Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-04-19
CUllin lMcVay Recalled.

Chlel testimony ltrOduced durins
the morning session against the COM
missioners was that of Cullen ,McVas
a former p:isoner. who was recalled
by Governor Hays. McVay testified
that Reedy Vance a former PULASKI
county prisoner. was allowed to main
tain commissary on the state con
vicI farm. financed with his owr
money, and that he sold fermenteC
cider. The sale of cider, McVay said
extended over period of two years
and numerous prisoners became in
toxicated On it. The prisoners who
got drunk were punished by the of
ficials. but no effort was made to stoI
the sale. he said. McvaT also gave
further testimony relative 20 bruta
punishment Of prisoners.
McVay testified that one negro
whipped by a warden was given 8:
ticks with heavy strap, and that two
aours later the Negroes temperature
was 1913 Il degrees. Another con.
vic. Jim Dupree, McVay said. was
stuck 30 times by L. D. Bailey hea
warden at the convict farm. Sever
whipplngs were of daily occurrence
McVay testified. He further testi
fide that Dec Horton. present war
den at the new convict farm at Tuck.
err. was discharged while employed a
he Cummins farm because of brutal
ity.
McVay said that negro women o.
bad character were allowed to visi
the farm and stay with negro prison
ers for several days at time. The
condition had been worse during the
last Is MONTHS he said. He declared
taat beth Bradsher and Ferguson
knew Of the condition. He testified to
having seen Bradsher playing poke,
and OF having seen Ferguson under
the Influence of liquor. He said
Rradsher was playing poker with
Wallace Davis. attorney general Bal
ley, the he1d ward en: q. NJ McCarrol'
former commissary clerk. sand others
4 statement signed by McVay prior
to the visit of an investiga ing COM
mlttee was read. NcVay said he had
signed the statement, aud told attor-
news that they. too. would have signed
i if they lad known hat 20O-pound
man, with a six-foot strap, awaited
them if they refused
Investigations a Joke.
A. j. Cole, former sheriff of Ran
dolph county, ald former warden
at the state convict farm, testified
briefly as to the condition on the farm
during the four months he was war.
den at the Lake View camp.
Investigations and investigating
committees cause no apprehension a:
the state convict fam at Cummins
In advance OF visits by investgatin:
committees, testimony flattering to
the farm and penitentiary administra
ticn was arranged carefully ana pro
gram that assured a favorable CON
clusion by the investigators was
mapped ou'.
Prisoners as we'll as wa,dens and
guards made STATE ments whic:, taey
know are false but which are sworn
to before investigating committees,
according TO the testimony. The pris-
Cners make the false statements eth
CT through fear of punishment or ON
promises of favors, and guards and
wardens make false statements to
save their positions.
Ed McVay was the next witness. He
tcld of gambling with McCarroll
when the latter was commissary
clerk. He said that he won SIS from
McCarroll and later won $25 more.
For the first deb he was given a
check. but returned the check when
McCarroll stated he would give him
a check for $40. McCarroll then re-
fused to pay the gambling debt and
also declined to pay $40 he borrowed
from Mcvay.. Mcvay said he took the
matter up with Mr.. Bradsher and Mr..
Ferguson. and that his action in ap-
pealing for help in collecting money
angered Bradsher. Ferguson. he said,
told him he would make McCarroll
pay the money
Tells Of Beating.
lMcVay told of brutal whipping
given Harry Armstead, young white
prisoner, by Warden Martin. He said
that he called Martins hand" and
made him stop, and that Martin told
Ferguson ut his (MGVay's) action
Martin was not reprimanded for vio-
Ia ling the rules concerning brutal
whipping. be said.
MoVay testified tina. anegro named
Whitelow, sentenced from Mississippi
county, and another named George
Bussey, sentenced from Jefferson
county, died following severe whip
pings administered by Hamp Martin
IA warden recently removed from thu
/ ren;teAtiary on the orders of Cover
nor HAYS. The White low negro was
J whipped one morning and died in {
stockade that night, he said. TIL,
To-