Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-06-15
PROBE COMMITTEE
INSPECTS AFFAIRS
AT STATE PRISON
Continued from Page u


views with prisoners, the investi-
gators organized for another hearing
in the Warden's office at the insti-
tuition. Various officials of the in
stitution were given an opportunity
to make statements on oath regard
ing the charges brought against the
management of the prison farm, this
being the first time during the Pc
riod that testimony was heard from
the defense, as it might be termed.
DR.. Guy B. Compton, the prison
physician who has held that post
for ten years. declared that the pris-
oners complaining of illness are
brought before him every morning
for examination. Those found in
fairly good physical condition are
"goobered" (prison parlance for be-
ing ordered to the field, while those
found to be i'll are detained in the
"bull pen" or sent to the infirm-
airy.
Special Water for Physician
"The water supply at the tubercu-
lar ward, located some distance
from the main prison buildings, is
said to be good" declared DR.. Comp
ton, who admitted, however, under
questioning that he never drank any
of it, but used water brought up
from a certain we'll by the guards.
eff the tubercular patients need
anything I don't know it" said DIR.
Compton. "They all get fat and
have nothing to do" Questioned by
Judge Searcy, the doctor said two
or three tubercular patients have
died in the past year. Il don't go
there as often as 1 ought to because
I don't have time" said the doc
tor.
ct have seen no cruel treatment
of prisoners, although some of them
have to be whipped occasionally. The
tubercular patients would be bene-
fitted by an Improvement In dlet'
such as more milk and eggs, but each
patient gets from quart to gal
lon of milk each day"
With regard to the Lipscomb case'
DR.. Compton said he saw the prls-
oner every day except the day he
died. He declared that most OF the
complaints from prisoners are caus-
ed by the fact that prisoners claim
ing to be physically unfit, are sent
out into the fields.
"They all complain and claim to
he mistreated," said DR.. Compton,
"but most of them are chronic kick
ers."
DOcstor is Questioned
Replying to questions, Dr. Z mp
ton said he did not read any perlodl-
calls on prison operation or keep sta
tistics on his work. Il take all pre-
cautions in giving surgical treat
ment, and keep things scrupulouslY
clean" he declared. Carbon BIZ
sulphide, known as thigh life" has
only been used on prisoners for
medicinal purposes" he asserted
"Some of these prisoners are hope
IS cases; only death can aid them.
"Well, doctor, if you think they
would complain about any one, how
isN it they all loved Pope Brown?
asked Judge Moses Wright.
"He didn't live long enough" re
piled the doctor.
"Why don't you screen this
| place." asked Judge Henry Ham
mond. Don't you ever have any
| typhoid fever here?" -,
I'D like to have it screened" said
| DR.. Compton. 1--WE have had a few
| cases of typhoid in the past year
| or So"
Referring to the charges made by
J. Christie, one of the former prls'
! oners who testified before the com
mission, DR.. Compton declared that
there was IAN element of truth in
them"
He asserted that the remedy for
! the present situation would be tC
| rive the prison commission more
money to install better and more
complete equipment.
There have been plenty of aches
and pains among the prisoners since
they heard this commission was
| coming" said DR.. Compton. He de-
| MED that he ever told a guard tC
| take out Robert Lee benson, an
| epileptic prisoner, and knock the fits
out of him. This was charged by a
former prisoner testifying Monday
Warden on Stand
Insuiry by Judge r. C. Bell de
! vcloped that DR.. Compton had made
only a few visits to the "bull pen
! in the past year or more and die
OF visit the +ubercular ward daily
Bill Green, a prisoner who for six
years has been confined in a Stee
cage at the rear of the ''bullpen," is
a hOmicidal maniac, according to DR.
Campton. Arnold Worley, the othel
prisoner confined in a cage, is Just
mean," the doctor declared.
DR.. Richard BiniOn, a Milledge
vile physician, testifying as to the
efficacy of the medical treatment
| given by DR.. Compton, declared thai
he had never heard of carbon bisul
phide, high life" being used fol-
| medicinal purposes. He declared
that DR.. Compton enjoys a gooC
reputation as a physician.
Warden Smith, who is in charge
! Of the prisoners generally, made va
rious statements in reply to charges
! contained in previous testimony
] Warden Smith has been in charge
at the prison for fifteen years, eX
! cept for period of six months
With reference to the Lipscomt
case, the warden said that Lipscomt
f! received So he had asked for to buy
articles of food. The prisoner
Lipscomb's death was not under un
usual circumstan- es according t.
the warden.
Referring to the case of Robert
Lee benson, the warden said Den
son was sent to the field and that {
guard reported him for refusing t.
work, although he shove no sigr
of illness.
'Denson was impudent to me ant
[ gave him five light licks," sale
! the warden. "He never was whip
ped again and if I had known h,
was an epileptic I would not havt
! whipped him them
Wardens Do Whippings
''No guards are allowed to do an,
! whining The warden Or, den11t-