The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-01
CONNECTS CLAIM BAD TREATMENT
 AT RIVER FALLS
Public Protest Made To Montgomery Journal
 And Inquiry Asked

MONTGOMERY, Ala, July 31.-De- rlaring that some convicts have been whipped unmercifully, that improper food is being furnished and that medi- cal attention has been refused in some , instances, convicts confined at River Falls today made public protest to the Montgomery Journal and appealed for an investigation. The letter gave the names of convicts who are alleged ; to have received whippings and ended by appealing for fair treatment and justice.' The letter signed by 'Priso- , ners of River Falls Prison Camp follows:
 We, the prisoners at the River Falls Prison Camp, beg of you to make public the following conditions about conditions surrounding the prison.
 Tt is unfair to expect prisoners of . this camp, with hard work upon them to subsist on food or vegetables that are half cooked, along with other bad conditions.
 After working all day, some have , been kept in the hot house all night and then required to work again the next day. This hot house is built on the sunny side of a house. It is some thing like a coffin lined with tin to make it hold heat Men are taken from this hot house and whipped by depu- tise and yard sergeants without orders or the knowledge of any one besides themselves. After beating the priso- ners with stick and strap,, the depu- ties tell the prisoners that if they let 1t become known they will be, killed. There have been men recently whippd in Nthis manner. Their names are. A. Tucker, John Thomas. Adam Belby and Monroe Edwards. The last one was whipped July g and was given forty blows with strap and stick. While q watchman and sergeant held their guns on this man, deputy warden beat him. We have at various times appealed to the officials at the capitol to have this deputy removed.
 Refused Air, Is Claim
 After men have worked hard all day, and have returned sick to their cells at night and asked for medical aid, the answer is I haven't time When we go into the dining room, it IS no unusual thing to find coffee pitchers, knives. forks and spoons not washed and with rust and grease on. them.
 The convict department some time back made public the statement that as much was being fed the prisoners; as was being consumed by the United States soldiers It may be fact that they are doing this, but it is also a fact that we prisoners are not getting the benefit of it. We receive white meat for our breakfast seven days a week and it is of very poor quality.
 Last night, as we came in from work at ' o'clock, they took A man. IL. A. Let, by name, out and placed him Tn the hot house for not working. It IS known fact that they have put more on this old man than he can flo He IS about 60 years of age. Today at Il o'clock this man asked for wa ter' and in answer to this request deputy appeared and punched him three times in the stomach and told him that ne, the deputy, wanted it understood 7 that he .Eas running this camp, and continued to curse and abuse Let.
 Punishment Alleged
 We are at loss to understand why, when we take up matters like this with the warden, those matters, large and small, are referred to the deputy. We are punished and cursed Tor taking up these matters with the warden or state officials, and will be TOT this if they find out who did it.
 The latest order issued ,last night was to remove all boxes containing per sonal effects of prisoners. The state mad equipped every local camp with boxes Tn which to keep the effects of prisoners, As it is now, our boxes. wit1 wit1 our tooth brush, paste, postage and bloies' are under the floor and we can get to them only on Sunday.
 we prisoners will welcome an in- Eestlgatlon from any source, as we 1tei rec mat we are being mistreated by the officials of this camp. We realize we are felons, but we are also bTrnan beings and would appreciate beln fror. any one. All we ask and all we 1ent lk ialr tEaatnnant -