The Miami times., 1952-08-30
With RUBY

iIlOAC0L OObGooG OSoNA 49, SAA(
wooded area, and not near any
other homes.
We had learned on our arrival
in Ocala that it would be impos-
sible to talk with Mr.. McCollum.
We asked why? The answer was
he is dead. He died the morning
before our arrival because his tired
heart had quit beating after the
hurried trip from the scene of the
doctor Staying, and it was reported
to us that for a number of years
that McCollum had suffered from
a heart ailment. His sudden pass
ing added tragedy to tragedy.
And while plans were being
made to funeralize the dead bus
inessman and insurance executive,
the two of us made plans to at
tend the rites once back in jack
sonville, which had been set for
the Greater Hopewell Baptist
Church at Ocala on last Monday,
August IL.
In our plans we sought ways
and means of getting to see and
talk with Mrs. Ruby at the Raj
ford State Prison, because the pri-
son site would be near the site of
our return route back to jack
sonville from the funeral.
NOW 81 TALKED WITH HER"
I called Warden L. F. Chapman
at Raiford. He was courteous as
is his reputation. He advised that
she is the property of Suwanee
County and we are just holding
her here for the authorities there,
but YOU wire Sheriff Howell at
Live Oak and get his telegram OF
authorization. Sheriff Howell con-
sented for our visit with her via
telegram, it arriving shortly be-
fore we set our for Mr.. McCol-
lum's funeral services. His tele-
gram giving us permission to go
to Raiford and talk with Mrs.
Ruby read:
"This your authority to see and
talk with Ruby McCollum." And
it was signed by the sheriff. AT
1890 am. o'clock the next day
Tuesday, August IL, we presented
our credentials at the main gate
at the state penitentiary. Once in
side, we were shut out from the
free world. We were told to leave
our camera at the gate by one of
the guards who took the camera
and escorted us to the warden's
neat office. We had talk with
him for about 20 minutes. The
writer being a North Carolinian
a conversation was struck up be-
tween us and Warden Chapman,
whom we learned in the course
of the conversation had many
mutual friends in the Tar II e e ]
State, including the warden and
director of prisons at Raleigh.
Following our talk with the
warden he took the two Of us to
a distance beyond the guard who
had taken our camera and called
to the guard to return our camera
as we made our way to see Mrs.
Ruby. Warden Chapman next
called Supervisor of the Women's
Division of the prison, R. II. Cox,
there SO years, and informed him
to have Mrs. Ruby brought to his
office for an interview, and to
permit us to make such photo
graphs of her which would not
conflict with the rules OF the in
sitution. Supervisor Cox, like Mr.
Chapman, was cooperative and
helpful.
The requests made by the war
den were very readily complied
with and after exchanging greet
ings we talked with Mrs. Ruby"
INTERVIEW STARTS
The first question was chow
do you feel" and she answered
mot so good" We next asked II
she needed medical attention
since being there and her answer
was eyes" She said she had re-
ceived daily checkups. When ask
ed who her doctor was she saio
his name is DR.. II. II. Adams, the
prison physician who lives In
Starke, six miles away from the
states pen. We were interested to
know whether she enjoyed her
meals and asked her sos and she
answered, "yes l enjoy them when
have an appetite" We asked