Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-01
Philip WeItner to Tell Members
Of Evangelical Association Of
Alleged Abuses and Conditions
Of Fulton County's Prisoners.
Veteran Superintendent Of Pub
lie Works, in Open Letter, De-
. tends Self Against Criticism
Aimed at Him and Foremen.

With the State Prison Commission,
the Fulton County Grand Jury and
the Board of County Commissioners
about to inaugurate In the opening
week a searching inquiry into the
charges of f1ogging and ill-treatment
of convicts in the county convict
camps, interest was added to the Sit
uation Saturday night by the an
nouncement that the Atlanta Evan
gelcal Ministers Association will
make formal demand that the in
vestigation be thorough and COM
plete, and by the issuance Of a state
ment by Captain Thomas ]. Donald
son, denoted as County Superintend-
ent of Public Works. in which he de-
who are under fire.
DR.. L. o. Bricker, pastor of the
First ChriStian Church and president
of the Evangelical Ministers Associa-
ton, said Saturday night that the ac-
ton of that organization will be taken
Monday morning, following the APP
pearance before 1t of Philip Weltner,
secretary of the State Prison Reform
Association. Mr.. Weltner, DR.. Brick
err declared, will tell of conditions al
legged to exist in. the convict camps.
Formal Demand Certain.
"Tt is practically certain" DIR.
Bricker declared, that the associa-
ton will make formal demand for
an investigation that will really in
vestigate. Reports seem to indicate
that untold brutalities are common
practice at the convict camps, and
something should be done at once to
remedy the evil"
Members of the State Prison Com
mission, the Grand Jury and the
County Board stated Saturday after
noon that the prison abuse charges
will be thoroughly probed, especially
the charges that prisoners are logged
and beaten for trivial offenses or for
no offense at all.
Captain Donaldson's statement,
which was contained in letter 70
The Sunday American, is vigorous
defense of his own actions and those
of his subordinates. and an explana-
ton of virtually every incident that
has been mentioned in connection
with the charges. He said:
Donaldson's Statement.
81 am very much averse to the trial
of issues in which l may be person
allv concerned in the newspaper col
umns. both because such issues are
hardly ever satisfactorily determined
in this manner and because Of my
personal dislike to be the central OBJ
iect in the spotlight, but so much has
been published in the last few days
tending to disparage me in the public
estimation that l have been induced,
under the advice of some of my
friends. to write this card and to re-
quest that you give it as much prom
inence in your columns as you have
already given to the stories which
have related to my conduct as pub
lie official, which request ! feel sure
you will readily grant, since am con-
WINGED that it is not your purpose or
that of your publication to do injus-
tice to any person.
"One of the things which has been
given prominence in your columns is
the charge that I and some of my
subordinates have been using county
supplies for our personal benefit, the
statement being made that / drew
freely upon the conmissary supplies
for my use. This is untrue. 1t is
true, however, that practically during
my entire connection with the county
affairs have been permitted by the
Board of Commissioners, as part of
my compensation, to use such vegeta-
bles as might be grown upon the
county farm, and. at the time of kill
ing hogs, such of the hog meat as
required for my table, the hogs also
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