Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1914-07-17
COUNTY SHOULD OWN PENAL FARM;
 OPINION OF JNRY
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 in our judgment, the evidence would justify it, and have dismissed such
 cases as in our judgment, should be
 dismissed.
 "There being no further business
 to come before us at this time we ask 10 be excused until such time as may suit the convenience of the court"
 Committees Report.
 The exhibit referred to by MT. Tru- lock comprise the reports of commit tees of the grand jury, appointed to examine into conditions at the con- vict camp, the justice of the peace dockets, the county jail and the poor farm. It is evident that the inquisi- ] tors went about these duties in busi- ness-like manner, exerting care and l devoting time to their investigations. V. o. Alexander, R. C.. Atkinson, H. H. Ferguson and w. E. Tankersley I comprised the committee that visited the convict camp and which has recommended that the county pro- cure tract of land for use as a | penal farm This report does not criticise the present system. The report is dated May 27, and reads:
 "We, the undersigned committee, appointed by you to visit and inspect the county farm, beg leave to report that on Tuesday May 26, 1914, we visited same near Tucker. As you know, the convicts or county prison CTS, are worked on farm belonging to Mir. D. B. Niven on what is known as the "half system" MT. aNiven furnishing the land, mules and farming implements, and the county | the guards and food for prisoners and guards. We talked with a num- | Der of the prisoners and they have no material complaint to make; say
 hey are we'll treated when they do their duty and no one is ever punish ed except when it is actually needed to enforce discipline, have plenty to eat but sometimes the food is not cooked as well as it might be cooked We found this to be correct, and the reason why because the regular cook. negro woman, left short time ago, and Mr. Atkins, the manager in charge had so far, been unable to get a cook, and was using one of the prisoners. the very best he could do at present.
 We found the stockade not as clean and sanitary as might be- but this also was accounted for from the fact that | heretofore the cook had always, as her duty, to clean up once a day Mr. Atkins informed us that we came at very unfortunate time, as he had the sad misfortune to lose by death child last week, which was buried Sat urday. and his wife, who assists in looking after sanitary matters around the house and stockade was away from home and would return in few days.
 We would recommend that the doors and windows be screened as mosquitoes are bad. This will not cost over $5 and would be of great comfort and also add to the health of the prisoners.
 'We found the crop looking very well. but in need of more hands. and we would suggest, if possible, for the county to employ day labor when needed to help out. We also recom- mend that the county try and secure a tract of land so that permanent houses and suitable and substantial stockades may be built. As it is now no substantial buildings can be erect ed as the probability would be that the prisoners would only be one year in any one place. We believe this would be great saving to the coun- ty an da much more humanitarian way in handling the prisoners, for we do not believe in leasing them out on contract to any one who might bid more for their services. So if it can be done, suggest that the county judge appoint committee of three to in- vestigate the matter fully and report at the next meeting of the .levyingI court in October"
 Justice of the Peace.
 J. H. Hudson, F. M. Roane, A. O. Edwards and P. P. Byrd, composing the committee that investigated the handling of cases by justices of the peace and which censures careless practice, reported to the grand jury as follows:
 'We, your committee, appointed to examine the justice of the peace dockets of the various townships, beg leave to report that we carefully checked the dockets as compared with the transcripts filed with the county clerk of 34 justices of the peace. Our work covered a period of one year from April 1, 1913, to March 31, 1914.
 "The dockets of William Richard son and R. S. Gibbons were not sent to the circuit clerk, consequently were not examined. We understand that Mir. Walter Embree has been recom-