Evening star., 1945-12-18
Virginia Prison Farm
Officials Cleared Of
Brutality Charges
Ey the Associated Press.

RICHMOND, Va, Dec. 18.-A
State Board of Corrections subcom-
mittee yesterday exonerated officials
Of the State Prison Farm of any
misfeasance in Office and reported
that an inquiry into recent COM
plants showed no instances of un-
just punishment or brutality.
The report by Albert v. Bryan OF
Alexandria and State Senator A. E
S. Stephens of Isle of Wight was
submitted to the full board at a
meeting here yesterday. The two
were appointed November IA as a
special committee to investigate
charges made by Howard Carwile,
Richmond attorney, on behalf of
certain inmates at the farm. Mr.
Carwile's complaints included allie
cations that the farm was improp-
erly operated, that inmates did not
receive proper medical attention,
that severe floggings had taken
place, that food was inferior and
that sex perversion was widely
practiced.
Board members accepted the re-
port, thanked the committeeman for
their work and forwarded the re-
port to Gov. Dardef1.
Hit Temporary Camps.
The Bryan-Stephens report, based
On an inquiry that included the
testimony of SIS witnesses, listed as
the most serious condition to be cor
rected the association of youthful
offenders with older prisoners,
which cannot be corrected immedi-
ately because of the present ar
rangement of dormitories at the
farm.
I'VE find temporary road camps
give rise to Objectionable although
unavoidable conditions and prac-
tices, such as the claiming of prison
ers at night to secure them, made
quate sanitary facilities and un-
progressive methods of punishment
which could be eliminated in sys-
tenn of permanent road camps" the
report added.
The subcommittee called the pres
ent Jail at the State farm an in
sanitary and undesirable place o1
punishment but stated that i'm
provements and additions to the
farm now under way would permit
abandonment of this unlighted, g.
foot cell within a few months.
Flogging Permitted by Law.
The 25-page report devoted con-
siderable attention to the practice
of dogging, which is a punishment
authorized by State law under GER
tain conditions. These conditions, II
was reported, were complied with ir
a f1ogging of September 20 in which
five men were lashed for insubordi.
nation. A doctor was in attendance
and each prisoner was examined be.
fore and after the lashes were ad.
ministered.
Reviewing the testimony of wit.
nesses and their complaints, thu
committee found no violations any.
where of proper penal practices. Il
pointed out that a form of punish.
ment known as hanging up" ane
"the rack" did not mean what tn,
words appare .tly imply; prisoner
are not suspended from the floor bu
stand in such way as to rest theil
weight on the floor.
Mr.. Bryan and Senator Stephen,
said the evidence offered as to se>
perversion sustains the view of pris.
on officials that perversion doe.
exist, "just as it exists in all in.
stitutions of this type" but they
reported that such practices "are
far from being widespread"
Food was found ample, whole.
some and clean"
After publication of the commit.
tees report and the action by the
Board Of Corrections, Mr.. Carwile
issued statement terming the re-
port a 'whitewash."
"Brutalities are not brutal; In
humanities are not inhuman," ne
said. 1T is all just that simple te
a committee adept in the art Of ex-
pedient whitewashing.
"The prison officials of Virginis
were apparently exonerated because
all of our charges were found te
be true. A strange, cock-eyed logic
but not unusual for self-investiga.
tors In Virginia.
Mr.. Carwile said he would ash
Governor -elect William Tuck for 8
rehearing on his charges
/ Congressional Cor Stolen