The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-03-29
Debs had left the federal penitentiary

Debs had left the federal penitentiary
and gone to Washington unguarded,
it had not been learned how the noted
Socialist was able to leave the city
without being recognized.
Debs was known personally to
many Atlanta people but no one has
been found who saw him on the
streets or at any of the railroad sta
tions. Officials of the Southern Rail-
way and Seaboard Air Line declare no
special arrangements were made with
them.
Apparently Fred Zerbst, warden of
the prison, is the only Atlanta man
who knew Debs was to leave and Mr..
Zerbst has effectively concealed him
self since this afternoon. Other
prison officials denied they even knew
Debs was gone.
1t was rumored here Wednesday
that Debs had been taken to Wash
ington but Warren Zerbst denied it.
Since then he has refused to talk.
Samuel NJ. Castletan, attorney for
Mr.. Debs, was even more surprised
than others when he was informed
that his famous client was in Wash
ington. Mr.. Castleton has not been
permitted to confer with Debs since
President Wilson ordered him to close
confinement in February.
Otto Branstetter, national execu-
tive secretary of the Socialist party,
is the only person who had been per-
mitted to confer with Mr.. Debbs dur
ing the past seven weeks and it is
assumed that he conveyed the attor-
ney generals summons to confer
ence.
Debs' trip to Washington without
a guard is not the first time he has
been placed on his honor when travel
ing. Following his conviction in 1913
he was given two years in which to
settle his affairs, and then went unat-
tended from Terre Haute, Ind, to the
prison at Moundsville, W. Va, to be-
gin his sentence. He also came to
Atlanta unguarded in April, when his
place of confinement was changed to
the prison here.
Debs has been held incommunicado
since about two weeks before Presi-
dent Wilson retired because of an in
terview given by Debs to the Atlanta
Georgian in which the president was
criticized.
None of his friends have been per-
mitted to visit him and he was de-
MED the privilege or sending or re-
ceiving mail. This was the first pun
ishment he had ever been given since
beginning his sentence.
Attorney Castleton has seen Debs
but once since the order was issued.
About March l he was at the prison
to see another client and met Debs
by chance in the main corridor. They
kissed each other, as is their custom,
but did not attempt to talk to each
other. They were reprimanded, how
ever, by a guard.
Debs' confinement followed publ
cation of the interview he gave short
ly after President Wilson denied At
torney General Palmer's recommends
ton for a pardon. 1t contained the
following statements: Woodrow
Wilson is man without friend and
it is he that needs the pardon and not
I. He has appealed to the American
people for their love and they have
written across the back of his appeal
the one word he wrote across Attor-
ney General Palmer's recommenda-
ton for my pardon, Denied
"For President Wilson to pardon
me would be as though Benedict Ar
mold were to pardon George Wash
ington. I have taught the ideals Of
democracy and Mr.. Wilson has be-
trayed them. He has been a traitor
to his ideals. Although I am in pris-
on 1 am freer than he. Were it in my
power l would grant him a pardon. )"