UNPUBLISHED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
No. 97-6103
DENNIE LEE RANKINS,
Plaintiff - Appellant,
versus
DAVID L. BEARD, JR.; VERNICE B. HOWARD; BRUCE
L. DAUGHTRY,
Defendants - Appellees.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern Dis-
trict of North Carolina, at Raleigh. Malcolm J. Howard, District
Judge. (CA-96-1043-5-H)
Submitted: May 29, 1997 Decided: June 10, 1997
Before NIEMEYER, LUTTIG, and MOTZ, Circuit Judges.
Dismissed by unpublished per curiam opinion.
Dennie Lee Rankins, Appellant Pro Se.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
See Local Rule 36(c).
PER CURIAM:
Appellant, a South Carolina inmate, appeals the district
court's order denying relief on his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (1994)
complaint under 28 U.S.C.A. § 1915A (West Supp. 1997). We have
reviewed the record and the district court's opinion and find that
this appeal is frivolous. Accordingly, we dismiss the appeal on the
reasoning of the district court. Rankins v. Beard, No. CA-96-1043-
5-H (E.D.N.C. Jan. 6, 1997). We grant Appellant's motion to amend
his informal brief, and deny his motion for a transcript at govern-
ment expense. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and
legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before
the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.
DISMISSED
2