Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-27
DONALDSON
BROTHERS
CALLED
CARS
Locker Clubs Not Investigated
Because of Lack of Evidence
of Lawbreaking.

A bitter scoring of the ignor-
ance of the Fulton County Com
missioners concerning brutality
to prisoners III prison camps, and
a merciless faying of the Donald
son regime for frustrating all eff
forts to investigate conditions in
the camps, is contained in the
final presentments of the Fulton
County Grand Jury to Judge Ben
II. Hill Friday.
The report says no investigation OF
locker clubs was made by the Grand
Jury because the clubs are private So
cial institutions and the Grand Jury
has no Information tending to show
that liquor IS on public or private
sale in any OF the clubs
This report is 80 typewriter pages
in length and practically nine tenths
Of 1t il given over to the condemna-
ton of the Donaldsons, Thomas j. and
81 H., who are held up to scorn and
condemnation as GEARS who for the
last quarter OF CT ry have frus-
trated the ends of justice in Fulton
County convict camps"
Donaldsons Hid Conditions.
The report of the Grand Jury quotes
members of the Board of'0ounty Com
missioners as saying that the two
Donaldsons kept them in ignorance of
actual conditions at the prison camps
by frustrating their every effort to
find out about them. The Donaldsons
ruled all prison employees, the Com
mssioners are credited with saying.
The entire expose of horrible, un-
speakable' conditions in the Fulton
County convict camps came about by
the accidental mention of an unde
served case of punishment in one OF
the Fulton County camps, according
to the Grand Jury report.
AT first" SAYS the report, "all the
jury had any idea of getting was jusr
a little general information about ire
camps for prisoners. We had no idea
tat conditions there were so fright
full.
When we began to call witnesses
and began to find out what the real
situation was in the convict camps
and in the Board of County Commits
sloners, we were so shocked, surprised
and disguised that we went deep into
the probe, and you see the result
rdp atrof
he intends seeing to it that all the
deputy wardens and guards at the
camps shall famiHarize themselves
with the law governing their duties.
and he will force them to observe 1t.
Will Curb Cruelty, He Says.
"Of course, / haven't had the oflce
long enough to outline policy for the
future, but | have some definite ideas
as to the physical care of the convicss
which. with the consent o. she Com
mission, | intend putting into execu-
tion,' said he.
81 mean to see that the wardens and
guards respect the law, and that the
conviCts respect the wardens and
guards There will be no more inhu-
name treatment If l can prevent it, and
I am pretty sure l viii be able to do
so.
Hereafter all deputy wardens and
guards will be compelled to furnish
certificates of good character, to be
approved both by the County Com
mission and the State Prison Commits
sion. | have several reforms in mind,
none Of them in tangible shape as yet,
however which ] propose to submit
TO the Commission for approval. My
notions regarding them are so crude
Just now that / wouldn't care to OUT
line them for the press yet a while"
Mr. Girardeau enters upon his new
duties at once.
The Grand Jury's report Friday will
deal with the condition Of the county
Jail and the other county institutions.