointment and said she wished to re- tract all the charges she had made against the negroes and asked that they be pardoned.
 "At the time the crimes for which the negroes were said to have been committed, the girl was under 16 years of age. She was an orphan and until short time before the ne- groes were arrested was living with a stepmother. It is said that she was driven from her home and took refuge with a negro woman named Louvida Sims, who was sentenced to 35 years for her part in the case.
 "Since the conviction of the negroes, Gertrude has been in a Catholic con- vent at Hot Springs. She gives as her reason for making the statement that the negroes are not guilty, that since receiving some religious train ing she has begun to realize the enor- mity of her falsehoods which caused the conviction of the negroes. She says she wants to right the wrong, as far as is possible, even though she is prosecuted for perjury"