Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-15
EX-CUARD TELLS
At CAPITAL Of F.
j. s. PRISON
Congressman Howard Arranges
Plans for Congressional Probe
of Federal Institution.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.-Ovid V.
Shaw, former guard in the Atlanta
penitentiary. gave an interview here
to-day in which he describes the bad
conditions in that institution. Shaw
said he had not substantiated the al
legation that concentrated I've was
put in the milk of Convict A. {.
Roberts because he knew too much"
Il did present to Congressman
Schley Howard" he continued, "a
sworn statement regarding in sub
stance the unnecessary maltreatment
of the Atlanta prison convicts. i'm
properly cooked food, insufficient
food, favoritism among convicts and
the guard force. | told him about
Deputy Warden w. c. Hawk raising
poultry for financial purposes and al
lowing his father, who lived with him
and family, to use the governments
teams.
Also | made verbal statement
that the prison contained a dungeon,
where convicts are kept on restricted
diet because of disobedience, and
that, in my judgment, which is based
upon experience, having undergone
three surgical operations successfully
and seeing two performed on my
brother, the medical and surgical at
tendance is inadequate for such an
institution.
Criticises the Chaplain.
Il should add here that the minis
terial work is not as effective as ii
might be because the chaplain is neg
lectful of the discharge of his duty.
In regard to certain articles in
several Washington papers and in At
lanta papers as well, which said
that Congressman Howard had fur
nished data to the Department Of Jus
tice for particular reasons and in or
der to create vacancies for constit-
uents, ] absolutely believe this to be
without foundation, because ] have
talked with Mr.. Howard and he
asked me for the good work Of the
Atlanta Penitentiary as well as the
bad, and said that he believed the
warden was unaware of certain con-
dtions to some extent.
Il voluntarily gave Mr.. Howard my
statement, and ] know that other
guards and x-guards and citizens did
also. Mr.. Howard is only anxious to
remove the evil and let the good re-
main. The prison is in his district,
and he is compelled to act justly when
reports come to him from his people
and others as well.
During 1912, after a guard was shot
by another because of the factional
feeling that arose as a result of the
failure in getting 1 certain increase
in pay which was more in favor OF the
older guards in service than the new
guards, so-called, an investigation
was made concerning these things
and others. without any satisfactory
accomplishment whatever.
Afraid to Tell Truth.
The real cause of that impractical
investigat ton was that a certain clique
can not be satisfactorily examined;
the convicts are afraid to tell the
truth because they would receive pun
ishment accordingly from this clique"
In the belief that the report of DR..
A J. Mckelway on the Atlanta FEEDER
al Prison, which will be presented 10
the Department of Justice to-day,
will be favorable to the institution
and will be accepted by the depart
ment, Representative Howard is ar
ranging plans for a Congressional IN
vestigation of the prison.
The guards at the prison will not
divulge the things they know unless
they are assured they will not jeop-
ardize their positions by so doing,
, said Mr.. Howard.
Wants Committee to See.
II shall endeavor to have a Con-
gressional committee visit Atlanta
soon and look into the affairs of the
prison