December 17, 1912

Governor George Washington Donaghey pardoned 360 prisoners, thus leading to the end of the convict-lease system, a system that he believed forced convicts to work under inhumane and unhealthy conditions. Donaghey reasoned that by pardoning all surplus convicts not needed to cultivate the state farm, there would be no convicts available for lease. Within two months of Donaghey’s action, the Arkansas legislature abolished convict leasing.