Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-06-10
E 1T 0 RIAL .
THE PRISON PROBE.
GOVERNOR HARDWICK is to be

applauded for ordering a real in
vestigation of conditions at the state
farm as they have been revealed by
released prisoners. But why the in
vestigation has been so long delayed
IS matter that may be pertinently
asked, inasmuch as a statement of
conditions, confirming in detail the
charges recently made, was given to
the Georgia senate last August a by
Dennis Fleming, r. o. Tarpley and
c. N. Bond, forming a minority of
the committee appointed to investi-
gate the prison when the conditions
were brought to the attention of the
general assembly.
These men report that when the
senate committee went to Milledge-
vile to make the investigation most
of them took a fleeing glance, with
out being able to see anything, then
went to a prepared barbecue, made
a frolic out of the trip, and rushed
back to Atlanta to write white
wash report. These three, however,
decided to pass up the barbecue and
do little investigating the purpose
for which they understood they were
sent to the prison farm. Their re-
port is published completely in the
senate journal of the date stated,
and bears the date of July 81, 1921.
Here are some extracts from the re-
port which, however, was given no
general publication:
your committee made a thorough
inspection of both male and female
wards, Doth white and colored, of the
state penitentiary. Your committee
found that the white ward was in
tested with vermin and shows no
signs of having been disinfected in
many months. We also find that the
Ewater and food which is supplied to
Ethe prisoners is not conducive to the
khealth and well being of the inmates
/ thereof. Upon interrogating War
! den j. E. Smith, who was with YOUR
committee IN person at the time the
white ward was inspected, he admit
ted voluntarily to your committee
I that the sanitary conditions existing
IN said ward were objectionable, a
condition which he was ashamed of.
and that the matter had simply slim
ped up on him. Upon further inter-
rogatlon of Warden Smith, at an
hour subsequent to the said investi-
cation, The said warden stated to
your committee that he had been war
den of the state penitentiary for a
period of IA years, and that the SAM
tary conditions which existed on the
day of inspection by your committee
were worse than they had been since
his entire service of ID years as
chief warden CT the state prison
farm
Upon inspection of what is called
the hospital ward your committee
found that prisoners who were said
to have contagious diseases were al
lowed 70 mix, mingle and live with
other sick prisoners who had no con-
tagious diseases.
Upon inspection of the provision
house your committee found the
same in unsanitary condition. which
is not conductive to the health of the
prisoners, for that large cans of
sauer kraut were stored therein and
the leakage from these cans has rem
dered the said provision house damn
{ and FOUL"
Regarding the negro female ward
the report continues:
Your committee found in this
ward small sweat boxes, without
Ventilation, hardly large enough to
hold human being of normal size
which are being used for the pun
lshment of prisoners. We also
found chains in said sweat boxes
which were said to be used for the
purposes of claiming prisoners when
incarcerated therein to prevent said