Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-06-20
CONVlCT'S DEATH
DUE TO BREHT'S'
JURY DECIDES
Evidence Disclosed, However,
He Had Been Severely Whip
ped BY Guard In Charge

Jim Mon gomerv, the 19-year-old me-
gro convict who cied last week in
the county stockade hospital, that the
prisonNr came to his death through
natural causes.
The evidence brought out by the
Jury also clearly proved that Mont
gomery had been bruta.ly whipped by
order of Deputy Warden Jordan,
whipped on the road, too, which is
against prison regulations; that
County Superintendent j. B. Ansley
was IN no way to blame, he having
discharged Jordan Immediately after
discovering his mistreatment of the
prisoner.
The jury was composed of Olin
Johnson, foreman; 7. B. Westbrook,
II. /. Castleberry, John E. Oliver,
l. M. Furlow and A. II. Holloway.
Jim Montgomery, according to the
evidence, had been on the gang for
two weeks, when on June ID he was
carried to the stockade hospital and
l'r. f. l.. Cato was called in. DR.,
cato swore before the jury that
Montgomery had a very serious case
OF Brlghts' disease; that he had made
exhaustive examination, of the p.
tlehC ana the Douy after death; that
MS death was due to this disease and
nothing else.
The autopsy of the body was per-
formed by DR.. r. P. Glenn, who also
found that the negro was suffering
from acute Brights disease. DR..
Hlenn's examination of the skull.
oralns and body did not disclose any
other cause for death, it is said. ex-
cept a small clot of blood under the
fight shoulder. This, the doctor said,
might have been caused by a lick.
Dut IN his opinion did not produce
death.
There is no doubt in the world
mat Montgomery died from natural
causes" T. NJ. Furlow said to ro-
porter. The jury was clearly con-
'Ninced OF that fact. However, the
evidence also clearly showed that the
negro had been inhumanely whipped
oS Jordan and by two conyicts at
the order of Jordan. The dav lin,
was carried to the hospital he was
whipped three times, and possibly
louf times, once by Jordan. and
twice IN the road by two convicts
at the order of Jordan. Jim was
SICK, very sick, and could NOT worl,
Jordan sought to compel him to work
ana had him whipped several times
one OF the convicts testified that
ne told Jim that if he would renort
Jordan's brutality to 'Captain Ane.
icy that Jordan would not dare. -
"nip HIM again. But, the convict.
sald JIM was afraid to tell Mr., Ans
NY Inc convict told the jury that
mr. Ansley would not stand for sncb
treatment of his convicts ''N
And right here [ want to COW H..
mr, AnsIey gave the jury eyerv nos
SioIe cooperation. He produced ev-
cry witness we wanted; he helped in
every way to get at the bottom of
thlS deplorable affair; he discbarcod
Jordan the moment the subiact can,o
70 MS attention, and the testimony
oI convlcts coming before us showed
thaC Mr. Ansley is doing all in his
power to make an efficient and inst
warden over these unfortunates ON.
trusted to his care"
:, 1t is reported that the sheriff will
orihg the matter of the alleged H.
egal treatment Of prisoners bv Jor-
uah 10 the attention of the next
grand jury. While Jordan cannot bo
charged with murder, the coroner,s
jury having decided that Montgom-
cry died from natural causes. still
ne can be, and it is understood tb.+
ne may be handled for alleged brp-
'allty' infringement of prison rules
etc. '0''
Last Saturday Judge E. L. Rainev,
OF Dawson, member of the prison
commission, and ]. B.. Ansley. conn
ty superintendent, informed tbo
llmes-Recorder that the autonsv and
investigation would be made. tbat
JORDAN had been discharged; and
that every bit of evidence relatjng
10 TINS case would be brought ont
Inc mother of Montgomery had
stated, it is said, that She was NOT
allowed to see the body at the Stock
ade hospital. Citizens of Amoriors
Interested themselves in the story
Mr.. Ansley testified that Jim's moth
er came to the hospital, that she was
told to return in 20 or 80 minutes
and she could see the body, that II
then was being prepared for burial
Mr. Ansley said she came back LATER
POSSIBLY DO minutes or an hour latey,.
that the body then had been placed
IN coffin and the coffin placed in
the box, both screwed down and -,
a wagon; that he told her she con,d
L - Ia