Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-04-18
Governor Presents Charges
Against J. V. Ferguson
and j. A. Bradsher.
MISMANAGEMENT OF
STATES BUSINESS
Neglect of Duty, Permitting Immoral.
iy Among COnyicts, Brutal Treat.
men Of Prisoners Among Accuse.
tions-(uIlen McVey Testiies.

Little Rock, April lin public
Rearing started Monday afternoon in
the. reception room of the governor
o1flce, Governor Hays made charges
OF mlsmanagement, incompetency. and
lnattentlon to duty against J. A. Brad
sher and J. V. Ferguson, penitentiary
commissioners. Mr.. Ferguson was
also charged with over-indulgence in
lntox eating liquors.
mur:ing to the charges and the
jurisdiction of the governor, Chas. A.
Wallas of Lonoke. counsel for the com
mlssloners, charged that Governor
Hays is actua.ed solely by political
reasons; that he had openly stated
that he would "get even with them
Tor supporting Dr.. C. H. Brough fo-
governor, if he had to pardon every
convict N the penitentiary."
The governor made no formal reply
10 the somewhat caus;ic arraignmeat,
but, upon the suggestion of Robert l.,
Rogers. attorney for the state, he d.
rected that the protest as presented
by the commissioners be MOI spread
upon the records. Mr.. Rogers said
that 1t was W. itten purely for ,publica-
ton anyway, land let them make the
most of it, The commiss 'oners also
demurred to the jurisdiction of the
governor, but Attorney Rogers con-
tended that under the law the COVER
nor is made sole judge of cause for
the removal of members of the COM
mission. .75.. s.. -. - ,5,..
Governors Charges.
The formal charges, delivered to the
commissioners at 1855 D. m. Monday,
are. in effect, as follows:
Failure to devote entire time and
attention to the discharge of their
duties.
W'lful neglect of duty in absenting
themselves from the state farm ut
Cummins.
Permitting, knowingly, immoral
conduct among the convicts by all
lowing negro women to stay on the
farm for days at a time and mingle
Brutal treatlpent of convicts by
whipping and other means of excess
sive pun 'shment.
Failure to furnish convicts with
soap and towels after the governor
had personally REQUESTED them to do
so in 1918; also forcing them to sleep
in the same clothing in which thew
had worked all day.
Gross acknowledgement of the insti-
tution's financial affairs, in that when
they assumed charge all it's debts
were paid. and there was credit of
$19,653.79 in the state treasury; the
debt. after cotton that will
bring about $150.000 has been sold is
approximately s150,000, with no fun Is
for running the next nine months, the
monthly cost being about 10000; this
does not include the cost Of the Tucker
farm in Jefferson county, $152,365.
State Treasurer McDaniels testified
that the present penitentiary balance
is $1.35.
May Bankrupt State.
From the way this institution has
accumulated q tremendous indebted
ness said the governor, (which has
increased from year to year, having
cash in the treasury at the time Of
your assuming charge, it is patent
that 1nefficiency and neglect of duty
are largely responsible for this con-
ditlon and if the conditions continue
much longer the penitentiary will of
Itself bankrupt the state government"
Governor Hays said that he would
be glad to make any statement per-
tanning to his knowledge of the peni-
tertiary affairs.
Among the first witnesses examin-
I'D were D. B. Niven, from whom
the Tucker farm was bought; Capt.
John T. Burkett, the third commits
sioner, who testified that he was Sec
rotary of the board and had charge
Of the walls; and Cullen McVey, re-
Gently pardoned by the governor from
serving term for murder, who testi-
lied to gambling and immortality per-
nitted at the farm, and the brutal
whipping of convicts. three of whom
lied, the whipping having been in Mr..
Bradsher's presence. The hearing
was not concluded Monday.