Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-30
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CAMPS To
BE:S|F TED
At 0N(;E:
County Board Will Hasten Probe
of Conditions - Accused
Foreman Suspended. !

Aroused by the fogging of 131
convicts in tive months in Fulton
County alone and the stories OF
inhnman and brutal treatment
told by s conivcts Of the Adams.
wills camp to the Fulton County
Grand Jury, R. E. Dawson an
nounced Friday that the Stats
Prison Commission, of which he
is chairman. would make an inn
mediate investigation.
Beyond saying that the Prison
Commission intends making an in
vestigation. Chairman Dawson de-
clined Friday to discuss the matter
for publication
II do not think it would be proper
for me. as member OF the court
which VIII review this question. to
express an opinion. one way or the
other now lie said.
The chairman stated that the fog
ging of prisoners is matter legally
ana technically in the discretion OF
the State Board, but more directly.
as matter OF fact in the discretion
of the local authorities in the various
counties
The law, it appears. permits the
fogging of prisoners in Georgia. as a
disciplinary measure but the theory
Of whipping is that it will be resorted
to only in extreme and aggravated
cases
Could Prohibit Lash.
The Prison Board might. in it's dis
erection, prohibit the whipping Of
criminals for any purpose whatso-
ever. but, although that has been
suggested to the board, it never has
been adopted as policy of the same.
The board has, however in specific
terms. prohibited the fiogging of
women convicts, although its author
ity to whip them is as ample as in
the case of the men.
Chairman Dawson stated that ha
mas called the board to meet him in
the Capitol on Monday next. when A
complete and searching investigation
into the Fulton County situation. past
and present will be entered upon
Pending the outcome of the probe.
Captain Clyde A. Thomson, fore
man Of the Adamsville camp. whosa
shooting of Convict John H. Harris
Is said to have come as a climax to
the brutalities practiced on the pris-
oners, was ordered suspended. Thorn
ason Friday defended the hoggings.
Tales of suffering, comparable To
mat endured by Russion convicts in
the mines Of Kara, will be scrutinized
by the members of the Commission
to find if the details have any actual
basis in fact.
Grand Jury to Meet Again.
The Grand Jury will meet again on
Monday to consider the bill which
1t returned Thursday against Thomas
son, but neglected to sign.
Chairman Dawson would make M
comment on the fact that 1872 fog
glngs had taken place in the Fulton
County camps in space of two
months until he had made his inyes-
tigation of conditions in the camps.
THE investigation will be no super
fetal affair" he said Friday to The
Georgian. Every member OF the
Commission will take part in ii, We
will visit every camp and take up
every charge that has been made
against the treatment OF the convicts.
We will inspect the food supplies and
get the stories of the prisoners and
Of the guards.
Thinks Food Is All Right.
The members of the Commission
aim to keep conversant with all that
is going on at the camps. L should
say from my present knowledge that
there il very little in the stories OF