The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1920-11-04

The negro convicts were made 10
believe that IL one Of them was found
TO be the criminal that the entire lot
would be lynched. the County Attor-
ney said.
Superintendent Greene told Judge
Bailey the prison warden had sent
word that II the investigation began
TO fasten the crime on one Of the ne
groes all should be returned 10 Frank
fort for fear Of wholesale lynching.
This was circulated among the prison
ers and destroyed any chance we had
to obtain evidence from any Of them.
For then the negroes all began to es-
tablish alibis for each other.
County Judge Bailey was called in
TO Mr. Forester's office and corrob-
Grated the County Attorney regard
ing MIR Greene statement.
II am positive We would have the
guilty man now II the guards had not
-old me the night the body was found
tina, every convic, was accounted
for" declared Sheriff II. II. Howard.
Although Marcum. in charge Of the
conyic,s. knew that the body had
been found. he did not come to the
camp that night but stayed at his
home examined the only negro
that night. who. so far as ] knew.
might have been the man but was
convinced he wasn't guilty after the
examination.
Guards Admit Mistake.
When ! returned TO the camp
Sunday several Of the guards told me
they were wrong, that there were
five negroes who might have commit
ted the crime. But IL one Of them
did il he had had plenty Of them to
cover up
IL was busy in court at the time Of
the crime" the Sheriff said. but !
turned that work over to deputies and
worked night and day on the case.
offered money out Of my own pocket
in am effort to get evidence against
one OF the negroes"
Senator Brock also joined in the
condemnation of the camp guards, all
Of whom. he said. should be discharg-
ed. Tie deplored the laxness Mt the
camp and pointed out that with 500
convicts going 10 work on the roads
next year il was necessary that the
State take heed Of the conditions in
the Harlan County camp.
Sure Convien Are Innocent.
Captain Mareum. IN charge Of the
prisoners. says be is convinced none
Of his quarries committed the crime.
II took that stand right at the start
and am sticking TO it," he said.
we are now preparing atfidavits
which will prove none Of our negroes
did H."
Seven prisoners have escaped since
the CAMP was established in May,
Marcum said. There is little incen-
tive for them To leave. he explained.
as most Of them are serving sentences
Of from one toe years, and ten
days are marked of their time for
each month they work roads.
No Rspor, OF Evidence.
The inadquacy Of the ordinary in
quisitorial machinery Of country to
cope with crime Of this character.
whore minute details may be impor-
tant. suggests itself to one after
study Of the steps taken in Harlan
County.
There Is no record Of the testimony
Of any witness, except brief minutes
kept by the grand jury The law
does not provide for stenographic re-
port Of the grand jury evidence. Al
the Coroner's inquest, which conduct
ed by a Magistrate. no record Was
kept. Nor was any record made Of
the story told by DIR. WINES. Thus.
the chances Of linking up the evidence
sitting II for contradictions and max
ing loose ends meet were reduced
materially.
m. VH..... -. $500 l.. tt