Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-09
MUT|NY PLOT
REPORT IS
PROBEO
Pastors Demand Sweeping Re-
forms in Prison Camps-In-
vestigators Call Witnesses.

Thirteen convicts, selected because
Of their supposed knowledge of brutal
treatment of prisoners in Fulton
County camps, will appear before the
Grand Jury Tuesday on the resump-
tion OF the investigation into the
practice of logging and beating of the
men by the guards in charge.
They will be taken for the most part
from the MinerN-0akland and Bell
wood camps, which up to this tins
have come very little under the scru-
1ny Of the grand jurors since they
began their probe of penal methods.
Some of the prisoners are said to have
been fearfully beaten for trivial Of
lenses Others have been summoned
merely as having Witnessed instances
Of cruel and inluman treatment of
their fellows in stripec.
Mutiny Report Investigated.
A searching inquiry will be made to
ascertain the basis of the statement
by S. H. Donaldson, new Superintend-
ent of Public Works, who declared to
the Public Works Committee of the
County Commission that the convicts
We're on the verge of a 1utiny.
Conditions in Fulton County convict
camps were vigorously denounced
In Atlanta pulpits Sunday, and the
unmerciful f1ogging and torturing of
men on the chaingangs likened to the
horrors Of barbarous Russia, interest
in the agitation for reform centered
Monday morning in the probable ac-
uon Of the Grand Jury.
References to conditions in the
camps and vigorous approval of the
movement for reform, were made by
Dr.. A, r. Holderby, of the Moore Me-
mortal Church; Dr. c. B. Wilmer, of
St Luke's Church, and Philip Welt
ner, secretary of the Georgia Prison
Reform Association, who spoke at
the Ponce DeLeon Avenue Baptist
Church Sunday night.
Each of the speakers denounced
me lnhuman cruelties revealed by
me testimony of convicts and guards
Disgrace, Says DR.. Holderby.
The cruelty and barbarity prac-
tced upon these poor, unfortunate
men, said DIR. Holderby, are a
oAght and d disgrace to this or any
"ner country, savage or Christian.
Russia, with all of her barbar-
ISM, could be no worse. Were l a
convict | would rather take my
chances in Russia than in Fulton
county. For every lash laid upon
Inc bare backs of these conv:cts the
church Of God is responsible. These
men, as guilty as they may be, had
lar better go unpublished by the laws
VI the State than to be tortured and
"Ned as they are by a lot of drunk
sN and bloodthirsty guards
fhAp Weltner, who has been one
oI the leaders in the fight for prison
'elorm, declared in his address that
present conditions at the camps are
'aI worse than any mutiny that
might develop.
don't know whether there will
Oe mutiny among the convicts,
sad Mr. Weltner, land do not want
anyone to think that l believe there
- gong 10 be one, but l know that
me camps that are being investi-
saIeu by the Grand Jury have moth
'"S more than mutiny to fear, il
would be blessing. There are things
"'ppening every day that are worse
"Ah any mutiry could possibly be.
No Signs of Mutiny.
VISITED one camp this afternoon
1uu found no rumors of mutiny
HHohg the convicts."
.Mr Weltner declared that the rule
NE Prison Commission, that the
s1nsicts who obey the rules and make
80 records be allowed to wear
g g'tit clothing without the stripes
az De enforced hereafter in the
amps Of Fulton County. This law
s generally understood, hitherto
va Deen ignored and TRUSTEES and
f.ous convicts alike have been
'''1ed TO wear stripes.