Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-04-24
FLORIDA LEGISLATURE MAY
END LEASING OF CONVICTS
TO PRIVATE STATE INDUSTRY
Investigation Arising From
Death Of Martin Tabert
in Prison Camps to Have
Far-Reaching Effect

machinery in motion to abolish leas-
ing of convicts which has prevailed
in various sections of the state for
more than half century.
The death of Martin Tabert, a
North Dakota boy, in a privately
owned leased camp resulted in a
legislative investigation which many
say is the primary cause of the
movement to wipe out the lease sys-
tenn. \
When the North Dakota legisla-
ture adopted a resolution asking the
Florida legislature to, inquire into
the conviction, leasing and death
of Tabert, it is said that many peo-
pie of this state were not aware
that convict leasing prevailed.
Florida, in reply to the request of
it's sister state, created a joint in
vestigating committee of two SEN
tors and three representatives to
Inquire into the Tabert case. After
it's organization. the committee was
instructed by the legislature to
broaden its investigation to cover
all prison camps about which alle-
cations of cruel treatment of prison
ers had been made.
Reports of alleged cruelties have
been coming into the legislative
committee in an increasing number
since the Tabert case was taken up.
Grand juries of three counties
nave made. special investigations
within the last two weeks and re-
ported alleged brutalities. The club
women of Florida have been writing
letters of protest to the commits
sioner of agriculture, whose de-
partment is charged with the care
Of state prisoners.
Evidence Heard
The committee has heard evidence
to the effect that a contract had
been drawn up between the commits
sioners of Leon county, of which
Tallahassee is the county seat, and
the Putnam Lumber company, now
located at Cross City, Fla, for the
leasing. of all prisoners held in Leon
county.
Sheriff j. r. Jones has testified
that he enetred into a separate con-
tract with the Putnam company in
which he was to be paid twenty dol
lars "a head" for each prisoner de-
livered by him to the company.
The committee figured that allow
ing for expenses and including fees,
Sheriff Jones made profit OF TWEEN
ty-three dollars on each man.
Witnesses related that Tabert,
while sick with fever, was beaten by
Walter Higginbotham; whipping
boss employed by the lumber COM
pany, swearing that more than
hundred ticks were administered.
Four days later, they testified, the
boy died from pneumonia and other
complications.
Higginbotham, who is now out on
bal of, $4,000 following his indict-
ment by the Madison county grand
jury on the charge of first degree
told the committee he whip
ped Tabert but gave him only ten
Ii hit lashes which he said did no
harm. Tabert, he asserted, was able
to go to York the following day.
The camps physician, DR.. 7. Capus
Jones, testified that Tabert's death
was due to pneumonia and a compll-
cation of a disease. He said his eX-
of the body failed to show
any signs of logging.
Tabert's family, residing in Mum
lch, N. D., have announced through
counsel here that they intend to
file a suit for damages against the
Putnam Lumber company for $780,
900. The lumber company holds
that, inasmuch as Tabert died from
a complication of diseases and
decent burial was given him" in
which a $50 casket was provided,
they cannot be held responsible.
The Putnam Lumber company's
officers are William O'Brien, of st.
Paul, Mimi, president; A. L. Keith,
vice president; T. B. Keith, treas
urer, and A. J. Marsh, secretary,
all of Eauclaire, Wis, and M. l..
Fleischel, manager, of Jacksonville,
Large Holdings
10 b.
tile records, the Putnam Lumber
owned in fee simple 214,-
819 acres of land in Taylor and La
Fayette counties in this state.-Since
then Lafayette county has been
divided by an act of the legislature,
its southern half now being known
as Dixie county.
The total acreage of Dixie, LaFay-
cite and Taylor counties, is 1,453,4
acres, that of Dixie county alone be-
ing Ats, 1927 acres. According to the
records it appears that the Putnam
company's holdings are al
most half as large as the entire
county. The company is. said to
have bought these 214,819 acres of
land more than twenty years ago
II 9l al dCE05 IdhIuS Gel IdlIl lolldS
over from William O'Brien and Ern,
est c. Putnam when it was organ
lied as holding company in 1908.
It has 100000 invested in railroad
and logging equipment, $4,000 in
town site and buildings at Clara
and Cross City, and $336,O00 in
vested in cypress mills at Mlldale
and Ortega, Fla.
The timber is valued at $4,000,
300. The company's liquid assets
alone, according to the mercantile
agency's report, are almost $1,000
BOO.
Higginbotham's trial Is scheduled |
to come up at Cross City on May |
18th. Cross City is the main town |
site of the Putnam Lumber COM
pany, Clara being said to be almost |
1epopula ted. +
When the leasing of state convicts