Henderson daily dispatch., 1935-03-15

ten days they were in the cell that
DR.. Mclaughlin did not even then en-
ter the cells or examine them, but
merely took their temperature thrO-
ugh the vars of the cells. DR.. Nc
Laughlin testified here last week that
he visited and examined the prison
ers every day.
That there was fire in the stove in
the cell house on only a few occas-
ions and that on the coolest night in
January there was no fire in the stove
whatever and that their feet frozr
that night.
That Barnes was beaten uncon-
Scious by Arthur Rape, camp steward
the night they were taken out of
solitary confinement, because Barnes
spit on the floor. Rape used a heavy
cane in beating him.
That they were kept in Captain Lit
ties camp for eight days after being
removed from solitary before being
taken back to Captain Browns camp
and that during those eight days. de
spite the condition of their feet, Dr.
Mclaughlin visited them and looked
at their feet only twice.
That they had inadequate covers
and blankets despite the coldness of
the weather.
1t was learned from a confidential
but reliable source here today that
both Chairman Capus M Waynick of
the State Highway Commission and
the special subcommittee of the Joint
committee on penal institutions al
ready had copy of the testimony by
a Negro trusty who was IN Camp Alb
when Shropshire and Barnes were in
solitary there, to the effect that they
were neglected and mistreated, that
fire was in the stove only infrequently
that their cries of agony and suffer-
ing could be heard in the rest of the
camp on the cold nights when their
feet are alleged to have frozen. 1t is
also understood that this same for
mer prisoner was in the camp when
l.. Began died there last August
It is understood that this former
prisoner also testified that Dr. Nc
Laughlin visited Shropshire and Bar
nes only once during the ten days
they were in solitary instead of every
day as he told the committee. He al
so is understood to have testified that
Captain Little asked him to testify
falsely as to the maintenance Of fires
in the dark cell house and to say
there was a fire there all of the time
when this was not true.
This trusty also testified to the fact
that Arthur Rape, the camp steward,
beat Barnes into unconsciousness the
night they were taken out of solitary
that they were allowed only two or
three thin blankets, despite the cold
ness of the weather and had only cold
sinking mattress each. He also said
it is understood that the bars of the
cell door had to be pried or bent apart
when the prison officers took them
down, to get their swollen wrists thrO-
ugh the bars, after having been handi-
cuffed in a standing position with
their hands outside the bars for eight
hours day for four days. This trusty
is also said to have told that Captain
Little beat the prisoners with his
walking stick and that the guards
frequently beat prisoners with black
jacks and pick handles.
Shropshire and Barnes were inter-
viewed yesterday afternoon by Sen
ator-Doctor Burrus, of Guilford, and
Representative Sink, of Davidson
county, members of the subcommittee
Of the joint penal institutions, and by
stenOgrapher who took down the
record of the questions and answers.