The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-07-22


He. Maurice Lucas. once a singer
of Lead. Kindly Light in the
churches Of Connersville. marches
with other men into the state farm
mess hall.
A matter Of some checks issued
against his bank account when nc
money was there changed the win
dows from the stained glass. with in
scriptions Of donors In Memory OF
My Mother" 10 bars.
Behind those bars the choir
singer saw. according TO his affi-
davit 10 The Times. an old mar
stagger in the line entering th5
farm S mess hall.
"Old Man Struck" He Says
"One OF the guards saw him. He
grabbed hold Of his arm, ierked him
out OF line. cursed him. III teach
you how TO march straight
The old man shuddered A fist
dashed out. The old man was spun
against brick wall
Il turned TO see what happened
and the guard told me to go on and
attend to my business. or the same
thing would happen TO me. relates
Lucas. the baritone, in his affidavit
10 The Times.
The old man went out to the penal
yard, without his dinner.
Tells of Violence
The choir singer forgot the glass
stained windows.
But in an affidavit to The Times
Lucas. the former choir leader, tell:
of chickering's and quarrels between
officials Of the farm, tells of the
farms violent life.
Sentenced 10 the state farm from
Richmond. Ind. on charge oil
issuing a check without funds. Lucas
learned before his release that the
very crime he was charged with
could be committed by the state OF
Indiana without fear of punishment
or retribution. he says.
"On one accession" he SAYS YER
bally. while l worked in the state
farm office as a clerk. the guard:
and farm employees had to wait fol
money to be placed in the bank sc
that their pay vouchers could be
caShed."
On Lucas entrance to the farm
around April 7, 1882. he was placed
in the kitchen.
Sanitation Called Bad
The sanitary conditions were not
good in the kitchen. Half of the
time men handling the food hao
dirty hands. Plenty of flies and
reaches in the kitchen. The milk
looked like blue water his affidavit
SAYS
L got sick from eating some oil
the meat - beef I got ptomainC
poisoning. l tried TO get a runner
to take me 10 the hospital. but the
guard - said, l haven't
got time
Finally they let me go TO the hos
pital. Both - and Gill
lespie Cthe FARMS doctor were gone
and so an inmate waited on me fol
three days. They said an outside
doctor came through. but he didnt
come up TO the sun parlor." Luca:
SAYS under oath.
Clubs and Oaths
''- carried a club during
the time he was in charge of thc
tr.e sr~lrsfI
ally. They all do that They CAM
talk 10 you without saying -,'
he charges in his sworn statement
One OF the farms rules is that
prisoners and officers shall no.
curse
Lucas declares in his affidavit thai
the spoiled beef" that Sickened hin
was reported 10 have been from g
COW that became sick and that wa:
ordered killed by a veterinarian.
After We got sick. they said Il
wasn't that COW and that it wa.
another COW that broke its leg, Luz
cas- charges in his affidavit.
Craig Is Defended
Clifford Craft. superintendent oil
the farm at the time Lucas was ar
inmate. Is defended by him against
brutality charges
L saw a man Knocked down in
the fiShroom one Sunday by a
guard and the guard had a black
jack in his hand Craig. the super
intendent. took il away from him,
swearS Lucas in his statement.
He SAYS. in his notarized state
ment. that Craig told the guard, i
don't want any more Of that going
on around here"
Placed in the Office of Harry H
WiSsel. acting superintendent of the
farm. as clerk. the choir singer
overheard quarrels between officials
OF the farm.
Heard Bitter Arguments
The Office Of Arment. captain in
charge OF discipline. was Just across
the hall from WiSSel'S Office. I have
heard curSing and loud noises in
his Office GARMENTS Office -. declares
Lucas in his affidavit.
Il have heard Arment. standing
AZ the window IN WiSSel's Office. re-
ceive an order TO 90 something from
Craig. and I have seen him tear the
paper up and throw il away. saw
ing. He'll. he doesn't know ANYTHING