The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-04-16
Floridan Defends System,
Saying A bO Il S h m ent
Wouldn't Protect COnvicts
OFFICIAL is INVOLVED
Commissioner of Agriculture
Charges Road Official
Blocked Probe
HOLD TO WHIP.

Tallahassee, Fla, April TO-
Prison reform proposals brought
on by the disclosures following
the Tabcrt death are expected to
have their inning in the house OF
representatives Wednesday when
measures are to be considered
looking to abolition of the county
convict lease system and corporal
punishment. A fight is in pro-
grcss on the latter as many mem
bcrs who arcsin favor Of doing
away with the lease system hold
to the view that "a certain class
of convicts cannot be handled
without whipping.
The senate committee already has
unfavorably reported on a meas
ure to regulate the whip but the
advocates Of its abolition cOnsid-
cr they have Il better chance in
other legislation.
Tallahassee, Fla. April 16.-COm-
missioner of Agriculture w. A. Nc
Rae, who several months ago took
up the fgh; against the convict
leasing system, made public CORE
spondcnce between him and H. B.
Phillips, chairman of the state road
department, in which the commits
"ioner called summarily for the dis
charge of {. l.. Denmark. convict
guard at State Camp No. II. in Du-
val county, and the road chairman
under date of last Friday refused
on the ground that an investigation
had disclosed charges of brutality
and incompetency against Denmark
were largely without foundation"
"Hysteria" Is Charged
Senator B. II. Lindsey. who in the
senate Friday sought to broaden the
scope of the joint Legislative inquiry
growing out of the death of Martin
Tabert of North Dakota to cover all
reported instances of convict mis-
treatment, both in state and county
camps, stated that his idea was to
make the investigation far-reaching
while under way.
There is Il "hysterical" assump-
ton, Mr.. Lindsey said, that to abol-
ish the county convict lease system
will insure good treatment for the
convicts (Which is not necessarily
true"
The state now supervises all pri-
son camps, regardless of whether
they are county or state camps, he
pointed out. He made known that
he was investigating the Denmark
case.
Woman's Letter Starts Probe
The investigation Of Dcnmark's
camp started from a letter to the
agriculture commissioner last No
vcmbcr from Mrs. Il. W. Jennings
prominent club woman of Jackson
vile, who forwarded report made
to her that Denmark had given con-
victs working on the highway as
many as fifty or sixty lashcs. State
Inspector J. B. Thomas Immediately
was ordered to make an investigation
and subsequently reported that he
found the camp in excellent condi-
tion from a sanitary standpoint, that
none of the c0nvicts bore evidence
of mistreatment and that Denmark's
trouble seemed to be Gin whipping
too many times but not severely
enough" The inspector expressed
the opinion that he would be able to
make a good warden of Denmark
and recommended his retention.
Says Prisoners Complain
The latter part of December, how
ever, the inspector reported that "he
had come to the conclusion that Mr.
Denmark is not capable Of handling
camp. | have made two visits to
his camp this month. Every prisoner
has complained of his brutal treat.
mcnt. He has only twelve prisoners
and reported eleven punishments,
when he really had between twenty
five and thirty punishmcnts. On his
report he sta,cs nc mt them seven
to ten licks when he really gave
them anywhere from ten to fifty" d
The agriculture commissioner
promptly requested Mr.. Phillips to
remove Denmark on the strength of
the inspectors report. On March II
III 1oIio"eu tuiS With perempCOfy
order for Denmark's discharge, with
out result, and again under date Of
April II wrote the road department
head that reports still continued to
come in of "cruel treatment" to Dem !
marks prisoners and said he had
placed Denmark on the "black list
and will not allow him again to have
charge of prisoners until such time
as he has been re-instated."
Charges Held Exaggerated"
Mr.. Phillips replied, under date of
Friday, that he had the charges
against Denmark investigated and
had become Satisfied that these
charges were largely exaggerated
and found no cause for the remov-
al OF Captain Denmark" He asked
that the commissioner submit to
him any further charges he had
against Denmark, asserting that it
had been brought to his attention
that Certain individuals are at
tempting ITO get Denmark removed
from the service of the department"
Continued on page three.)