Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-07-28
CONVICT BOSS
To Be TRIED
F0RMURDER
WILLIS PONDER, ASSISTANT
WARDEN, AND DR.. H. G. MIN
TER, CAMP PHYSICIAN, ARE
CHARGED WITH BAD CRIME.

G7AnGED WIFI pHD IntWEs
or account OF crueities perpetrated on
a negro convict. Fred Kent. at the con-
Wet camp at Jakin. Early county, on
May 18th. 1900. ard from the effects OF
which cruelties Kent died. the prison
commission Thursday issued an order
for the officials IT. charge Of the camp
to swear out a warrant for murder Tor
Willis Ponder deputy warden OF the
camp, and for accessory after the fact
for DR.. II. G. Minter, the camp physi-
clan. end requested Governor Gambler
20 have the solicitor general OF that cir
cult prosecute the two men. The order
also discharged Ponder and Minter from
the service Of the state.
The order and the manner in which
the convict was treated has caused
tremendous sensation at the capitol and
IN Early county where the cruelties were
inflicted and judging from the position
the prison commission has taken in the
matter the two men viii be prosecuted
20 the fullest extent OF the law. State
Warden Jake Moore has MED a report
with the commission telling the result OF
tie Investigation which ne was ordered
O. make and from his statement. which
Is as accurate As could be secured. owing
20 the length OF time that has elapsed. the
convict was horribly treated.
The attention Of the commission was
first called to the matter through an in
terview in The Journal with Simon O'Neil,
the Savannah policeman who was sent up
for Is years for manslaughter. and who
was pardoned a few weeks ago. O'Netl
told the story OF the treatment OF Kent
for the first time. and when the members
OF the commission saw the article they
Immediately began an investigation.
State Warden Moore in his report says
that the death OF Kent. was a diabolical
crime. committed IN day light with q
number OF witnesses present He says he
talked with several OF the convicts there
at the camp and they told him they dared
not tell for fear Of punishment them
selves.
Moore's Report.
The following IS Warden doore's report:
Once OF the Prison Commission OF Geor-
gia. Atlanta. Ca. July "a 1909.
TO the Prison Commission Of Georgia, At
lanta. Ca
Gentlemen-Tn compliance with your IN
structfons, I made a careful Investigation
OF the charges recently made. through the
press. By q pardoned convict, one Simon
J. O'Neil. recently discharged. against the
officials Of the prison at Jalrin. in Early
county, regarding the death OF Frank
Kent. a convict confined there. on or about
the 18th day OF May. 100. and beg leave
70 report the following facts.
]. n vfttetoe was IN charge OF the pris-
on as deputy warden: Willis Ponder was
his assistant deputy warden; and DR.. II.
@. AIinter was the local physician in
charge OF the medical department there
Frank Kent was negro convict. about
twenty years Of age. I am informed that
he was very obstinate. and insubordinate.
refusing TO do the labor required OF him.
in spite OF the usual punishment inflicted
upon him. On the 18th OF May. 100. War
den vittetOe was called TO Blakely on bus
iness. but before leaving. gave Ponder or
ders 20 put Kent In what they called "a
sweater" a mode Of punishment not au-
1horixed by the commission. and never be-
fore heard Of in the Georgia penitentiary.
viz Confning him near a hot stove,
completely covered with many blankets.
These orders were carried out by one
Perry Jackson. a coiored convict. then
doing yard work. assisted possibly by 9th
er c0nvicts. Ponder. IN the absence OF Wit
tetOe. being IN charge, consenting thereto.
giving directions and aiding therein. there
being present. besides Ponder and the con-
Wet Jackson. two white convicts, Simon J.
O'Neil and J. ]. StOvau.
In carrying out these orders Kent was
confined near hot stove and about fifteen
pair Of blankets put upon him. covering
his entire body and head. and kept in that
posftion for two or three hours. and when
It was discovered that he was well nigh
exhausted. he was released and DR.. Minter
sent for who pronounced his condition
serious Dr. Minter did all he could to
restore him. but he died some time dur
ing the night. In his weekly report DR..
NEinter reported this case as follows:
Admitted TO hospital May Is 1900.
Frank Kent. cerebral congestion. Died
May Il. 1900"
Believing the report TO be true. and that
Kent had died under treatment Of the
physician from natural causes. no inyes-
rigafi0n was made.
NItf~soe died shortly after this. and Pom
der { eceeded him. by order Of the COM
mission and is now deputy warden az that
prison and DR.. Minter Is still IN charge OF
the hospital. This. in my opinion. was a
diabolcaI crime. and the strange part OF
II Is that. committed in broad daylight.
with number OF witnesses present, more
than two years ago. no knowledge Of the
facts was ever communicated 10 me, or
any other Official until now, and that too,
despite the fact that the grand jury %
Early county have several times visited
and inspected. this prison. as have like
wise legislative committees from both the
house and senate. besides my own in
spection more than a score OF times.
Ponder says the reason he failed to re-
mort the facts was because Vittetoe said
he had reported the matter 10 me, which
was not true.
Convict stovau gave the same reason.
because VIttet0e threatened to punish
him IL he did. DR.. Minter who seems 20
have been coguizant Of the facts after the
punishment had been inflicted. and who
knew the cause Of hent's death. says he
dIG not report IL because VIttetOe promised
him that II he did not he would never
again use such mode OF punishment.
Respectfully submitted.
J. c.. MOORE. State Warden.
The warrants have already been sworn
out and plsSed in the hands OF Solicitor
General J. a LANG. Of Dawson. and the
solicitor has been personally requested by
the governor to prosecute In behalf OF the
state.
Judge Turner Talks.
Judge J. S. Turner. chairman OF the pris-
on commission, made a statement 10
Journal representative at the capitol this
morning in which he explains the position
Of the commission and says that the evil
dence seems to be strongly against the
two men He says:
Warden Moore's report speaks for it.
self. and needs no further explanation.