Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-09
Ml)N|TYPLOT
REPORT IS
PRObED
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-
lion 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
rom the Miner, Oakland and Bell
wood camps. which up to this tins
nave come very little under the scru-
Tiny 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 inhuman treatment of
their fellows in stripes.
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 he convicts
we're on the verge of a llutiny.
Conditions in Fulton County convict
camps were vigorously denounced
in Atlanta pulpits Sunday, and the
unmerciful fiogging 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 &C
lion 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 al
he Ponce DeLeon Avenue Baptist
ghurch Sunday night.
Each Of the speakers denounced
the inhuman cruelties revealed by
Inc testimony of convicts and guards
Disgrace, Says Or. Hoiderby.
The cruelty and barbarity prac-
Iced upon these poor, unfortunate
men, said DIR. Holderby, ARE q
oHght and a disgrace to this or any
other country, savage or Christian.
Russia, with all of her barbar-
'sm, could be no worse. Were l g
convict l would rather take mi
chances in Russia than in F'ultor
county. For every lash laid upor
'ne bare backs of these convicts ths
'hurch of God is responsible. These
men, as guilty as they may be, had
lar better go UNPUBLISHED by the laws
ot the State than to be tortured anc
Killed as they are by lot of drunk
en- and bloodthirsty guards"
Phlllp Weltner, who has been one
OF the leaders in the fight for prison
reform, declared in his address thai
present conditions at the camps are
ar worse than any mutiny thai
might develop.
y don't know whether there vii
os mutiny among the convicts,
SAID Mr.. Weltner, "and | do not wan
anyone TO think that / believe there
60 gong to be one, but | know thai
ID me camps that are being investi-
sa-ed By the Grand Jury have moth
"e more than mutiny to fear, il
would be a blessing. There are thing!
-appening every day that are wors,
man any mutiry could possibly be.
No Signs Of Mutiny.
VISITED one camp this afternoon
80 l found no rumors of muffin,
among the convicts."
elmer declared that the rule
PLlson Commission, that tbs
no obey tho rules and make
pis be allowed to veal
- without the stripes
Hiarc@" tetedfter in the
i. 'Nps " Fulton ounty This law
generally understood, hitherto
S oeen ignored, and TRUSTEES anc
fa gus convicts alike have beer
LED 70 wear stripes